Finding out it's not that easy to juggle classes at college and eating right? Trying to find the way to slow the pace down so one can enjoy the time to prepare a good meal? Wanting to invite the college sweetheart over for a nice little sit down meal? Thinking of ways to try to impress her?
Are these and many other questions on the eager young minds set out to conquer the world of today? Stop quizzing yourself and start questioning the mind to look into spending quality time eating with friends, family or that significant other.
When looking into meals on the run, don't worry, there are many to be had with a large portion of them taking no time at all to prepare. Not only will these meals impress others by their taste but they will make them think that a lot of time was put into preparing such a dish. Try a nice twist on the norm by spending some easy time making Island Steak Tartar. Start by preparing these ingredients:
1 ½ pounds lean sirloin steak (or top roast)
2 tablespoons of soy sauce
1 tablespoon of sugar
½ tablespoon of sesame seed oil
½ tablespoon salad oil
1 tablespoon chopped scallions
½ clove garlic (minced)
¼ teaspoon pepper
½ tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
watercress, radishes or pear (as garnish)
Place all the ingredients into a large bottle except for the steak itself. Once in bottle shake well till fully blended. Slice sirloin steak and add mixture from bottle. Mix well with fingers or let stand as a marinade for at least 30 minutes. Arrange meat on platter over top of watercress. This dish can also be served with slices of pear as noted to give yet another unique flavor (this is a norm for this Korean based dish). Chill dish for a few hours and serve. Serving on plain toast, rye bread or other types of cocktail breads will give a nice and unique filling overall flavor. This dish requires no basic cooking skills just a light preparation. This will make a nice addition to a quick dinners list that can be served over and over again.
Sometimes just taking a simple dish and adding a bit of flavor, from hot peppers or garlic and even ginger will add a whole new level of taste. Take for instance, Shrimp. By adding a few ingredients one can cook to impress and still have time to study for that exam.
1 pound peeled shrimp
1 tablespoon of oil
1 clove garlic (minced)
1 teaspoon finely chopped ginger
1 teaspoon chopped scallions
½ teaspoon salt.
Heat oil in frying pan over a medium heat. Add garlic, ginger, scallions, salt and shrimp. Cook stirring briskly till shrimps are a nice pink cooked color. Remove and serve, its as simple as that. Just by cooking something basic can and will add flavor and overall a very appetizing meal. Serving this dish with rice or as a side dish to another meal will also dress up the main course
Simple meals like Shish kebabs, salads, fried rice or stir fry vegetables can be a snap to make. Adding in a little spice or hot peppers give these little meals a zing. Adding unique fruits and nuts to salads also gives a different overall taste. Try adding walnut oil as a dressing to the next salad adventure, one will be happily surprised. Even another raw fish dish such as Sashimi is a nice all-time favorite amongst young college students. This low fat meal is enjoyed for its brashness to taste since it is mostly served with wasabi. No matter the choice, finding different ways to prepare quick dinners will be enjoyable and worthwhile to those that you serve.
Even after it appears that the cook has spent hours preparing a simple dish, what should one do to end such a great little evening? Try ending in yet another simple plan, dessert. Champagne Mangoes is a great choice, its easy with a light prepare time this dish is sure to be a big hit:
2 ripe mangoes
1 ten ounce package frozen raspberries
1 bottle ice-cold champagne
Chill champagne glasses. Peel and slice mango and chill them as well. Partially thaw raspberries. Place slices of mangoes on the bottom of chilled champagne glass. Top mangoes with at least a tablespoon of whole raspberries. Fill glasses with champagne and serve at once.
This little champagne ending will impress the many who never thought of something so sweet and good. These and a few of the other creative ideas that one can come up will have them coming back for more. In no other importance is this more needed then inviting that crush you so want to come back to impress over and over again.
With the long road ahead of you through classes and study don't think there isn't time to enjoy some really great meals. Finding those meals that take only 30 minutes or less is great, find other that only take 15 minutes is even better. Take a look at some simple dishes that can be spruced up with a little extra ingredient. Adding simplicity to any meal will put you well on the way to a pleasing outcome.
About the Author
Brian Hayes is an expert on single meals at college. A lot of his friends would come and ask for the recipes too.
