Welcome back to another installment of lazy recipes. After a hectic few weeks that midterms brought upon our campus, I’m sure everyone is ready to break free from the ramen cycle and into a new dawn of delicious, lazy meals. In this one, we’ll be going over a handful of basics that can be tweaked to your taste. I’ll be covering things like oatmeal, boiled eggs, rice, quinoa and tofu. These are basics that you’ll want to refer back to when going through your laziest of recipe times, because they are the pillars of lazy meals.

The Ames Main Street Farmers Market has drawn to a close, but I still urge you to direct your fridge’s stock towards local goods and shops. I will be referring back to local grocery stores like Wheatsfield Co-op and Asia Foods Store in this particular installment.

Appliances Needed (Dorm Friendly)

• Hot pot (or a pan if you have a stove; for dorms, check your kitchenette rules)
• Air fryer (optional)
• Microwave

Grocery List

• Salt
• Cooking oil of choice
• Seasonings of choice
• Honey
• Brown sugar or jam
• Soy sauce
• Garlic powder
• Large eggs (Wheatsfield Co-op)
• Oats (Wheatsfield Co-op)
• Milk or plant milk of choice (Wheatsfield Co-op)
• Fruits (Wheatsfield Co-op)
• Quinoa
• Firm tofu (Asia Foods Store)

Microwave Oatmeal (5-7 minutes)

Ingredients

• Oats (Wheatsfield Co-op)
• Water or milk of choice
• Honey, jam, brown sugar or fruits (Wheatsfield Co-op)

Tools

• Microwave-safe bowl
• Spoon

Instructions

1. Pour water or milk into the bowl.
2. Add oats and microwave for 4 to 6 minutes, depending on your microwave.
3. Stir in your preferred toppings and enjoy.

Microwave Boiled Egg (8-10 minutes)

Ingredients

• One egg (Wheatsfield Co-op)
• Water
• Ice (or very cold water)
• Salt or soy-sesame marinade

Tools

• Two mugs
• Spoon

Instructions

1. Fill one mug with water and heat it in the microwave for 3 minutes.
2. Fill the second mug with ice or cold water.
3. Drop the egg into the hot mug and make sure it’s fully submerged.
4. Microwave for 4 to 6 minutes, depending on how strong your microwave is.
5. Carefully remove the egg and place it in the cold mug to cool.
6. Once cooled, peel and season to your taste.

Microwave White Rice (20-25 minutes, including resting)

Ingredients

• One cup rice
• Two cups water
• Salt to taste

Tools

• Microwave-safe bowl with a lid or plate

Instructions

1. Rinse the rice in cold water until clear.
2. Add water and salt to the bowl, then cover.
3. Microwave for 10 minutes on high, then for another 10 minutes on 50% power.
4. Let it sit for 5 minutes before fluffing with a fork.

Microwave Quinoa (10-12 minutes)

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup quinoa
• One cup water
• Salt

Tools

• Microwave-safe bowl
• Fork

Instructions

1. Rinse quinoa in cold water.
2. Add to the bowl with water and salt.
3. Cover and microwave for 6 minutes.
4. Stir, then microwave for 2 to 3 more minutes.
5. Let it sit for 5 minutes before fluffing.

Air Fryer or Microwave Tofu (6-12 minutes)

Ingredients

• Firm tofu (Asia Foods Store)
• Soy sauce, garlic powder or seasoning of choice

Tools

• Air fryer sheet or microwave-safe plate
• Paper towel

Instructions

1. Pat tofu dry and cut into cubes.
2. Toss with soy sauce and seasoning.
3. Air fry at 375°F for 12 minutes or microwave for 5 to 6 minutes, flipping halfway

With these basics down, you’ll have laid the foundation for your very own lazy cooking city. Prep the staples over the weekend, keep them stored and you’ll thank yourself on busy mornings or long study nights. A little planning now means effortless comfort later.