As a college student, quick meals are needed to help get one through the day, but time to cook a meal or stop at the dining center is not always penciled into our schedules. Pair that with the limited facilities one may have when living in a dorm, and an alternative method is needed.

One method only involves a mug and a microwave. Here are some quick recipes to make during the school year.

Coffee Cup Quiche

Ingredients:

• 1 egg
• 1 1/2 tablespoons milk
• Salt
• Ground black pepper
• 1/4 of a bagel (or similar amount of French bread, etc.)
• 2 teaspoons cream cheese
• 1/2 slice prosciutto or ham
• Fresh thyme leaves or fresh chopped chives
• Dijon mustard

Directions:

• Beat egg and milk together with a fork in a coffee cup, adding salt and pepper to taste. Tear bread into dime-size pieces and stir in. Stir in cream cheese. Tear or cut prosciutto into small pieces and add to mixture. Sprinkle with thyme.
• Microwave on high until done, about one minute 10 seconds. Garnish with mustard and fresh thyme or chives.

Meat Loaf in a Mug 

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons 2% milk
• 1 tablespoon ketchup
• 2 tablespoons quick-cooking oats
• 1 teaspoon onion soup mix
• 1/4 pound lean ground beef
• Additional ketchup, optional

Directions:

• In a small bowl, combine the milk, ketchup, oats and soup mix. Crumble beef over the mixture and mix well. Pat into a microwave-safe mug or custard cup coated with cooking spray.
• Cover and microwave on high for three minutes or until meat is no longer pink and a thermometer reads 160°; drain.
• Let stand for three minutes. Serve with additional ketchup if desired.

Please note the time for this recipe is in accordance with a 1,100 Watt microwave, so you may need to increase or decrease cook time based on your microwave’s Watt power.

Chocolate and Salted Caramel Cake

Ingredients:

• 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 4 tablespoons sugar
• 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 egg – beaten
• 3 tablespoons skim milk
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 2 salted caramels

Directions: 

• In a small bowl add flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, salt, egg, milk, and vegetable oil. Mix to combine.
• Pour mixture into a regular sized coffee mug. Drop caramels into center of mixture one at a time.
• Microwave on high for one minute and 30 seconds. If needed (cake batter is still gooey), microwave on high for up to an additional 30 seconds.