Nathan's Vanilla Soft Serve

In honor of the end of another year at Brown, and in celebration of the summer to come. A warm thanks to our friend Nathan who graciously allowed me to intrude upon his enjoyment of this humble yet intensely addictive frozen treat, courtesy of the beloved V-dub soft serve machines. 'til next semester, adieu!

Nathan's Vanilla Soft Serve

cake cone

vanilla soft serve

Dispense the soft serve into a neat spiral on cake cone, and enjoy when the sun's out...or any time you feel like it.

Spinach with Pink Vodka Ravioli

The Ratty's pink vodka sauce is delicious. Even if you don't like spinach or mushrooms or beans, or any veggies at all - try mixing them with some pink vodka sauce from the Ratty. Now that's a combination that Sam I Am should've offered with his Green Eggs and Ham...

Spinach with Pink Vodka Ravioli

baby spinach

ravioli with pink vodka sauce

mushrooms, sliced

beans

1. Microwave spinach and mushrooms for 1.5 minutes.

2. Top with a few ravioli with pink vodka sauce and beans, and enjoy!

Carrot Cake with Cinnamon Apples

Because two layers are better than one, and because cinnamon apples and whipped cream are better than no cinnamon apples and whipped cream.

Carrot Cake with Cinnamon Apples

1 piece of carrot cake

cinnamon apples with some sauce

whipped cream

cinnamon

Cut the carrot cake in half diagonally and stack the slices. Serve with cinnamon apples, sauce, a dusting of cinnamon, and whipped cream.

Cheesy Pasta "Bake" with Mushrooms

Despite not having been able to brown the cheese in an oven, we were able to achieve cheesy goodness with a 2 minute spin in the microwave by the V-dub's waffle station. Yes, finals are over and for those of us who've gone home for the summer, the microwave method is not strictly necessary but can still work wonders when you are in a hurry (or just overcome with that sweeping epidemic of summertime laziness).

Cheesy Pasta "Bake" with Mushrooms

pasta (fusilli is our favorite but penne is awesome too)

meatless sauce

shredded cheese blend

parmesan cheese

mushrooms

stewed tomatoes (optional but a plus if they are being served!)

1. Get pasta and sauce in a bowl.

2. Put mushrooms and stewed tomatoes on top of pasta.

3. Sprinkle shredded cheese, then parmesan, over the top of everything and microwave for 2 minutes or until cheese is hot and melted and blended with sauce.

4. Sprinkle on some salt and pepper, if desired, and enjoy!

Josh's Cheesy Fries with Sausage

A shout out to our friend Josh for providing the genius behind this finger-lickin' savory dish. Somewhat reminiscent of the Canadian favorite they call poutine, Josh's creation hits the spot with its comforting combination of protein, potatoes, and gooey melted cheese.

Josh's Cheesy Fries with Sausage

thick-cut fries

1 sausage, or hot dog, sliced

1 slice provolone cheese

Place sausage and fries in a bowl and top with provolone cheese. Nuke in the microwave for about 1 minute or until cheese is melted. Sprinkle with pepper, if desired, and enjoy.

Lily's Glorious Cream of Wheat with Golden Raisins

Things you should never pass up for tests and papers: sleep, breakfast, and golden raisins from the Ratty.

A hearty thanks to our friend Lily for providing us with the inspiration for this recipe! Simple yet wholesome, healthy yet flavorful, this elegant take on cream of wheat is sure to satisfy a hungry appetite during finals week.

Lily's Glorious Cream of Wheat with Golden Raisins

cream of wheat

skim or whole milk

golden raisins

Mix together and enjoy!

Broccoli Rabe with Three Pastas

If you can't make it to Federal Hill because of that paper that needs to get done by tonight, have no fear. Transform the Ratty into your favorite Italian restaurant with a trio of pastas and some garlicky broccoli rabe. Buon Appetito!

Broccoli Rabe with Three Pastas

broccoli rabe

conchiglie with pesto

whole wheat penne with meatless tomato sauce

gnocchi with melted cheese and basil

Arrange on a plate and savor each bite.