Nutritious and Delicious Ways to Procrastinate

Tag: Coated Peanuts With exams approaching and stress mounting, what better way to ease your nerves than a little snack break? After all, just about every teacher I've had has emphasized the importance of "brain food." Instead of making the trip to a vending machine, why not take a few minutes to create something of your own? It will be healthier and more satisfying than anything found in a package, not to mention, easy to share with your equally stressed friends. These snacks may give you that much needed study break, so you are all the more prepared to hit the books and ace all your finals. Here are a few suggestions, all of which even the least kitchen-adept can accomplish without burning down the dorm. Trail Mix Collect any ingredients you see fit, for example, granola, dried fruits (bananas, apricots, raisins, craisins, apples, etc.), nuts (peanuts, cashews, walnuts, hazelnuts, pecans, etc.), and a little something sweet (M&Ms, chocolate chips, yogurt/chocolate raisins, etc.). Combine any of the endless mixtures and enjoy Coated Peanuts. Garlic Cheese Toast Turn the oven knob to "broil," which may take a few minutes, so be patient. Toast a few pieces of bread in a toaster. Either sprinkle with garlic powder, or, if you have one, take a clove of garlic and rub the toast. Liberally apply shredded mozzarella cheese. Place under the broiler (on the top rack of the oven) until the cheese melts, which should not take very long. Remove from the oven, and enjoy! Optional: add freshly sliced tomatoes to the toast before sprinkling with cheese, or use tomato sauce to dip. Nachos Mash an avocado or two in a bowl, adding salt and pepper to taste. Add a drizzle of limejuice and a few spoonfuls of pico de gallo (really delicious and mild salsa made of tomato chunks, onion, a few chiles and lime juice). Set aside. Spoon a can of refried beans into a bowl, heat in 30-second intervals, stirring in between, until warm. On a plate, place several handfuls of tortilla chips evenly on the surface; sprinkle with shredded cheese (cheddar, jack or "Mexican mix" all work quite well) and refried beans. Put in the microwave-or under the broiler if you're being adventurous-until the cheese is melted. Pile on pico de gallo, your homemade guacamole, some salt and pepper, and you're good to go. Some other delicious additions: sour cream, cilantro, and ground beef or chicken (cooked with a little bit of taco seasoning). Quesadillas Using pretty much the same ingredients as the nachos, make something more substantial: Heat up a skillet on the stove; add a tortilla. Sprinkle cheese and any other fillings (refried beans, meat, pico de gallo are all good), add a touch of taco seasoning (if you have it; it's not the end of the world if you don't) and place a second tortilla on top. After a minute or two, carefully flip the quesadilla. Cook for another minute or two. To see if the cheese is melted, carefully peak under the top tortilla. If it is, your snack is done. Top with pico de gallo, guacamole, or sour cream, or just eat it plain. Pizza Bagels Toast bagels. Spread with a spoonful of tomato sauce, and sprinkle with cheese. Top with pepperoni, sliced tomato, basil, sausage, or whatever else sounds good. Place in the over under the broiler until the cheese is melted. Get adventurous: instead of tomato, try pesto sauce for a salty, herby variation. Puppy Chow In a saucepan, melt 2 Tbsp of butter. Add 1 cup of chocolate chips and a half cup of peanut butter, and allow to melt. Feel free to eyeball the measurements; they don't need to be exact. Put 6 cups of cereal (Chex Mix is the classic) into a large bowl; cover with the melted chocolate-peanut butter concoction. Stir until all pieces of cereal are sufficiently covered. Place in a plastic bag with some powdered sugar and shake until coated. So, if you want to have the best study party on campus, try one of the above recipes. None of them takes more than twenty minutes, so even the most studious of Hoyas can make an attempt. None of them involves any complicated kitchen appliances or a lot of measuring. Nearly all of the ingredients can be found on campus, either at Vittles or Leo's. Good luck on finals, and happy snacking!