Microwave a Three-Course Feast

Freshman year, when I realized dorms don’t come with fully stocked kitchens, things took a turn for the worse. I longed for the appliances to be able to cook my own meals creatively. Fast forward three years and I am living off campus with my own kitchen, but I rarely have the time and energy to break out the pots and pans. Enter the microwave, the only appliance necessary to create a gourmet three-course meal.

Bacon-wrapped Asparagus with Goat Cheese

Prep Time: 2 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 12 minutes

Servings: 1

Ingredients:
2 slices of bacon
¼ pound medium asparagus, tough ends trimmed (about 5)
2 teaspoons olive oil
1 ounce fresh goat cheese, crumbled
1 teaspoon lemon juice
¼ cup water
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
1. Wrap bacon in damp paper towels and microwave for 4–6 minutes, or until crispy.
2. Crumble bacon and set aside.
3. Lay asparagus on damp paper towels on a microwaveable plate.
4. Drizzle with 1 teaspoon of olive oil. Salt and pepper to taste.
5. Microwave on high for 3–4 minutes, or until crisp but tender.
6. Sprinkle goat cheese and bacon on top of asparagus.
7. Drizzle with lemon juice and 1 teaspoon of olive oil.

Shrimp

Prep Time: 6 minutes
Cook Time: 6 minutes
Total Time: 12 minutes

Servings: 1

Ingredients:
¼ cup butter
½ pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
Salt and pepper to taste
Parsley for garnish
Half a lemon, juiced

Directions:
1. Melt butter (15–30 seconds on high) in small bowl. Add salt, pepper and lemon juice. Stir well.
2. Coat microwave safe casserole dish with non-stick cooking spray or a bit of butter. Arrange shrimp in a layer on dish. Pour butter mixture evenly over shrimp.
3. Microwave on high for 2 minutes, then rearrange so that center shrimp are on outside, and vice versa. Microwave for another 2 minutes, and rearrange again. Then microwave for a final 2 minutes.
TIP: Shrimp are ready when they turn pink.

Risotto

Prep Time: 7 minutes
Cook Time: 18 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes

Servings: 1

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon minced garlic
¼ onion, chopped
¼ cup vegetable broth
¼ cup uncooked Arborio rice
¼ cup white wine
¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:
1. Combine the butter, garlic and onion in a microwaveable bowl. Cook on high for 2 minutes.
TIP: Butter should simmer slightly and onions should be soft and translucent. Be careful not to burn the butter.
2. Place vegetable broth in another microwave safe dish. Heat on high until the broth is hot but not boiling (approximately 2 minutes).
3. Stir the rice and broth into the dish with the onion, butter and garlic mixture. Microwave covered for 6 minutes.
4. Stir in wine and microwave for 10 minutes.
TIP: Most of the liquid should boil off. If rice seems dry, stir in water, wine or cream to reach the desired consistency.
5. Stir in cheese and add shrimp.