this is where the recipes from the "food for the exhausted" section of still here lies. thank you for your interest in my stuff!
recipes we have so far:
eggs and rice -contains eggs
sick soup - contains chicken stock
ramen - vegetarian alternatives are listed, contains eggs
pesto gnocchi with feta - vegetarian, probably vegan depending on what's in your pesto, contains basil, potato, cheese, can include tomatoes
vegetable rotini with red sauce and sausage - i use plant based sausage for this recipe so it is set up to be vegetarian, but you can use meat for it if you like :) gluten free as well!
recipe #5: vegetable rotini with red sauce and sausage
this was another common food i had in college, since it's cheap and can be an easy meal prep for the week. for this recipe, i specifically use Barilla's Veggie Rotini - you'll know it by the green color of the pasta. i know some people aren't fans of veggie pasta, but for someone like me who struggles with vegetable textures it's a nice way to get my serving of veggies for the meal without torturing myself. it's delicious and super quick to make, so try it out!
what you'll need:
half to a full box of veggie rotini pasta, depending on how much you want/need to make
red sauce of your choice - i usually go for a three cheese, roasted garlic, or traditional pasta sauce. you can also make your own if you prefer to make things from scratch
about one to two links of the sausage of your choice depending on how much you're making - i love a good spicy chicken sausage, but my partner is vegetarian so we use vegan sausage when we make it
what you'll do:
boil your pasta according to the directions, and salt your pasta water you hooligans
put a pan on medium heat and grease it with butter or cooking spray, then put on your sausage. put a cover over the man for 3 minutes, then check the sausage and turn it so the sides brown but don't burn. continue this for another 2-3 minutes.
drain your pasta, but leave a little pasta water in the pot
mix in your red sauce of choice, enough to coat every noodle but not so much that your pasta is swimming in the sauce
cut up your cooked sausage and mix it into the pasta
serve and enjoy!
this one is a bit easier to make on a stovetop, so on bad days i'll bring a chair into the kitchen with me so i can sit down while i cook. if you're able to also do this it does make cooking easier!
as a kid, i was a SUPER picky eater, but gnocchi was always one of my favorite foods. my mother used to make it with sausage and red sauce on cold weeknights and it always hit the spot. in college, i changed up the way i eat it in order to include more greens in my diet. a lot of veggies have textures i struggle with eating, so i have to get creative. this pesto gnocchi is a knockout, and a favorite among my friends.
what you'll need:
one package potato gnocchi
about 1/4 stick of butter
basil pesto - as much or little as you like
feta cheese - as much or as little as you like, i usually go for about a third of a cup for a serving
optional: red pepper flakes
optional: about 1/5 cup roasted cherry tomatoes
what you'll do:
prep your gnocchi - either boil them for about 40-50 seconds on high heat or pan fry them in butter over medium heat. i prefer the pan fry method, as the crispy edges make the gnocchi more satisfying and they soak up the butter before turning golden brown
(optional) cut your cherry tomatoes in half the long way, salt and pepper them, then put them on an oiled pan and roast them.
put cooked gnocchi into a bowl, as much or as little as you're hungry for. if cooking for yourself, put your leftovers in the fridge for an easy lunch the next day!
take about two to three spoonfuls of pesto and mix it into your gnocchi (more or less depending on your preference) and then mix in your crumbled feta as well. do this while the gnocchi is still warm so the cheese melts into the pesto a little and mixes easier.
optional - add in red pepper flakes to taste to add a little kick
now, by no means am i able to make a ramen that's better than any traditional recipe in the world, but i'm poor and love my comfort foods. in my journey to improve my health, i've had to replace foods that i love, one of which being Nongshim's instant spicy seafood ramen. i've spent some time trying to recreate it in a healthier fashion, and i believe i've done it! it's also easy to adapt it to chicken or vegetable ramen if you're not a fan of fish.
what you'll need:
seafood, chicken, and/or vegetable stock
chili powder
ground ginger
black pepper
cayenne
garlic powder
onion powder
soy sauce
gojuchang sauce (a sweet and spicy korean sauce)
fish sauce (if you want the seafood ramen)
noodles of your choice - i usually do udon, rice, or you can find noodles labelled for ramen
shredded carrots
mung bean sprouts
2-3 eggs
dried seaweed
optional: Yamasa and Ocean's Halo both make ramen broths ready to go if you want to use those or mix them with one of the listed stocks
optional: crab or imitation crab chunks for seafood (tofu is a great alternative for meat additions)
what to do:
steam or boil 1-2 eggs on medium heat for about 5 minutes, then put into cold water or an ice bath
fill a pot with 3 parts broth or a mix of broths (seafood or chicken and vegetable stock is a nice way to have a mix of nutrients) and 1 part water. if you're like me and eat your soups out of the pot, make sure it's enough that you'll be able to eat in one sitting.
set it over medium heat. add in a serving of noodles when it reaches a boil and allow it to cook according to package instructions.
about halfway through your noodles being done, start peeling your eggs and set them aside.
when your noodles are done put your pot on low heat and then add in your seasonings to taste and about a teaspoon of gojuchang sauce and stir it.
add in your uncooked egg and stir until you see the egg whites appear. they should look like ribbons.
add in your vegetables, crab if you opted for it or whatever meat or tofu you like, and your cooked eggs.
that's what i call the soup i make whenever i'm sick. it could also be called chicken soup, but i've never put actual chicken into it so i'm hesitant to call it that
if you or someone you live with is able to make rice, i recommend it. i think regular rice tastes better than instant rice, and it isn't as full of preservatives. however, i often find myself using a bag of instant rice for my meals, so its up to what you can do <3
what you'll need:
a pot or pan to cook the eggs in
1-3 eggs (3 is a serving size, but don't push yourself if you can't eat that much!)
about 1-2 cups of rice (most instant rice comes as a single serving)
butter or cooking spray
seasonings (always to taste): salt, pepper, cayenne, furikake, soy sauce
optional: dried seaweed or some fruit of your choice <3
what to do:
gather everything you need in one place. it's a lot easier to do things if you're not moving around a ton!
pop your rice into a microwave or reheat it on a stovetop (or whatever you've got to cook with) for about 1-2 minutes. if it's instant rice, follow the directions on the package
turn your stovetop on and place your pan onto the burner. set it to medium to low heat and after a few moments, slice a sliver of butter or spray on some cooking spray. you only need enough butter to coat the bottom of the pan.
once the butter is melted, crack an egg and drop it on! cook them however you like, i prefer to do mine fried when i'm eating with rice. salt and pepper the uncooked side of the egg before flipping. you can also add the cayenne here if you like!
take out your rice as you're letting the eggs cook and drop some furikake on it - if you like that
put the eggs onto the rice when they're cooked!
pour a little soy sauce (to taste) over your eggs and rice.
enjoy with seaweed or a portion of fruit! don't forget your water!
for those like me who live in apartments or houses with stairs, bringing things up and down sometimes isn't within your realm of ability.
my life has been made marginally easier by utilizing an electric pot to cook. i have a bed table that i put it on, and all you really need is the stuff you're cooking or warming up and a nearby outlet or extension cord.
the link for the pot i chose is here
the link for the tables i have are here
they're relatively affordable and i personally get lots of use out of them so it was well worth it, but it may not be the solution for everyone!
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