Comfort Cooking - The Easiest Recipes

 Hey there, so you've arrived at that point too where you simply crave something that's smooth, simple and light to make and is equally, if not more, tempting.

Yolo, what's up guys? I am Rhea Alvin, blogging my opinion on everything interesting under the sun ( and frankly even the moon, I do most of my typing at night). If you liked my blog, subscribe and stay tuned :)

Well, everyone has reached that point in life when they want something to succeed. But of course, we just a need slight boost and most receive it with a bit of mild cooking and baking. And these recipes are the ones that I bake when I'm in the mood for just a little bit of make, bake and shake.

My Fav Recipes

1.Mac&Cheese

Aah, my ideal meal!!! This is one of my personal favorites and I am sure you will love it too. This mac&cheese is for when you are too lazy to pull out a pan. And with this deliciousness, there's guaranteed no leftovers.

 You will need:

• 1/2 cup dried macaroni or shell pasta
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1/4 to 1/2 cup grated cheese
• toppings like diced veggies, cubed cooked meat, pepper, chili powder (optional).
• deep microwave-safe bowl
• oven mitts or a clean kitchen towel
• spoon

Here's how you do it:

1. Pour pasta, salt & water in the bowl
2. Microwave for 2 min and stir. Beware, it is hot.
3. If foam forms, stir earlier.
4. Repeat steps 2 & 3 till the pasta is soft.
5. Stir the milk, cheese, and any extra add-ins till it is smooth.
6. Microwave in 30 second-intervals for 1 to 2 mins total and if you need a creamier sauce, add an extra splash of milk.

And your cheesy mac will turn out yum  :)

2. MugCake

Ooh, la la! Most love this delicious sibling of the pastry & in fact, I love this even more.

You will need:

• 4 tbsp self-raising flour
• 4 tbsp castor sugar
• 2 tbsp cocoa powder
• 1 egg
• 3 tbsp milk
• 3 tbsp (sunflower/vegetable)
• a few drops of essence  (vanilla/orange/peppermint)
• 2 tbsp nuts, choco-chips, or raisins (optional)
• a large, deep microwave-safe mug
• whisk or fork
• ice-cream of any flavor (optional)

Here's how you do it:

1. Add the flour, sugar, and cocoa powder to your mug and mix with a whisk. (Tip: a fork can be a really good replacement for a whisk.)
2. Add the egg and whisk again. There may probably be some dry mix leftover. Even if it is, it is not a problem.
3. Add the milk, oil & 3-4 drops of essence and mix until smooth.
4. You should add the nuts or choco-chips or raisins at this point if you are going to add them.
5. Place your mug in your microwave for 1.5-2 minutes or till it has stopped rising and is firm to the touch.
6. If you are gonna use ice-cream, top your mug cake with it now.

ENJOY!!!

3. Peanut Butter Split Smoothie
A yummy no-bake recipe, its prep time is only 5 minutes and cook time is only 2 min. And this is perfect for peanut butter fans like me.
You will need:

• 1 ripe banana, quartered and chilled
• 1/2 cup milk
•  1/4 cup plain yogurt
• 1.5 tbsp peanut butter

Here's how you do it:

• Blend all the ingredients in a blender.

Tip: If you top it off with ice-cream, it forms the perfect dessert to make others jealous.

4. Cheese sandwich

This is pretty obvious but of course, I just HAD to add in my list of fav recipes. 

You'll need: 

• 2 bread slices
• Grated cheese
• corn, sliced cucumber, sliced tomatoes
• pepper
• ketchup or sauce
• Mayonnaise

Here's how you do it:

1. Toast your bread slices
2. Apply ketchup or sauce on one slice.
3. On the other slice, apply mayonnaise.
4. On one of the slices, place all your veggies.
5. Add pepper.
6. Top the sandwich.
7. Toast it again so that the cheese melts.

Tip: Have it with french fries while it is piping hot and the cheese will melt into deliciousness.

5. Banana Pancakes

A child favorite all over the world, this is one of the things that keeps me going. This topped with strawberries, ice-cream, a little bit of choco sauce and maple syrup can make every day a living paradise. And in my experience, an excellent natural mood-enhancer. And this recipe is if you do not have pancake flour.
You'll need:

• bananas (1 per pancake)
• eggs (1 per pancake)
• oil
• frying pan
• whisk or fork
• Any toppings as you see fit

Here's how you do it:

1. Mash a banana (tip: use the fork. It cuts well too)
2. Mix the egg and banana together till smooth.
3. Heat the frying pan on low heat and pour a bit of oil. (The oil is to make sure the pancake does not stick to the pan. You can substitute it with butter or ghee. Or you can use a non-stick pan too)
4. When the oil starts heating up, pour your entire mixture onto it.
5. When the bottom turns golden-brown, flip it.
6. Repeat step 5 once. Then repeat all the steps till you have a decent number and you can stack them up. Around 5 pancakes should do.
7. Top your pancakes however you wish and devour them while still hot.

Okay, I think I tempted you a bit too much, don't you think? I bet you want to try one of these out right now, right? Well, keep cooking. Maybe one day, you'll be able to make one of these. Tell me what you tried, if you did, down in the comments below. And if you know of more such recipes, let me know.

Keep cooking, everyone:)!!!