Provolone-Stuffed Toast with Ham and Broccoli

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!