Pizza, Lava Cake in a Mug

Easy Microwave Recipe

I’ve been worried and heartbroken about my son and daughter-in-law’s divorce.  I visit once a month but often see their children, ages 4 and 9, eating crackers, Oreo cookies, and french fries.  They often pick up fast food from local restaurants that don’t include fruits or vegetables.  Well, I learned that some college students have been making meals in mugs and cooking them in their dorm microwave oven.  I’ve done the research and am now testing recipes.  If I could teach my granddaughter how to put the inredients together and cook them in the microwave, their nutrition will improve dramatically.  I’ve been experimenting with a recipe for pizza and one for lava cake (my granddaughter’s favorite dessert which can easily add $10 to the final restaurant bill).

I tweaked the following pizza recipe by using ketchup instead of marinara sauce as it only needs one tablespoon and I know they have ketchup.   I’m not sure if they always have milk in the fridge and the recipe calls for one tablespoon of milk, so I’m assembling a kit that includes powdered Saco buttermilk blend.  While I’m at the house, I’ll put together small bags of shredded Mozzarella cheese and pepperoni slices so she can easily put the ingredients together or use as a topping on a baked potato or even toast.  Better than crackers.

 Pizza in a Mug

4 Tbsp. all-purpose flour

A pinch of baking powder, baking soda, and salt (she has small hands so I’ll tell her to use about half of a 1/4 teaspoon measure)

1 tsp. SACO buttermilk blend

3 Tbsp. water

1 Tbsp. olive oil

1 Tbsp. ketchup

1 Tbsp. shredded mozzarella cheese

5 mini pepperoni (I cut up larger slices)

1/2 tsp. Italian seasoning

In a bowl, mix the dry ingredients.  Add water and oil and stir.  Transfer to a microwave safe mug.  Spoon on ketchup and spread it around the top of the batter.  Sprinkle on the cheese, pepperoni, and dried herbs.  Microwave for about 2 minutes.

If the kids have fun with this meal, I’ll package the dry ingredients in small plastic bags to simplify the recipe even more.

Lava Cake 

I looked at some recipes on the internet, but this one has only five ingredients and again, I substituted the buttermilk blend for the milk.  Add a dollop of vanilla ice cream at the end and the kids will think they are in chocolate heaven!

1/4 tsp. baking powder

4 Tbsp. flour

1 tsp. Saco buttermilk blend

2 Tbsp. water

2 overflowing Tbsp. of chocolate hazelnut spread (recipe calls for 4 Tbsp.)

Microwave for one minute or less depending on your microwave.  Let it cool a tad before digging in.