They say go to college to find your bridesmaids and not your husband. Well I found the love of my life within the first month of college: my Keurig.
Like any new relationship, the first few weeks were spent in the honeymoon phase. From breakfast dates to clandestine study breaks, there wasn’t a moment I didn’t think about getting my next fix.
But soon the novelty wore off. The connection that once burnt my tongue was now lukewarm at best. So, like any relationship going through a second semester slump, I looked for ways to mix things up. Here’s how we kept our relationship fresh.
1. Iced Drinks
Photo by Kara Fellows
The tamest toe-dippage into Keurig experimentation: brew your favorite K-Cup over ice.
Keurig technically sells “Brew Over Ice” K-Cups, but there’s no difference between the two types of pods so don’t break up with your Keurig over a simple misunderstanding.
2. Cocktails
Photo by Kara Fellows
Sometimes you need to loosen up. Sometimes you just need a drink. But you don’t need a full bar to make an Insta-worthy cocktail.
WARNING: Do not put alcohol in your Keurig – not only is it a fire hazard but you run the risk of breaking your Keurig – which is no way to repay it for being there for you when you decided to take an 8 am class.
Try a Dark Roast K-Cup with Whiskey and a splash of Bailey’s for a Basic Irish Coffee.
Or, for an especially Merry Christmas, mix some Peppermint Schnapps into your Hot Chocolate K-Cup and forget whatever frightful weather is lurking outside.
CoolMaterial has some fancier ideas if you’re feeling confident in your Keurig bartending skills.
3. Oatmeal
Photo by Becky Hughes
One of the easiest Keurig food recipes out there, oatmeal is a healthy breakfast that you can now make in your dorm room while getting ready.
Prep Time: 2 minutes
Cook Time: 2-3 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 1 serving/packet
Ingredients:
1 packet instant oatmeal (or about ¼ cup oatmeal)
6-oz. water
Directions:
1. Put oatmeal into bowl and place under Keurig spout.
2. Brew water in Keurig (without a K-Cup inside).
3. Once your Keurig pours the water into the bowl, let sit for 2-3 minutes.
4. Add honey/banana/apple/anything you can possibly dream up.
4. Pasta
Photo by Kara Fellows
Not Cup-o-Noodles, we’re talking legitimate pasta. A little more complicated but incredibly useful.
Prep Time: 1-2 minutes
Cook Time: About 5 minutes
Total Time: 7 minutes
Servings: 1 serving (but the exact size is up to you)
Ingredients:
8-oz. water
¼ cup pasta
Any desired dressings (olive oil, cheese, butter, etc.)
Directions:
1. Put pasta into a bowl and place under Keurig spout.
2. Brew water in Keurig (No K-Cup again).
3. Cover (great use of unused textbooks) and let sit for about 3 minutes.
4. Add more Keurig water to the pasta (you may need to pour out some first).
5. Cover again and let sit for another 2 minutes.
6. Dress that naked pasta – this is a respectable establishment (EVOO + cherry tomatoes = YAS).
5. Affogato
Photo courtesy of tastebook.com
This Italian dessert is one of those brilliant foods that sounds super fancy and complicated, but may be one of the easiest things to make. It means “drowned” in Italian and is essentially a coffee float.
Prep Time: 1 minute
Cook Time: 2 minutes
Total Time: 3 minutes
Servings: 1 serving (depending on how many scoops)
Ingredients:
1-2 scoops vanilla ice cream
1 Dark/Medium Roast K-Cup
8-oz. water
Directions:
1. Scoop ice cream into mug (resist the temptation to start eating it).
2. Brew water in Keurig with your preferred K-Cup.
3. Let dat coffee run alll over your ice cream. *wipe drool*
4. Grab a spoon and dig in – cooling is for losers, this bad boy is worth a burnt tongue.
And if you’re feeling extra Italian kick your affogato game up a notch.
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