Ratty Gourmet

Cheesy Broccoli with Rhode Island Chicken Salad

2012-01-27T16:37:00.004-05:00

What does that look like to you? A cyclops? Ah, great minds think alike. Yes, it is the Cyclops Salad. Odysseus would be proud.

Cheesy Broccoli with Rhode Island Chicken Salad

1 plate of raw broccoli from the salad bar

1/2 cup sliced mushrooms

1/2 cup shredded cheese from burrito bar

1/4 cup Rhode Island Chicken Salad (the one with grapes and apples!)

1 cyclops pupil (tomato slice for Greek mythology non-fans)

1. Put broccoli and mushrooms on a plate, and cover with another plate. Steam on high power in the microwave for 80-90 seconds, until broccoli is just barely cooked through (you don't want mushy broccoli, do you?).

2. Top with shredded cheese, and microwave, uncovered, for 30 seconds to just melt the cheese.

3. Put a dollop of chicken salad on top, and garnish with a beautiful slice of tomato. Admire the cyclopsness of the dish before you, and take a moment to be thankful for both of your eyes.

Lemon Cookies & Cream Ice Cream Sandwich

2011-12-18T10:12:00.003-05:00

For those of us who are done with finals, almost done with finals, plowing through those last four pages of that final paper, not leaving until the 21st, in need of dessert, missing the snow, missed the NDR, in need of sleep, tired of the same old vanilla soft serve in a cone - we offer this humble, three-ingredient ice cream sandwich. Happy (almost) holidays

Lemon Cookies & Cream Ice Cream Sandwich
2 lemon cookies
vanilla soft serve ice cream
oreo pieces

Dispense soft serve into a bowl and sandwich between two cookies. Shower liberally with crushed oreo topping.

Fruity Chicken Caesar Salad

2011-12-09T12:14:00.003-05:00

With finals approaching, it may be tempting to skip lunch for that review session, but listen to your stomach and brain when they cry out for nourishment. Try whipping up something quick such as this Fruity Chicken Caesar Salad, inspired by the talented chef Yanqiang Tan. Crispy bites of chicken pack the protein and energy while raisins and fresh cherry tomatoes give a vitamin-rich boost. Your brain (and maybe even your GPA) will thank you.

Fruity Chicken Caesar Salad

1 plateful of shredded romaine lettuce
5-8 cherry tomatoes
6-7 croutons
2 tablespoons raisins
2-3 pieces chicken fingers
2 tablespoons Caesar salad dressing

With a butter knife, dice the chicken fingers into 1/2 inch cubes. Toss the lettuce, tomatoes, and raisins with Caesar salad dressing and top with croutons and diced chicken.

Asian/Asian American Heritage Series 2011 Stir Fry Night

2011-11-15T21:47:00.003-05:00

A huge thanks to the Brown University Dining Services staff for making AAHS Stir Fry Night possible! Stir fries were inspired by East, Southeast, and South Asian cuisine and included Beef and Broccoli Szechuan, Pineapple Fried Rice, and Vegan Chana Masala along with condiments of lime, chili sauce, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, garlic, and ginger.

We owe a lot to the talented chefs who cooked batch after batch of aromatic stir fries this evening.

If you have comments or ideas for future AAHS events, please email brown.aahm@gmail.com.

Cilantro Grilled Chicken with Apple Butter Mushrooms

2011-10-17T23:14:00.003-04:00

What's the difference between regular ol' grilled chicken and Gourmet Grilled Chicken? The secret is in the Mushroom Sauce. There might be a few secrets in the grilling too, but for those of us who aren't in charge of the grilling, we can still make a hot buttery sauce to dress up our bird.

With some white space on the plate and a healthy dose of imagination, you might just trick yourself into thinking you're dining at l'refectorie Sharpe.

Cilantro Grilled Chicken with Apple Butter Mushrooms
1 large piece of roasted sweet potato
broccoli rabe
1 Cilantro Grilled Chicken breast
Apple Butter Mushrooms (see recipe below)

Scrape out the flesh of the sweet potato and mash with a fork. Discard the skin. Place mashed sweet potato on plate, then top with broccoli rabe and grilled chicken. Finish with a spoonful or two of Apple Butter Mushrooms.

Apple Butter Mushrooms
1/4 cup apple juice
2 butter packets (1 Tbps)
5-6 mushroom slices
pinch salt

Put all ingredients in a bowl and microwave for 1 minute or until butter melts and mushrooms are cooked.

Muenster Muffin Melt

2011-10-06T17:35:00.006-04:00

When Providence weather gives you the chills, make yourself a Muenster Muffin Melt. Thanks to our friend Yanqiang for yet another oozingly scrumptious creation!

(I confess that I personally did not taste the finished product but who really would doubt hot melted cheese on toasted English muffins?)

Yanqiang's Muenster Muffin Melt
slice of muenster
sliced mushrooms
sliced zucchini
roast beef
1 English muffin, sliced and toasted

Toast the English muffin. Place bottom of muffin on a plate, and top with veggies, beef, and cheese. Top with other half of muffin. Microwave for 40 seconds or until cheese is melted and oozing onto the plate. Eat on a chilly autumn day.

Three Course Meal

2011-09-22T19:53:00.007-04:00

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.

Green, Purple, and Orange Salad

2011-09-04T23:26:00.004-04:00

Ah, the start of another year.
Gotta take advantage of those stone fruits while they're in season.

Green, Purple, and Orange Salad

mixed greens
sliced green bell pepper
sliced cucumber
feta cheese
plums
apple cider vinegar
olive oil

Mix up the veggies, fruit, and cheese and drizzle with olive oil and apple cider vinegar.

Nathan's Vanilla Soft Serve

2011-05-28T18:34:00.003-04:00

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

2011-05-28T18:25:00.004-04:00

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

2011-05-28T18:20:00.003-04:00

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

2011-05-28T18:08:00.006-04:00

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

2011-05-15T08:44:00.003-04:00

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

2011-05-11T17:13:00.000-04:00

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

2011-05-09T18:40:00.002-04:00

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.

Josh's Italian Pita Pizza

2011-04-30T09:00:00.004-04:00

Ever the artist, our friend Josh made a gorgeous red, white, and green-topped pizza using pita bread. Just as that melted cheese oozes among the spinach and tomatoes, the Italian flavor oozes from this dish.

Josh's Italian Pita Pizza

1 piece of pita bread

baby spinach

sliced mushrooms

cherry tomatoes, sliced in half

shredded cheese

Arrange spinach, mushrooms, cheese, and tomatoes on pita bread. Microwave for 1-2 minutes or until cheese melts. Slice it up and enjoy!

Fruity Easter Salad

2011-04-24T12:26:00.002-04:00

A fresh fruity salad hits the spot for brunch on a sunny Easter Sunday.

Fruity Easter Salad

baby spinach

romaine lettuce

green beans with sesame

cantaloupe, pineapple, honey dew melon chunks

cucumbers, sliced

golden raisins

feta cheese

balsamic vinegar and olive oil

Toss everything together and enjoy!

Scallops, Tomatoes, and Fennel at Earth Week 2011

2011-04-22T10:08:00.003-04:00

Thursday night's Earth Week dinner featured chef Jody Adams' Seared Scallops with Sunchokes, Peas, and Herbs, Braised Fennel, local tomatoes, and more!

Squash Bisque with Cheesy Bacon Collard Greens

2011-04-15T10:43:00.005-04:00

The Ratty's squash bisque is delicious on its own - a delicious balance of sweet and savory blended into a velvety smooth creamy soup. You can customize it by adding a personal spin, such as what we did here with bacon collard greens, cheese, scallions, and a slice of whole grain Seven Stars Bread.

Squash Bisque with Cheesy Bacon Collard Greens

1 bowl of squash bisque

bacon collard greens

1 slice of cheddar cheese

scallions

1 slice of Seven Stars Whole Grain Bread

1. Put cheese and half of collard greens on top and microwave until cheese melts - about 20 seconds.

2. Top with the rest of the collard greens and scallions.

3. Enjoy with the bread!

Golden Raisin Spring Salad

2011-04-15T10:37:00.004-04:00

What is the difference between a golden raisin and a purple raisin? Maybe the golden ones have a little more tang, or have a brighter, crisper flavor. Whatever the difference, these little jewels of sunshine are just bursting with spring!

Golden Raisin Spring Salad

1 plate of mixed greens

grape tomatoes

golden raisins

white beans

balsamic vinegar and extra virgin olive oil

1. Top the greens with the tomatoes, raisins, and white beans.

2. Drizzle balsamic vinegar and olive oil on top.

Easy Peasy Beans

2011-04-13T18:29:00.002-04:00

When you are in a rush and want to eat something nutritious yet simple, go for an assortment of beans, peas, veggies, and tuna. This combination almost has all the colors of the rainbow! Now if only there were some purple eggplant and blue...uh blue...raspberries?

Easy Peasy Beans

shredded zucchini

sauteed green beans

steamed green peas

pinto beans

black beans

garbanzo beans

halved cherry tomatoes

1/4 cup serving of tuna

1 tsp ranch dressing (or your favorite dressing)

1 tsp sour cream

1 tsp mayonnaise

1. Arrange zucchini, beans, peas, tomatoes, and tuna on a plate.

2. Drizzle tomato with dressing.

3. Top the tuna with sour cream and mayo.

"Andreas-style" Spinach Mushroom Pita Sandwich

2011-04-10T13:27:00.003-04:00

As I was savoring a particularly juicy, cheese-smothered mushroom in my Greek veggie sandwich the other day at Andreas, it suddenly occurred to me: I had, at the Ratty, pretty much all the ingredients conveniently at my disposal to recreate that very same sandwich.

Mushrooms, spinach, tomato, onion, swiss and American cheese are ordinary on their own but absolutely wonderful in a warm pita nuked in the microwave for a minute or so. Served with a romaine lettuce salad, you could seriously imagine that you are dining at a particular Greek restaurant on Thayer street.

"Andreas-style" Spinach Mushroom Pita Sandwich

1 pita

plateful of spinach

1 slice of American cheese

2 slices of swiss cheese

sliced mushrooms

2-3 slices of tomato

2-3 onion rings

golden raisins (optional but very yummy)

1 large piece of wax paper

1. Microwave spinach and mushrooms on a plate for 2 minutes, or until spinach is cooked.

2. Place tomatoes and onions in a pita. Layer spinach-mushroom mixture on top and sprinkle with golden raisins, if using.

3. Place cheese on top and roll the pita up on both sides. Wrap a wax paper "diaper" on one end.

4. Nuke in the microwave for about 1 minute to melt the cheese.

5. Serve warm with a salad of lettuce, tomato, cucumbers (olives and feta too if available).

Maggie's S'mores Dessert Made with Love

2011-04-05T23:26:00.002-04:00

Our friend, Maggie, came up with this delightful dessert which combines crumbled up s'mores bars with swirled soft serve and chocolate sauce from the V-dub. It is a sweet treat that is made with love.

Maggie's S'mores Dessert Made with Love

1 s'mores bar

1.5-second serving of swirled soft serve

1 spoonful of chocolate sauce

1. Break the s'mores bar into chunks and place it in a bowl.

2. Dispense soft serve on top in a pretty swirl.

3. Drizzle with chocolate sauce. Taste the love!

Chicken Salad, Broccoli, Tomato Sandwich Two Ways

2011-04-05T23:14:00.003-04:00

You can take Rhode Island Chicken Salad, mix it with with steamed broccoli and mushrooms, and serve it open faced or in a traditional sandwich.

Rhode Island Chicken Salad with Broccoli

a small handful of raw broccoli and mushrooms

1 serving of Rhode Island Chicken Salad

1 leaf of fresh lettuce

2 slices tomato

bread

1. Place broccoli and mushrooms in a small bowl, cover with a plate, and steam on high power in the microwave for 1-2 minutes or until veggies are just cooked.

2. Carefully remove the plate and add the steamed veggies to the chicken salad, mixing to distribute evenly.

3. Serve with lettuce and tomato in an open-faced or regular sandwich.

Festive Cajun Chicken Pasta

2011-03-21T08:40:00.003-04:00

This dish was put together in a matter of minutes using the Ratty's spicy Tastes of the World Cajun chicken pasta, tater tots, corn salad, steamed peas, white beans from the salad bar, and mixed greens. The spicy pasta sauce provides a nice flavor contrast to the salty crunch tater tots and sweet corn and peas. As a cheesy Food Network host would say, "It's a flavor party in your mouth!"

Festive Cajun Chicken Pasta

1 serving of Tastes of the World Cajun Chicken Pasta (or any pasta with spicy sauce)

1/4 cup steamed green peas

1/4 cup corn salad

1 Tbsp white beans

4 tater tots, broken in half

mixed salad greens for garnish

1. Mix in with the pasta the peas, corn, beans, and tater tots.

2. Garnish with greens and enjoy!

Luck of the Irish Veggies and Corned Beef

2011-03-19T08:07:00.003-04:00

Fortune shines upon those who eat a rainbow of veggies with their protein!

Luck of the Irish Veggies and Corned Beef

broccoli, microwaved with water and garlic infused olive oil for 2 min

herbed slice carrots

baby tomatoes

sliced corned beef

irish soda bread

Arrange food on plate and enjoy!

Adela's Lucky Green Jello Sundae

2011-03-17T21:28:00.003-04:00

Thank you, Adela, for letting me "kidnap" your jello to snap this photo! To anyone who has yet to experience the magical combination of green jello and Ratty soft serve, please give this lovely concoction a try the next time you're lucky enough to find green jello at the end of the bistro line.

Adela's Lucky Green Jello Sundae

1 serving of green jello

vanilla soft serve ice cream

shamrock sprinkles

Assemble, enjoy, and savor the luck of the jello.

St Patty's Day Cupcake

2011-03-17T21:25:00.004-04:00

St. Patty's Day Cupcake

1 white cupcake

cream cheese

shamrock and sugar sprinkles

Spread cream cheese generously on cupcake and decorate with sprinkles!

Purple Green and Orange Pork Spareribs

2011-03-16T13:54:00.003-04:00

Thanks to daylight savings, the Ratty was flooded with sunlight at dinnertime last Sunday and I couldn't resist pulling out my camera. In honor of the colorful-eating theme of National Nutrition Month, this "recipe" is really not a recipe at all but a modest tribute to the beautiful colors that veggies can add to one's plate.

Purple Green and Orange Pork Spareribs

Arrange steamed peas and mushrooms, cucumber, braised purple cabbage, baked sweet potatoes, and tangy pork spareribs on a plate and enjoy.

Fruity Caprese Salad

2011-03-13T07:56:00.005-04:00

March is National Nutrition Month! This year's theme is Eat Right with Color: http://www.eatright.org/nnm/.

In honor of the month, we've amped up the color spectrum on a typically tri-colored classic: caprese salad. Still infused with its lovely basil/mozz/tomato flavor combo, this new take on the traditional favorite is packed with even more antioxidants and those flu-fighting vitamins.

Fruity Caprese Salad

baby spinach

1/2 tangerine, peeled with segments sliced in half

2 basil olive oil infused mozzarella balls (from the Ratty's caprese salad)

3-4 cherry tomatoes (from caprese salad)

3-4 sliced peaches (salad bar)

2-3 roasted beets, sliced thinly

Toss everything together and enjoy! If there happens to be basil infused olive oil at the salad bar, feel free to drizzle it over the salad.

Rhode Island Chicken Salad with Broccoli

2011-03-02T15:20:00.002-05:00

We love the Ratty's Rhode Island Chicken Salad because it has juicy grapes, crisp fresh apples, plump raisins, large chunks of chicken and creamy mayo. One way to stretch the flavor of chicken salad is to include steamed broccoli florets and sliced mushrooms, and to serve it with crisp lettuce and tomato slices.

Rhode Island Chicken Salad with Broccoli

a small handful of raw broccoli and mushrooms

1 serving of Rhode Island Chicken Salad

1 leaf of fresh lettuce

2 slices tomato

1. Place broccoli and mushrooms in a small bowl, cover with a plate, and steam on high power in the microwave for 1-2 minutes or until veggies are just cooked.

2. Carefully remove the plate and add the steamed veggies to the chicken salad, mixing to distribute evenly.

3. Serve with lettuce and tomato.

Sunny Side Up Grilled Cheese

2011-02-28T23:17:00.003-05:00

What's better than an egg over easy? An egg over easy with cheese! What's better than that? An egg over easy with cheese stuffed into a toasty piece of grilled Seven Stars bread. Mmmmm.

Sunny Side Up Grilled Cheese

1 slice whole wheat Seven Stars bread

1 egg, over light, with cheese

1. Order one egg, over light, with cheese from the omelette bar. Remember to smile and say thank you.

2. Panini press a slice of Seven Stars whole wheat bread in the panini maker until golden (2-3 minutes).

3. Create a pocket in the bread by slicing horizontally into the bread with a knife. When the omelette is ready, carefully stuff it into the pocket and enjoy!

Spinach Edamame Falafel Pocket

2011-02-28T23:10:00.004-05:00

A green spin on the falafel pocket.

Spinach Edamame Falafel Pocket

1/2 pita pocket

2-3 slices tomato

2-3 onion rings

plateful of baby spinach

scant spoonful of edamame

2-3 falafels

2 Tbsp cucumber yogurt sauce

1 Tbsp tahini

1. Microwave spinach for 1-2 minutes or until slightly wilted.

2. Cut falafel into small pieces and mix with cooked spinach, yogurt sauce, edamame, and tahini.

3. Stuff a pita pocket with spinach mixture, tomato, and onions and enjoy!

Rice Krispies Banana Napoleon

2011-02-24T13:36:00.002-05:00

This is more like a Rice Krispies sandwich rather than a napoleon, but who cares what it's called? It's delicious! This is how to eat it: Eat the three banana slices on top first. Pick up the rest of the sandwich, spoon some soft serve ice cream on top, and take a bite. Repeat!

Rice Krispies Banana Napoleon

1 thick Rice Krispies slice

1/2 banana

soft serve vanilla ice cream

1. Carefully cut the Rice Krispies slice into two thinner slices.

2. Slice the banana into thick medallions.

3. Layer the banana slices between the Rice Krispies. Put some bananas on top.

4. Attempt to coax the vanilla soft serve into a tame swirl on a small plate.

5. Enjoy as described above.

Caprese Salad with Roasted Portabello Mushrooms and Black-Eyed Peas

2011-02-12T20:58:00.003-05:00

Steamed spinach is a perfect backdrop for the spicy flavors of the black-eyed peas with onions, sweet cherry tomatoes and mozzarella, earthy portabello mushrooms and basil-infused olive oil, and chewy nuttiness of the kashi salad.

Caprese Salad with Roasted Portabello and Black-Eyed Peas

1 cup of spinach

1/4 cup kashi salad (from vegetarian sandwich bar)

5 slivers of portabello mushroom

1/3 cup vegan spicy black-eyed peas

1/2 cup caprese salad (cherry tomatoes, salt and pepper, mini mozzarella, basil, extra virgin olive oil)

1. Put spinach on a large plate and put another plate upside down on top. Microwave on high for 50 seconds, until spinach is just wilted.

2. Carefully remove the top plate and add the rest of the ingredients. Toss to combine.

Banana Strawberry Ice Cream Sundae

2011-02-08T22:28:00.002-05:00

Treat yourself once in a while with this decadent vanilla ice cream sundae, complete with sliced bananas, roasted strawberries, chocolate sauce, and crushed cereal.

Banana Strawberry Ice Cream Sundae

1 scoop of vanilla ice cream

chocolate sauce

roasted strawberries

sliced banana

crushed cereal (recommended: Golden Grahams and Cinnamon Toast Crunch)

1. Get a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

2. Ladle on some chocolate sauce.

3. Surround ice cream with strawberries and banana slices.

4. Garnish with a sprinkling of crushed cereal.

Provolone-Stuffed Toast with Ham and Broccoli

2011-02-03T13:51:00.002-05:00

There's something very comforting about oozy cheese. If you eat it with some lovely green broccoli florets, you'll soothe your conscience too. The ham is not just for decoration - if you are skilled enough to cut a pocket in your toast without completely mutilating it, by all means insert the ham with the cheese before grilling on the panini press. Or you can just put the ham on top and eat it like an open faced sandwich, which is just as delicious and easier! Other possible toppings include sliced tomato, caramelized onions, a fried egg, and anything you personally find delicious (excluding soft serve ice cream).

Provolone-Stuffed Toast with Ham and Broccoli

1 thick slice wheat Seven Stars Bread

2 slices provolone cheese

1 thin slice ham

5 or so steamed broccoli florets

1 pickle wedge

1. Using a knife, carefully cut a pocket in the bread. (If it's too difficult, try toasting the bread first to get it crunchy on the surface, and then cut a slit)

2. Insert the cheese.

3. Lightly spray a panini press with nonstick spray, and press the bread with cheese inside for 1 minute, or until golden grill marks form and the cheese is melted.

5. Serve with broccoli, pickle, and ham. You can top the toast with ham or any other delicious toppings you can think of.

Berry Vanilla Parfait

2011-02-03T08:31:00.002-05:00

Those plastic cups at the V-dub are just gigantic! If you make this, do plan to share it with some friends who don't mind eating ice cream in this icy weather. Sliced bananas are a great addition too. We recommend slightly under-ripe bananas because they lend a cooling contrast to the sweetness of the ice cream and berry compotes.

Berry Vanilla Parfait

strawberry compote

vanilla soft serve ice cream

blueberry compote

a mix of Golden Grahams and Cinnamon Toast Crunch, crushed

a sugar cone

whipped cream

1. Layer the fruit compotes, ice cream, and crushed cereal in a tall clear glass.

2. Add sugar cone and whipped cream for garnish.

3. Share with friends!

Portabello Melt on 7-Stars Wheat Bread

2011-01-27T08:01:00.002-05:00

In a rush? This sandwich is quick and delicious, with the refreshing fragrance of whole wheat bread, umami from the mushrooms, warm nuttiness from the cheese and broccoli, and a kick from the pepper.

Portabello Melt on 7-Stars Wheat Bread

1 slice 7-Stars wheat bread

a dab of dijon mustard (if desired)

five slices of portabello mushroom cap

1 slice white cheddar or swiss cheese

salt and pepper

broccoli florets, steamed in microwave

1. Spread bread with mustard, if desired. Add slices of portabello.

2. Fold cheese in half and place on top of everything. Microwave on a small plate for 45 seconds, or until cheese is melted.

3. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, and add broccoli on top.

Open Faced Tuna Melt on 7 Stars

2011-01-26T21:42:00.003-05:00

I love sandwiches. They often seem like a warm-weather kind of food (think picnic on the Main Green when its 70 degrees out), but they can be just as yummy in the snowy cold - especially when they feature warm, melted cheese.

Open Faced Tuna Melt on 7 Stars

1 slice whole grain 7 Stars bread

Mediterranean tuna salad

1 slice of Swiss cheese

1 tsp olive oil or 1 tsp mustard

Spread the bread slice with olive oil or mustard, top with tuna salad and cheese, folded in half. Microwave on high for 1 min, or until cheese has melted. Enjoy!

Spiced Cocoa Bread Pudding

2010-12-16T12:57:00.003-05:00

I am a big fan of the Ratty's new coffee station. This bread pudding is excellent for finals week. Why? It contains cinnamon, coffee, cocoa, and coconut. Cinnamon is supposed to boost your memory so you can fit more names and dates into your brain before 2 pm. Coffee will help you keep your eyes open while you study. Cocoa will make you feel as if you are falling in love-a good mood-uplifter after the exam. Coconut will remind you of tropical places and the holidays - yes, my friends, the end is in sight!

Spiced Cocoa Bread Pudding (a.k.a. Finals Week Bread Pudding)

1 slice soft bread roll with glazed top, cubed

1/2 cup milk

2 Tbsp coffee

cinnamon

cocoa powder

raisins

coconut flakes

Put bread in a bowl and fill to the brim with milk and a little bit of coffee. Add a dash of cinnamon and cocoa powder. Microwave on high for 1/5 minutes. Sprinkle on some coconut flakes and raisins. Dust with more cinnamon and cocoa powder, if desired, and enjoy!

Harvest Veggie Melt

2010-12-15T16:53:00.002-05:00

On below-freezing days nothing hits the spot better than hot steamy veggies and melted cheese. Just look at that ooey cheesy broccoli goodness - it's calling your name.

Harvest Veggie Melt

broccoli

onions

mushrooms

spinach

tomatoes

raisins (optional)

chickpeas

shredded cheese

garden veggie pasta sauce

1. Gather veggies on a plate.

2. Drizzle with garden veggie pasta sauce.

3. Sprinkle cheese on top, cover and microwave for 2 minutes on high. Enjoy on a cold day.

Raymond's Crunchy Lettuce Chickpea Salad

2010-12-12T08:19:00.004-05:00

All food is beautiful on the inside, wouldn't you agree? This one was thought up by our creative genius friend, Raymond, who insisted that it was ugly and I shouldn't take a picture of it. But I did, since I thought it was a pretty genius salad combination of crunchy, crispy, and protein-y elements.

Raymond's Crunchy Lettuce Chickpea Salad

lettuce

dollop of chickpea salad (roots and shoots line)

crunchy crouton strips (is that what they're called?)

Mix everything together and enjoy!

Herb Baked Chicken Garden Salad

2010-12-12T08:13:00.003-05:00

Sunday brunch getting repetitive, you say? Mix things up with a mixed greens salad!

Herb Baked Chicken Garden Salad

1 piece of Herb Baked Chicken*

mixed greens

baby tomatoes

cucumbers

olive oil and lemon wedge, if desired

salt/pepper

Use a fork and knife to shred the chicken. Toss with other ingredients. A little squirt of lemon adds some nice contrast to the fat from the chicken, as do a shaking of salt/pepper.

*the drumstick pieces are the best. (but don't tell anyone I told you that)

Egg Salad and Cucumber Tea Sandwich

2010-12-05T23:47:00.003-05:00

There's something about little crustless triangular sandwiches that just make you want to make a cup of tea and stick out your pinky while you sip it.

Egg Salad and Cucumber Tea Sandwich

2 slices whole wheat bread

egg salad

cucumers

cream cheese (optional)

1. Cut crusts off of bread.

2. Spread egg salad and cream cheese on bread and top with cucumbers.

3. Make a sandwich and cut into four triangles. Be fancy.

Savory Spinach Tofu Wrap

2010-12-01T08:08:00.004-05:00

Savory Spinach is delicious by itself, but downright scrumptious in a wrap. I mean, who can resist the green spinach-y cross section of a wrap filled with Savory Spinach? Your post-Thanksgiving protein/fat/sugar-laden digestive system will thank you.

Savory Spinach Tofu Wrap

1 herb (?) tortilla (the one with the greenish flecks in it)

vegan grilled Asian veggies

peanut butter

soy sauce

honey

tofu (6-8 cubes)

savory spinach

1. Mix 2 Tbsp peanut butter with a tsp of soy sauce. Spread on flour tortilla. Drizzle with honey.

2. Put veggies, tofu, and spinach on tortilla. Wrap it up, cut in half, admire the cross-section. Enjoy!

Scallion Mashed Potatoes

2010-12-01T08:03:00.003-05:00

An East-meets-West twist on a Thanksgiving classic.

Scallion Mashed Potatoes

1 baked potato

2 Tbsp sour cream

1 Tbsp sesame oil

splash of milk

1/4 cup scallions

Scrape out the insides of the potato and combine with the rest of the ingredients, minus the scallions. Stir in the scallions once the potato mixture is as smooth as you want it (I like it a bit chunky).

Cheesy Broccoli, Corn, and Carrots

2010-11-26T09:47:00.002-05:00

We tried in vain to come up with a less cheesy name. This dish uses almost every color of the rainbow! Which means it's loaded with a variety of nutrients, right? It's just missing red, violet, and blue. Maybe we should've added tomatoes, eggplant, and...uh...blueberries? Or maybe those blue moon marshmallows from Lucky Charms...mmm, marshmallows and veggies.

Cheesy Broccoli, Corn, and Carrots

1 cup broccoli, broken into smaller florets

1 Tbsp basil-infused olive oil

salt and pepper, to taste

1/4 cup corn

1/4 cup shredded carrots

2 Tbsp shredded cheddar cheese

2 Tbsp sour cream

2 Tbsp guacamole

1. Toss broccoli with basil-infused olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.

2. Add corn, carrots, and cheese. Microwave for 2 minutes, or until veggies are just cooked.

3. Add a dollop each of sour cream and guacamole.

Lydia's Gourmet Hummus Dip

2010-11-16T23:07:00.003-05:00

Thanks to Lydia Joukowsky for sending us this delicious recipe! I couldn't get pretzels or pita but if you're a fan of cucumbers then you'll love the combo of crunchy fresh veggie-ness with nutty creamy hummus-ness in this awesome appetizer. Super easy to put together, and that tablespoon of olive oil really does wonders to kick it up a notch.

Lydia's Gourmet Hummus Dip

1 cup(ish) of hummus

1 tablespoon of olive oil

1. Put hummus on to plate and flatten into a 1 inch puck using back of fork.

2. Stick the fork into the center of the puck and spin to cut a hole in the puck.

3. Pour olive oil into the hole; overflow of oil is good. For dippers: pretzels, carrots, pita, or any kind of bread is delicious!! Enjoy!

Baked Chicken and Garden Greens

2010-11-14T23:30:00.002-05:00

Why are they called garden greens? Do they grow in your garden? Maybe someone just made it up because mesclun mix didn't sound appetizing enough. Anyhow, these leaves are pretty delicious especially when tossed with cranberries and pumpkin seeds, and a chicken leg! You can add a simple vinegar and oil dressing if you like; if not, it's delicious as is.

Baked Chicken and Garden Greens

1 bed of garden greens

cranberries

pumpkin seeds

chicken leg

vinegar and oil (optional)

1. Put everything on one plate. Drizzle with vinegar and oil, if desired.

Berry Patch Coffee Cake

2010-11-12T12:58:00.003-05:00

A fun way to dress up your coffee cake and pretend it's spring in the middle of this lovely fall weather.

Berry Patch Coffee Cake
1 slice of coffee cake
plain yogurt
shredded coconut
cranberries
blueberry jam
raspberry jam

1. Garnish the coffee cake with yogurt, coconut, blueberry jam, and cranberries.
2. Dot the plate with raspberry jam.

Honey Glazed Pork with Scallion Mashed Potatoes and Sesame Green Beans

2010-11-09T16:32:00.002-05:00

An "Asian" twist on roast pork and potatoes, using sesame, scallions, and honey as flavor accents.

Don't forget that this Thursday is the AAHM Ratty Dinner special! http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=158222947546179&index=1

Check out the AAHM Food Fact of the Day on your left as you enter the Ratty! http://www.brown.edu/Student_Services/Food_Services/

Honey Glazed Pork with Scallion Mashed Potatoes and Sesame Green Beans

sesame green beans

1 baked potato

2 Tbsp scallions

2 Tbsp sour cream

1 tsp sesame oil

1 slice of roast pork

drizzle of honey

1. Prepare the mashed potatoes: Cut a baked potato in half and scoop out the insides into a bowl. Use a fork to mash potatoes with scallions, sour cream, and sesame oil.

2. Arrange green beans on plate. Press the mashed potatoes into a small cup, and invert onto beans. Place sliced roast pork on top of mashed potatoes and drizzle with honey. Enjoy!

"Oyako" Chicken & Egg Sandwich

2010-11-08T16:42:00.001-05:00

"Oyako" means parent and child in Japanese - if you've seen "oyako donburi" in Japanese restaurants, you'll know what I'm talking about (a rice dish topped with chicken and egg - bonus points if you can figure out which is the "parent" and which is the "child")

"Oya-ko" Chicken & Egg Sandwich

1 slice of whole grain 7 Stars bread

1 leg piece of spicy herb-baked chicken

mixed salad greens

1 egg over light

cranberries for garnish

Take the meat off of the chicken leg and arrange on bread. Top with salad greens, fried egg, and cranberries. Enjoy!

Cracker Appetizer

2010-11-07T16:08:00.003-05:00

Sometimes it's fun to play with your food. Does anyone eat appetizers in the Ratty? No? Oh c'mon, why else would the Ratty so thoughtfully provide us with ham, crackers, sliced cucumbers, farm fresh apples, three kinds of peanut butter, and grape tomatoes in festive colors?

Cracker Appetizer

2 wheat crackers

peanut butter

apple

cucumber

ham

grape tomatoes, halved

1. Cut out a wedge of apple and spread peanut butter on a cracker. Top the peanut butter cracker with the apple.

2. Cut a cucumber into a flower shape and put it on top of a cracker with ham.

3. Garnish the plate with grape tomato halves.

Spinach Mushroom Bacon Salad - Olivia's Organics Recipe Contest

2010-11-06T23:30:00.003-04:00

Do you know about Olivia's Organics salad greens? They are sold at Eastside Marketplace and Whole Foods, and are delicious! Olivia's Organics is hosting a recipe contest, so in the spirit of creative healthy eating, consider submitting your favorite recipe! Details below.

Spinach Mushroom Bacon Salad

baby spinach

mushrooms

bacon, broken up

broccoli, broken into smaller pieces

hard-boiled egg, peeled and roughly chopped

chopped tomatoes

chopped roasted red bell peppers

1. Microwave mushrooms, bacon, and broccoli for 100 seconds or until mushrooms and broccoli are just cooked through. (Tip: Turn a plate upside down to cover everything and prevent it from drying out in the microwave. Careful when removing it! Steam hurts.)

2. Toss everything together.

***CALLING ALL HOME CHEFS***

Olivia’s Organics Healthier Holiday Recipe Contest

This Is Not Your Grandmother’s Holiday Casserole!

CHELSEA, MA (Oct, 2010) – The ingredients for happy holidays begin with family, friends and, of course, delicious food! This holiday season Olivia’s Organics is inviting home chefs to get creative and share their new healthy holiday recipes, competing for 52 weeks worth of Olivia’s Organics salads. The prize, valued at approximately $200.00 is a great way to kick off the New Year!

Olivia’s Organics is ravenous for recipes that offer flavorful and healthy alternatives to traditional heavy holiday meals, from golden roasted turkey with lighter fixings, to putting a nutritious twist on grandma’s holiday casserole. In order to be considered, recipes must incorporate at least one of Olivia’s Organics fresh greens. The complete line of Olivia’s Organics Salads featuring: 50/50 blend, Baby Arugula, Asian Salad, Herb Salad, Baby or Crispy Romaine, Baby Spinach, Spring Mix, Sweet Baby Lettuce Blend and Italian Crunch.

Olivia’s Organics salads are cultivated exclusively on certified organic farms in the U.S. and conveniently available at grocery stores and supermarkets across the Northeast. Selecting Olivia’s salads help not only your body but also the environment. Olivia’s Organics gives back a portion of all proceeds to the Olivia's Organics Charitable Foundation, benefiting children in the communities where products are sold.

How to Enter:

Start by going to the Olivia’s Organics Facebook page and join the community http://www.facebook.com/pages/Olivias-Organics/268884081328?ref=ts – say hi, learn about our organic greens, think about new delicious and nutritious dishes to serve as part of your own holiday spread and create a Healthier Holiday Recipe. All recipes must be original and of course include our salad greens.

Judges will choose one first place contest winner who will be awarded the grand prize of 52 weeks’ worth of Olivia’s Organics salads, and two runners up who will each receive $50 in Olivia’s Organics salad coupons. Everyone who enters will receive a coupon good for a free sample of Olivia's Organics salad greens. For more information about the Olivia’s Organics Summer Harvest Recipe contest, visit us on Facebook.

Deadline:

The deadline for submissions is December 20, 2010. The winner will be notified by January 6, 2011. All decisions are final.

About Olivia’s Organics

For more than 70 years Olivia’s family has been bringing the freshest, best quality, all-natural tender leaf lettuce, spinach and celery hearts to consumers in the Northeast. In 2006 the Olivia’s Organics brand was born as a way to provide the finest certified organic tender leaf salads possible to consumers. Olivia’s Organics farmers, handpicked by the family, cultivate their fields using only earth friendly, organic methods. The salad varieties are locally packaged in Chelsea, Massachusetts following the highest standards for freshness and food safety, with 100 percent traceability. Its packaging is reusable, contains no BPA and is made from recyclable materials. As committed as Olivia’s Organics is to quality produce, the company is equally committed to investing in the lives of our children. As such, a portion of all profits support the Olivia’s Organics Charitable Foundation, benefiting community-based children's charities where products are sold. To learn more about Olivia’s Organics and its foundation please visit: http://www.oliviasorganics.org/

Vegetarian Egg Rolls with Josh's Sauce

2010-11-01T23:06:00.004-04:00

Did you know that November is Asian/Asian American History Month? Celebrate with Asian food at the Ratty!

In case you haven't heard, the AAHM special dinner will be held next Thursday (11/11) from 4:00 - 7:30 at the Ratty. The menu will feature dishes from East, Southeast, and South Asian Cuisine, including Mango Lassi and Green Tea Ice Cream for dessert - don't miss it! http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=158222947546179

Credit goes to our dear friend Josh for inventing this sauce - the secret ingredient? Ketchup! Although the version I tried at lunch today didn't have honey in it, Josh recommends adding a little bit of sweetness to balance out the tangy/salty flavor of the sauce - try it with honey and you likely will not be disappointed.

Vegetarian Egg Rolls with Josh's Sauce

vegetarian egg roll(s)

steamed broccoli (optional)

Josh's sauce:

2 Tbsp ketchup

1.5 Tbsp soy sauce

1 Tbsp peanut butter

1 Tbsp olive oil

1 tsp worcestershire sauce

1 tsp sesame oil

1 tsp honey (optional)

Mix the sauce ingredients together until smooth. Slice egg roll in half and serve with sauce and broccoli on the side.

Chicken Salad Bacon Sandwich

2010-10-29T16:41:00.004-04:00

The Ratty does a pretty special chicken salad with grapes called "Rhode Island Chicken Salad." To honor the spirit of local eating, we sandwiched it between Seven Stars wheat bread and added lettuce and bacon. The sweetness of the grapes, creaminess of the mayonnaise-rich chicken salad, fresh crispness of the lettuce, salty bacon-y-ness of the bacon, and earthy soft wheaty bread really bring this sandwich together.

Chicken Salad Bacon Sandwich

2 slices Seven Stars Bakery wheat bread

Rhode Island Chicken Salad

lettuce

bacon

1. Spread chicken salad on bread.

2. Top with lettuce and bacon.

3. Cut in half and enjoy!

Almost Vegan Burrito

2010-10-29T16:22:00.002-04:00

I almost called this "Vegan Burrito" but realized that it has sour cream! Oops. But you can still make it vegan - just omit the sour cream and replace it with something else that is creamy, like hummus!

Almost Vegan Burrito

1 whole wheat tortilla

1 serving of vegan roasted veggies (peppers, zucchini, tomatoes, onions)

lettuce

sour cream

refried beans

salsa

1. Pile everything onto a wrap.

2. Wrap it up.

3. Cut in half.

Gnocchi with Mushrooms and Arugula

2010-10-22T18:56:00.003-04:00

The gnocchi at the Ratty makes me happy. Did you know that it's pronounced "neeYAW-kee"? If you are curious how to pronounce all the other Italian dishes, feel free to take the trolley down to Federal Hill's Mediterraneo, a cute little restaurant where they post their menu on the window, with pronunciations for everything!

Gnocchi with Mushrooms and Arugula

1 bed of arugula

1 serving of gnocchi alla sorrentina

1/3 cup sliced mushrooms

2 tsp extra virgin olive oil

salt and pepper to taste

1. Microwave mushrooms and olive oil in a bowl until mushrooms are just cooked through, about 1 minute.

2. Plate the arugula, gnocchi, and mushrooms, and sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste.

Tortellini Soup with Cheese Crisp and Greens

2010-10-19T23:55:00.005-04:00

When something is good, there no need to fuss around with it too much. Tortellini soup is an excellent example. The cheese crisp was invented on accident when we noticed that shredded cheese melted in the microwave tends to dry out and form a thin crispy cracker that sticks to the side of the bowl. The key is to use a very tiny amount of cheese and melt it in a clean bowl, and monitor it in the microwave so it doesn't burn. You want it just golden around the edges and still creamy white in the center! Cheese crisps make great garnishes for soups and salads.

Tortellini Soup with Cheese Crisp and Greens

1 bowl of Ratty tortellini soup

7 shreds of shredded cheese

mixed greens

1. Sprinkle the cheese in a soup bowl. Microwave until the cheese is browned on the edges.

2. Remove from the microwave, wait 1 minute, and peel off the cheese crisp.

3. Garnish the bowl of soup with greens and cheese crisp.

Sunny Arugula

2010-10-17T14:40:00.005-04:00

I love Sunday brunches, especially when it's 65 degrees and sunny outside and the Ratty surprises you with arugula at the salad bar.

Sunny Arugula

1 egg, over light, with cheese

arugula

olive oil

Arrange arugula in center of plate; drizzle with olive oil. Place the egg on top, pierce the yolk, and get a bite of egg, cheese, and greens on a fork. Repeat.

Raspberry Jelly Roll and Cream

2010-10-15T18:49:00.002-04:00

A delightful dessert using ingredients from the V-dub!

Raspberry Jelly Roll and Cream

1 slice raspberry jelly roll cake

chocolate sauce

sweetened strawberries

sweetened blueberries

whipped cream

1. Get a slice of cake.

2. Top with fruit and drizzle with chocolate.

3. Garnish the plate with whipped cream.

Vdub Hummus Wrap

2010-10-09T23:47:00.002-04:00

The hummus at the Vdub is really good; 'specially in a wrap.

Vdub Hummus Wrap

1 whole wheat tortilla

1 spoonful of Vdub hummus (the kind with the green bits in it)

2 Tbsp tabouli

2 Tbsp feta

2 Tbsp diced onion

2 leaves lettuce

1. Spread hummus on wrap (I like to do a horizontal streak of it on the bottom third).

2. Add tabouli, onions, lettuce, and feta.

3. Roll up wrap carefully. Slice in half and enjoy.

Vegan Fagioli Soup with Spinach and Cheese

2010-10-05T15:30:00.003-04:00

cold weather + people coughing around you + rain + tingly sensation at the back of your throat = hot soup season

This one is wonderful on a cold, drizzly day. Not that the Vegan Fagioli Soup isn't delicious on its own, but there's something about melted cheese that just gets me every time. A word of warning, though: please don't try to gobble this down in the 2 minutes before Chem conference. I tried; the soup was very hot.

Vegan Fagioli Soup with Spinach and Cheese

1 spoonful savory spinach (1/2 cup)

2 ladelfuls Vegan Fagioli Soup (3/4 cup)

1 slice provolone

1. Get the spinach in a bowl.

2. Get the soup.

3. Place a slice of Provolone on top.

4. Microwave for 40 seconds or until cheese is melted. Enjoy slowly on a cold autumn day.

Cobb Salad

2010-10-03T09:54:00.005-04:00

Whoever came up with the bacon, lettuce, tomato combo was a genius. According to Wikipedia,

"The Cobb salad is a main-dish garden salad made from chopped salad greens (head lettuce, watercress, chicory, and romaine), tomato, crisp bacon, boiled or roasted chicken breast, hard-boiled egg, avocado, chives, red-wine vinaigrette and Roquefort cheese. The salad was invented in the 1930s at the Hollywood Brown Derby restaurant, where it became a signature dish. It is named for the restaurant's owner, Robert Howard Cobb, first cousin of baseball legend Ty Cobb. Stories vary as to whether the salad was invented by Cobb or by his chef."

Interesting, no? This version sadly does not include chicken breast, avocado, chives, red-wine vinegrette, and Roquefort cheese, but it is still pretty delicious.

Cobb Salad
1 bed of romaine lettuce
chopped hard boiled egg
chopped tomatoes
torn up bacon
corn, zucchini, red onion medley
black beans
oil and vinegar (optional; we didn't use it because bacon provides enough salt, flavor, and fat)

1. Plate the lettuce.
2. Top with the other ingredients.

Broccoli Mushroom Feta Edamame

2010-09-29T22:45:00.002-04:00

Aw, stop it already, we know we're just too good at the whole recipe naming thing. A great combination of flavors, and you can use it to turn into the Cucumber Hummus Bite.

Broccoli Mushroom Feta Edamame

broccoli

mushrooms

edamame

feta

olive oil (optional)

1. Combine everything on a plate. Cover with another plate.

2. Microwave on high for 120 seconds, or until broccoli is bright green and cooked through, mushrooms have softened, and feta has melted.

Cucumber Hummus Bite

2010-09-29T22:38:00.003-04:00

Cucumber and hummus are just made for each other. Aren't they adorable? And the baby broccoli floret, c'mon, you have to admit he is cute - not to mention delicious!

Is it weird to anthropomorphize food and talk about eating it in the same sentence?

Cucumber Hummus Bite

1 sliced cucumber

1 dab of hummus

1 sliced mushroom with feta (microwaved)

1 cute broccoli floret (make sure it's cute - if not, the results will be rather disappointing)

1. Spread cucumber with hummus.

2. Gently embed a mushroom slice and broccoli into the hummus.

3. Bite, chew and swallow.

Hummus Pita Wrap

2010-09-29T22:32:00.003-04:00

Sometimes the simple things are the best. (Simplicity is such a nice excuse to be lazy, isn't it?)

Hummus Pita Wrap

1 whole wheat pita

hummus

feta cheese

baby spinach

lettuce

cucumber slices

tomato slices

onions

1. Spread hummus on pita.

2. Top with the other ingredients.

3. Fold in half.

Tropical Sunrise Drink

2010-09-27T08:25:00.003-04:00

On a hot day, what could possibly beat a construction-worker-vest-colored drink with a cheesy name?

Tropical Sunrise Drink

ice

cranberry juice

passionfruit guava juice

segmented orange and grapefruit

1. Get a cup of ice.

2. Dispense 1 second of each juice.

3. Garnish with orange and grapefruit segments.

4. Pretend you are on a beach in Hawaii, sit back, and watch your worries fade into the sunset.

Broccoli Chicken Salad

2010-09-27T08:16:00.003-04:00

This salad was almost too big for the plate.

Broccoli Chicken Salad

1 plate of mixed greens

cucumbers

broccoli, steamed

red bell peppers

northern beans

1 baked chicken thigh, shredded

Asian Sesame Ginger Dressing (recipe follows)

1. Combine everything on a plate.

Asian Sesame Ginger Dressing

1 Tbsp sesame oil

1 Tbsp old-fashioned peanut butter

1 Tbsp Hoisin Sauce

3 turns of ground black pepper (in the soup station)

1/4 tsp soy sauce

1 tsp onion powder (3 shakes)

1/8 tsp ground ginger

1 tsp honey (optional; I didn't put it b/c peanut butter was sweet enough)

Rainbow Pinwheel Sandwiches

2010-09-25T14:52:00.006-04:00

Great as an appetizer or lunch, and embarrassingly easy to make. Feel free to mix and match wrap flavors, cheeses, meats, and veggies; you really can't go wrong with any combo.

Rainbow Pinwheel Sandwiches

1 tortilla sheet

sour cream (optional)

cheddar, swiss, or american cheese

sliced turkey or ham

mixed greens or lettuce

bacon (optional)

1. Spread sour cream on tortilla, if using.

2. Layer on: cheese, sliced meat, greens.

3. Roll up sandwiches -- not too tightly or too loosely. Stick 5 toothpicks in the roll, spaced evenly apart. Cut out the ends and cut the roll into five sandwiches.

Local Dinner: Mile High Apple Pie with Vanilla Ice Cream

2010-09-22T15:04:00.000-04:00

Words cannot describe the scrumptiousness of this dessert.

Russian Dressing Salad

2010-09-19T23:08:00.003-04:00

The color of this dressing is reminiscent of that pink color used in Dr. Seuss' Cat in the Hat storybooks.

Russian Dressing Salad

Dressing:

2 Tbsp sour cream

2 Tbsp ketchup

1 Tbsp olive oil

2 tsp raspberry vinaigrette

sprinkling of black pepper

Salad:

lettuce

cucumbers

onions

kidney beans

tomatoes

Mix the dressing together in a small cup and drizzle over salad.

Salmon with Arugula and Mashed Sweet Potato

2010-09-17T15:53:00.003-04:00

We owe a lot to the Ratty on this one - didn't do much except put a few things together, but hey, you gotta treat that salmon with respect.

Salmon with Arugula and Mashed Sweet Potato

1 sweet potato

1 piece of salmon

arugula (from the agnolotti with lemon dish)

1. Peel the sweet potato into a bowl, and mash with a fork.

2. Plate the sweet potato, salmon, and arugula in that order.

Spinach Pie "Wrap" Quesadilla

2010-09-14T15:18:00.004-04:00

The "secret" ingredient? Raisins! Yes, they're good for you and yes, they're usually found in granola, but if you're up for something a little different (and dare we say delicious) give this one a try -- the sweetness of dried grapes goes fabulously with the savoriness of melted provolone and hot spinach in a lightly toasted wrap.

Spinach Pie "Wrap" Quesadilla.

1 whole-wheat flour tortilla

lots of baby spinach (about 2 generous "grabs" with the tongs)

1 slice provolone cheese

1/4 cup shredded cheese

3 Tbsp raisins

1. Place provolone cheese on tortilla. Pile on the spinach, shredded cheese, and raisins.

2. Fold carefully into a "wrap" -- it will be rather puffy but the spinach will wilt down.

3. Place in a pre-heated panini press and let it do its thing for 5 min, or until golden brown grill marks appear.

4. Slice in half and enjoy.

Broccoli Tuna Melt Salad

2010-09-10T21:24:00.003-04:00

This hot/cold salad was inspired by Meeting St's gigantic Broccoli Tuna Melt sandwich. I never manage to eat those sandwiches properly anyway, so this "deconstructed" version of the sandwich lets you mix everything together and eat with a fork, like a salad.

Broccoli Tuna Melt Salad

2-3 lettuce leaves

3 slices tomato

1 scoop tuna salad

5-6 broccoli florets

6-7 mushroom slices

1/4 cup shredded cheese

3 onion rings

1 slice thick honey wheat bread

1. Arrange lettuce and tuna salad on a plate. Cut tomato slices in half and arrange around tuna salad.

2. Microwave broccoli and mushroom on a plate with 1 Tbsp basil infused olive oil and 1 Tbsp water (2 min, cover with another plate, on high).

3. Sprinkle cheese over cooked broccoli and microwave another 30 seconds or until melted.

4. Arrange broccoli/mushroom/cheese mixture over tuna salad.

5. Slice onion rings in half and cube the bread into 6-7 "croutons." Arrange over top and enjoy.

Tuna Edamame Salad

2010-09-10T13:11:00.002-04:00

Tired of the same old salad dressings? Love asparagus? Love creamy stuff? Then try drizzling a ladle of creamy asparagus soup on your mixed greens!

Tuna Edamame Salad

1 plate of mixed greens

1/4 cup feta cheese

1/4 cup tuna

1/4 cup edamame

1 ladle of creamy asparagus soup

1. Assemble salad and drizzle soup on top.

Tilapia on Spinach with White Space

2010-09-06T23:24:00.002-04:00

Ah... white space. Try it at on your plate at the Ratty and you may find that your chewing becomes ever so slightly more thoughtful, and your conversations become a tad bit more....refined.

Tilapia on Spinach

1 Tilapia filet

bowlful of baby spinach (packed tightly)

2 Tbsp Basil infused olive oil

1 Tbsp vegan bean stew

1-2 Tbsp Tilapia provencal chopped tomatoes & capers

1. Cook the spinach. Pack the baby spinach into a bowl and drizzle olive oil on top. Cover with a small plate and microwave on high for 2 minutes. Remove from microwave CAREFULLY (use napkins as "pot-holders")
2. Arrange spinach in a neat pile in center of plate.

3. Put tilapia filet on top of cooked spinach

4. Garnish with vegan bean stew and tilapia provencal veggies. Buon appetito!

Creamy Edamame Pasta Salad

2010-09-04T10:12:00.002-04:00

You know how you sometimes get into a habit of doing things the same way every day? I always get into "breakfast habits" -- soymilk-cereal-fruit, soymilk-cereal-fruit, soymilk-cereal...

Or "lunch habits" -- sandwich, sandwich, sandwich...

Or "dinner habits" -- pasta and marinara, pasta and marinara, pasta and... cream of asparagus soup? Add in some edamame for protein and veggies for vitamins.

Creamy Edamame Pasta Salad

whole wheat penne

spoonful of edamame (green soybeans)

spoonful of diced tomatoes (burrito bar)

spoonful of scallions

small spoonful of raisins

spoonful of sliced zucchini (salad bar)

1 ladle of Cream of Asparagus soup

salt & pepper

1. Gather pasta and veggies on a plate.

2. Spoon soup on top.

3. Mix with a fork and add salt/pepper to taste.

Savory Waffle Sandwiches

2010-09-02T23:31:00.001-04:00

While these were good, during the time it takes to split the waffle open and make the sandwich, the waffle crust goes from satisfyingly crispy to disappointingly soggy. Still, the flavors were pretty good, and it's worth a try if you are a waffle fan. The good news is we have a secret genius idea for maintaining the crispy crust of a waffle sandwich...stay tuned!

Savory Waffle Sandwiches

1/2 spoonful of waffle batter

1 lettuce

1/4 cup tuna salad

1 slice swiss cheese

1/4 cup garbanzo bean salad (pre-made at the V-dub...plain garbanzo beans with some dressing and roasted red peppers work too)

1. Pour waffle batter into half of the waffle iron.

2. Make waffle.

3. Cut in half, and split each half into two without burning off fingers.

4. Fill with fillings.

Almost Seven Layer Dip

2010-09-01T20:26:00.003-04:00

...Because it's six layers, unless you count the plate. Just layer it in the mug, invert, remove the mug, and viola! A happy little cylinder of food. But in the recent sweltering atmosphere of the Ratty, if you don't attack the dip immediately it will collapse into an amorphous blob. Still delicious, nonetheless.

Almost Seven Layer Dip

diced tomatoes

guacamole

pinto beans

scallions

shredded cheese

sour cream

1. Layer the tomatoes, guacamole, pinto beans, scallions, cheese, and sour cream in a mug, in that order. It helps to alternate layers of "mortar" with...uh...bricks?

2. Invert mug onto a plate.

3. Remove mug carefully.

4. Serve with crackers or chips or toasted pita bread or cucumbers.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Plum Sundae

2010-08-30T16:15:00.004-04:00

The soft serve machine at the Ratty has gotten an intense workout lately. While we're at it, why not make a fancier dessert? Plums are in season, and apparently so are giant chocolate chip cookies. I don't know why the cocoa puffs are there. You can leave them out if you prefer no crunchy interferences with your creamy cool soft serve.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Plum Sundae

1 giant chocolate chip cookie

1 plum

1 split-second dispense of Cocoa Puffs

1 not-so-split-second dispense of vanilla soft serve

1. Cut the cookie into eighths, like a sliced pizza.

2. Cut the plum into eighths, like a...sliced plum.

3. Add the cocoa puffs.

4. Add the soft serve, attempting to create a pretty swirl. Evidently, we were not so successful.

Grilled Chicken Rice Pilaf

2010-05-15T22:15:00.000-04:00

Colorful things are fun to eat. Like Lucky Charms. Wanna know why? It's because long long ago, when Geico Neaderthals roamed the earth, the ones whose brains were wired to be attracted to colorful fruits and veggies and rainbow squirrels reaped the nutritional benefits that these foods had, whereas their color-insensitive cousins missed out on the essential vitamins and died before they could reproduce. So, eat colorful things. Just make sure they are naturally colorful - artificial colors don't have nutrients.

Grilled Chicken Rice Pilaf

1 grilled chicken breast, torn into pieces

broccoli florets

yellow corn kernels

brown rice

garlic infused olive oil

black pepper

1. Mix everything together.

2. Cover with a plate and microwave for 1 minute.

3. Sprinkle with black pepper.

Harvest Veggie Pasta

2010-05-11T09:23:00.005-04:00

So many pasta dishes you see at restaurants these days are 1% veggies and 99% starch. I'm not sure what the optimal ratio is, but I do like to see more color on my plate once in a while.

This one is 80% veggies, 20% pasta, and 100% delicious.

(...am I starting to sound like Sandra Lee?)

Harvest Veggie Pasta

1 spoonful whole wheat penne (1/2 cup cooked)

4-6 spoonfuls of meatless pasta sauce

2 Tbsp green peas

4-5 broccoli pieces (break up the big pieces)

2 Tbsp kidney beans

1/2 cup savory spinach

4-5 tomato wedges

2-3 pieces sliced roasted red peppers

2-3 mozzarella balls

1. Gather veggies, pasta, and cheese on a plate. Spoon sauce on top, and mix gently together.

2. Put a plate upside down on top and microwave for 2 minutes. Take it out carefully (use napkins if it is hot) and enjoy.

Vegan-ify!

To make vegan, leave out the cheese.

Lemon Honey Vinaigrette Salad

2010-05-10T08:56:00.004-04:00

If you're tired of pre-made salad dressings, try making your own! This one is light, citrus-y, and perfect for cooling down on a humid day.

Lemon Honey Vinaigrette Salad

plateful of romaine lettuce

2 Tbsp sunflower seeds

2 Tbsp raisins

juice of 2 lemon wedges

1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1/2 Tbsp honey

1 Tbsp raspberry vinaigrette

1. With a fork, whisk together last 4 ingredients in a small cup.

2. Drizzle mixture over plateful of lettuce.

3. Sprinkle raisins and sunflower seeds on top, garnish with a lemon wedge. Enjoy when the sun is out.

Banana Muffin with Strawberry Cream Cheese

2010-05-07T14:41:00.002-04:00

You know those adorable couples that you just can't see breaking up, ever? Like Aladdin and Jasmine? How about strawberry and banana? It's just not right to separate the two. So when life gives you banana muffins, make strawberry cream cheese frosting.

Banana Muffin with Strawberry Cream Cheese
1 banana muffin
1 oz cream cheese
1 Tbsp strawberry jam
1/2 banana, sliced
1 waffle cone

1. Mix cream cheese with strawberry jam until very well blended.
2. Frost the top of the muffin with the strawberry cream cheese.
3. Garnish with a shard of waffle cone and banana slice.

Cheesy Broccoli Mushroom Wrap

2010-05-03T22:11:00.003-04:00

Lately we've been obsessed with microwaved broccoli. It's subtly sweet, good for you, and awesomely green - and even better with melted cheese and mushrooms in a wrap.

Cheesy Broccoli Mushroom Wrap

1 spinach tortilla

5 broccoli florets

1/4 cup shredded cheese

1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1/4 cup sliced raw mushrooms

3 lettuce leaves

4 tomato slices

1. Place broccoli, cheese, mushrooms, and oil on a plate. Cover with another plate and microwave until cooked through, about 1 minute.

2. Layer lettuce, tomatoes, and broccoli mixture on tortilla.

3. Fold up the sides, roll up, cut in half on a diagonal and eat.

Salmon with Potatoes

2010-05-02T14:02:00.003-04:00

Salmon with Potatoes

1 piece of salmon with minted pea puree

1 baked potato

1 Tbsp sour cream

1/4 cup clear broth

1 Tbsp scallions

mixed greens and carrots for garnish

1. Mash the potato (without the skin) with sour cream, broth, and scallions.

2. Put a mound of potato mash on the plate.

3. Arrange salmon on top.

4. Garnish with leaves and dot the plate with minted pea puree.

Cheese Fondue

2010-04-29T15:46:00.005-04:00

The Melting Pot may try to sell us expensive fondue, but who needs that when we have our good ol' friend, the Ratty? This microwave fondue recipe could not be easier. And really, it's very delicious! Highly recommended with veggies. Bread chunks would be fabulous too.

Cheese Fondue

1/4 cup shredded cheese

1/4 cup apple juice

2 slices cheddar cheese

1/4 tsp dry mustard powder

a pinch of garlic powder (optional)

Black pepper

Microwaved veggies for dipping

1. Microwave apple juice in a bowl just until it boils (45 seconds to 1 minute).

2. Stir in the cheeses and powders. Microwave on high at 30 second intervals, stirring after each interval just until everything is melted.

3. Add black pepper to taste, and enjoy with microwaved veggies and multigrain bread. (Broccoli, mushrooms, and red bell peppers work well).

Microwaved veggies

broccoli

mushrooms

red bell pepper

onion rings

Microwave in a bowl on high for 1 minute 30 seconds with 2 Tbsp of water.

Salmon and Sundried Tomato Salad

2010-04-28T11:24:00.003-04:00

Gotta love the V-dub and their salmon stir fry! This salad looks like something from Andreas, but it's really embarrassingly easy.

Salmon and Sundried Tomato Salad

1 serving stir-fried salmon with sundried tomatoes, feta cheese, capers, and onions

romaine lettuce leaves

feta cheese

red onions

extra virgin olive oil

1. Top a bed of greens with salmon, cheese, red onions, and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.

Yogurt Pancake Stack

2010-04-27T10:33:00.004-04:00

Perfect for Sunday Brunch! Don't be fooled by its demure beauty - this pancake tower is a dangerous sticky edible monster poised for attack. The minute you sink your fork into it, expect the pancakes to slide off of the yogurt and the honey will inevitably get on your fingers and you will be covered in a delicious mess. For serious eaters only.

Yogurt Pancake Stack

3 pancakes

strawberry yogurt

raspberry jam

sliced bananas

honey

1. Spray pancakes with cooking spray and grill both sides on the panini until toasted and crisp on the outside yet still soft and warm on the inside.

2. Put one pancake on the plate.

3. Top with yogurt and half of the sliced bananas.

4. Place another pancake on top.

5. Top with yogurt and jam.

6. Place the final pancake on top.

7. Garnish with sliced bananas and honey.

Brunch Veggies

2010-04-24T22:18:00.002-04:00

It's sorta like a deconstructed omelet or frittata. Mushrooms, onions, and feta cheese give a good flavor boost to the other veggies.

Brunch Veggies

spinach leaves

broccoli

red onion slices

mushrooms

extra virgin olive oil

edamame

scrambled eggs

tomato wedges

feta cheese

salt and pepper

1. Combine spinach, broccoli, onion, mushrooms, and oil on a plate. Toss and cover with another plate. Microwave for 1 minute on high.

2. Mix in the edamame, eggs, and feta cheese.

3. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, and garnish with tomato wedges.

French Onion Soup

2010-04-24T22:15:00.004-04:00

Nothing like a steamy, melty bowl of French Onion Soup to warm you up on a chilly day. Try one of these the next time there's a thunder/lightening hailstorm.

French Onion Soup

2/3 cup chicken broth (or noodle soup broth)

2 rings of red onion

10-12 mushrooms

2 slices cheddar cheese

1 slice of toast (bruschetta bar)

1. Ladle soup over onion rings and mushrooms in a bowl.

2. Carefully place toast on top of veggies in soup, then cover with two slices of cheese.

3. Microwave for 1 minute or until cheese has melted, and enjoy.

Feta Veggie Wrap

2010-04-23T12:14:00.002-04:00

Cook the veggies in the microwave first and then pair them with a cool tomato and crisp lettuce in a whole wheat wrap for that perfect contrast between the warm and the refreshing.

Feta Veggie Wrap

Assorted veggies from salad bar (spinach, broccoli, zucchini, onions, edamame)

feta cheese

1 Tbsp basil infused olive oil

1 whole wheat tortilla

3 tomato slices

1 lettuce leaf

2 slices swiss cheese (optional)

1. Place salad bar veggies on a plate and drizzle with olive oil and top with feta cheese.

2. Cover with another plate and microwave on high for 1 minute.

3. Meanwhile, layer the tomato, lettuce, and cheese on a tortilla.

4. Add the veggies on top, roll as you wish, and cut in half.

5. Admire the lovely cross section and eat.

Kiwi , Peach, Grapefruit Salad

2010-04-21T22:48:00.003-04:00

The peppery taste of arugula provides just the right accent for fresh salad greens, which are topped with sharp feta cheese, tangy balsamic vinegar, fragrant pumpkin seeds, and a blend of sweet and tart flavors from the kiwi, peach, and grapefruit chunks. A thin drizzle of honey enhances the sweetness of the fruits and adds a deeper flavor dimension.

Kiwi, Peach, and Grapefruit Salad

arugula

mixed salad leaves

feta

balsamic vinegar

pumpkin seeds

kiwi slices

peach cubes

grapefruit sections

drizzle of honey

1. Plate the leaves and top with everything else.

Veggie, Mushroom, Feta Pita Pocket

2010-04-19T21:31:00.002-04:00

Veggie, Mushroom, Feta Pita Pocket

1/2 whole wheat pita

red onion slices

lettuce leaves

portabello mushrooms

feta cheese

red bell peppers

beans

hummus

1. Fill pocket with ingredients.

Spinach "Stir Fry"

2010-04-18T16:42:00.004-04:00

Cooked spinach has arguably more of that spinach-y flavor than raw spinach. A touch of olive oil brings out the best in all of us. Same goes for raw veggies and mushrooms.

Spinach "Stir Fry"

handful of baby spinach

2-3 onion rings

1/2 cup raw mushrooms

a drizzle of garlic infused olive oil (1.5 Tbsp)

salt and pepper (optional)

1. Arrange veggies and mushrooms on plate.

2. Drizzle garlic infused olive oil over the top.

3. Cover with a plate and microwave for 1.5-2 minutes.

4. Remove the plate CAREFULLY from the microwave (there will be steam!). Add salt and pepper to taste.

Veggie Burrito

2010-04-16T23:01:00.004-04:00

Microwaved veggies from the salad bar with sour cream and beans on a sundried tomato tortilla = yum. Cooking mushrooms really brings out their flavor, and honestly, anything with sour cream is bound to be good. Is there anything that's disgusting with sour cream? Nothing, I assure you. What's that you say? Powerade?

Veggie Burrito

raw broccoli

mixed salad leaves

mushrooms

basil infused olive oil

sundried tomato tortilla

sour cream

pinto beans

edamame

black beans

1. Place broccoli, salad leaves, and mushrooms in a bowl. Drizzle with basil infused olive oil, and cover the bowl with a small plate. Microwave for 1 minute.

2. Spread tortilla with sour cream, beans, and cooked veggies.

3. Roll up.

4. Cut on a diagonal and eat.

"The Cook" Arroz Con Pollo

2010-04-12T19:33:00.004-04:00

Buy tickets for "The Cook" online: brown.edu/tickets.

Have you seen the TAPS play, "The Cook," yet? It's not too late! Go see it on Thursday, Friday, or Saturday at 8pm or on Sunday at 2pm. Buy tickets online: brown.edu/tickets.

This Cuban recipe was adapted from TLC Cooking.

"The Cook" Arroz Con Pollo

1 cup brown rice

sliced olives

roasted tomatoes

scallions

peas

orange bell peppers

red onion, cut

spicy pepper, diced

1 chicken leg

black pepper

1. Mix all the ingredients except the chicken leg and black pepper together on a plate.

2. Microwave to heat it up, if desired.

3. Place chicken on the bed of rice, and sprinkle with black pepper.

Simple Arugula Salad

2010-04-11T22:28:00.002-04:00

Nothing like 70 degree weather and discovering arugula at the Ratty to put you in a good mood.

Simple Arugula Salad

handful of arugula

1-2 spoonfuls of feta cheese

1 Tbsp basil infused olive oil

1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar

1. Gather leaves.

2. Sprinkle cheese on top.

3. Drizzle with balsamic and olive oil. Enjoy in a sunny spot.