3 Quick and Easy Recipes to Make During Exam Season

Exam season can be a very stressful time for a student. You’re preoccupied with work and studying which can lead to a pretty erratic eating plan. To save you the time and effort, we’ve put together a few super cheap and quick recipes for you to make that are really delicious! 

Penne al Salmone

• 500g penne 
• 100g smoked salmon
• 1/2 lemon
• 100ml double cream 
• 1tbsp chopped parsley
• 3tbsp unsalted butter 
• Salt and Pepper

1. Bring the water to the boil, add salt and then pour in the penne. 
2. Heat the butter in a pan and then when ready add the smoked salmon into the pan until it lightens in colour. 
3. Pour in the cream until sufficiently heated through, not forgetting to stir, then put half the chopped parsley into the sauce. 
4. Take the pasta off the boil, drain it and add the sauce. 
5. Wait a few minutes for the dish to thicken and then sprinkle the rest of the parsley on top as well as pepper to taste. 
6. Finish off with some lemon juice squeezed on top
7. Serve. 

Mediterranean Baked Sweet Potato

Finding a delicious meal that is comfortable on the wallet/purse is the goal of every student. Thankfully, this vegan-friendly recipe could be just what you’re looking for. Quick, cheap, healthy and easy to make, this baked sweet potato dish is excellent for students looking to make a meal that’ll satisfy those appetites for the least amount of time possible!

Ingredients:

• 2 Medium Sweet Potatoes
• 1 clove minced garlic 
• 100g spinach 
• 2 tbsp coconut oil 
• 45g diced tomatoes 
• 15g chopped parsley 
• chopped walnuts 

1. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees. Pierce the skin of the sweet potatoes a few times with a fork and coat the skins with 1tbsp of your coconut oil. Bake for an hour, ensuring that they are soft all the way through. 
2. 15 minutes prior to the end of the hour for the sweet potatoes, turn to sautéing the spinach. Heat the garlic and the rest of the coconut oil in a pan until the garlic becomes soft, and then add three large handfuls of spinach to the pan. Continue, adding salt and pepper to taste, until the spinach starts to wilt which should be around 2-3 minutes. 
3. When the sweet potatoes are ready to be taken out of the oven, carefully slice them open from either end and slightly mash the insides with a fork. If you’d like, add half a tablespoon of coconut oil to the insides and season with salt and pepper to taste. 
4. Pour the spinach over the sweet potatoes, adding walnuts on top. 
5. Either on top also or as a refreshing side, mix the diced tomatoes with the parsley, some garlic and a little olive oil.
6. Serve.  

Classic Microwave Mug Cake

• 30g milk chocolate broken up into squares
• 1 egg 
• A 30g slice of butter 1.5cm thick 
• 2 tbsp caster sugar 
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract 
• 4 1/2 tbsp plain flour 
• 1/2 tsp baking powder

1. Using your mug of choice, melt the butter inside with the chocolate in the microwave for 35 seconds at 800 watts. 
2. Beat the mixture until you find it is smooth, allowing it to cool briefly after. In sequence, whisk in the egg, sugar, vanilla extract, flour and baking powder. 
3. Place back into the microwave for 1 minute 20-30 secs at 800 watts.
4. Let the mug cool down for a minute then enjoy!