The sun is shining, the birds are chirping, school is once more in full swing. Is there anything better than being welcomed back into the warm innards of our faithful friend, the Ratty, and sitting down to a three course meal a la soft serve machine and microwave? Before you answer, please wipe that drool from your chin.
Dessert: Honey Balsamic Drizzled Vanilla Soft Serve with Pepitas (inspired and approved by renowned pastry chef Yanqiang Tan)
Main: Slow-Roasted Beef with Garden Vegetables, Kidney Beans, and Melted Cheese
Appetizer: Creamy Pepperjack Mushrooms (by guest chef Yanqiang Tan)
Wrong order, you say? You got a problem with dessert first? I'm sorry we can't be friends anymore...But I digress. Allow me to analyze the beauty of this meal. Beef, broccoli, mushrooms, and cheese are just meant for each other. They are like good friends you shouldn't separate. The hearty richness of the beef and creamy, milky, salty cheese create the perfect umami base for refreshing broccoli and savory earthy mushrooms. And the assertive flavors of balsamic and honey are smoothed out by bright notes of vanilla and the warm crunch of pepitas. Bon appetit!
Creamy Pepperjack Mushrooms
1/2 cup mushrooms
1 1/2 slices pepperjack cheese
1. Place mushrooms in a bowl. Top with cheese.
2. Microwave on high for 60 seconds until cheese is melted and bubbly and mushrooms are cooked through.
Slow-Roasted Beef with Garden Vegetables, Kidney Beans, and Melted Cheese
1 plate of broccoli and spinach
1/4 cup kidney beans
1/4 cup mushrooms
1/4 cup shredded cheese
1/2 cup braised beef
1. Place a plate upside down over a plate piled high with broccoli and spinach. Microwave for 2 minutes, or until veggies are just cooked through.
2. Add mushrooms, kidney beans, and cheese. Microwave for 50 seconds just to melt the cheese.
3. Spoon beef on top.
Honey Balsamic Drizzled Vanilla Soft Serve with Pepitas
1 small bowl of ice
2.1784 second swirl of vanilla soft serve
drizzle of honey
dash of balsamic vinegar
a few shakes of pepitas
1. Dispense vanilla soft serve on a bowl filled with ice.
2. Carefully dodge people holding trays as you speed-walk to the salad bar dressings. Working quickly so ice cream doesn't melt, drizzle honey over soft serve and add a splash of balsamic vinegar.
3. Shake some pepitas over ice cream.
