Recipes from the Internet That Feel Like Spring
By Olivia Pfeiffer
The sun is shining, the sky is blue, the weather has finally risen above 60, and it doesn’t rain or snow every day. To a Villanova student, this is basically the middle of the summer as the trees begin to bloom and campus begins to come back to life. Though this might only be me, the moment that the weather gets warmer, my desire to cook comes back into full swing, especially foods that I don’t eat in the middle of the winter. My desire for thick, hearty soups and mac and cheese recipes (though they will always hold a place in my heart) are replaced by very light meals that remind me of the season, are full of fruits and vegetables, and are very easy to make. If you are like me and enjoy cooking as the weather gets warmer (maybe you are doing picnics outside with your friends), I’ve listed a few of my favorite quick recipes that I have found from online, mostly from Tik-Tok. These can be made in your dorm room with a relatively low number of ingredients, which is especially good as the semester draws to a close and you are trying to use up extra products.
1. Tik-Tok Ramen
Ingredients: Ramen noodles, soy sauce, brown sugar, butter, garlic (or garlic powder), red pepper flakes, egg (optional)
This takes only about 10 minutes to make, but it will make you not want to eat Ramen the normal way ever again. Make the ramen noodles as normal, but then discard the sauce packet and the water, and instead make the sauce by combining all of the remaining ingredients in a saucepan and letting it thicken. Given the nature of this sauce, exact measurements are not needed (so just eyeball it) and then once the sauce has thickened, add the ramen noodles back into the sauce. I like to add an egg for extra protein, which I cook directly with the ramen and sauce. This is an absolutely delicious meal you can eat right after cooking or save for later.
2. Lizzo’s Nature’s Cereal
Ingredients: Coconut water (or milk), mixed berry medley (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, pomegranate seeds, etc.)
I know, you’re going to say that I am crazy. It is literally fruit in water, how can it be any good? I was also very hesitant to try this but let me tell you it is absolutely outstanding! Something I love about this recipe is how easy it is to enjoy. Plus, if you live on West Campus, Second Storey has all of the ingredients necessary for this dish. This is best enjoyed on a warm day sitting by the window when you feel like you want some crisp and delicious fruit! If it is good enough for Lizzo, you know it is good enough for us.
3. Elderflower Lemon Drink
Ingredients: San Pellegrino Limonite, Trader Joe’s Elderflower Lemonade, Preferred Liquor (For our 21+ Readers)
Combining two of these wildly popular drinks, San Pellegrino Limonite and Elderflower Lemonade, makes you feel as though you are drinking a fancy drink from the Bridgerton-era as you are out on the parade with your potential suitors. For our readers of Be Well Nova who are 21+, this drink can be spiked with vodka or rum to make a light and refreshing summer cocktail!
4. BONUS: Iced Lavender Matcha with Almond Milk and A Simply Good Jar (Rosie’s Cafe)
Now I cannot even begin to take credit for this, and this is not from the internet at all, but these two things have been my favorite thing to get at Rosie’s Cafe (located on West Campus) for the past week. The Iced Lavender Matcha with Almond Milk is delicious and makes you feel as though you are literally drinking an Easter basket. Rosie’s has also recently started selling Simply Good Jars, which are three different kinds of ready-made salads that definitely go above and beyond anything in the dining hall. Though they are on the pricier side, each jar lasts about two meals, and can be reused again and again, so it is good not just for you but for the environment! My favorite jar salad is the Heavenly Pesto jar, which includes mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, mozzarella, pesto, and couscous. I add some balsamic to this mix, and it tastes absolutely amazing!
