Pear Toast

You could call this an appetizer or dessert - each bite is full of flavor from the sweet honey and jam, tangy cream cheese, crusty bread, nutty seeds, refreshing pear, and some added crunch from granola.

Pear Toast

1 small slice Seven Stars bread

2 tsp cream cheese

1 tsp strawberry jam

1 pear slice

1/4 tsp sunflower seeds

a few granola oats

1 tsp honey

1. Toast the bread in the toaster.

2. Spread on cream cheese and jam.

3. Top with pear, sunflower seeds, oats, and a drizzle of honey.

Rainbow Salad

This salad was delicious. I think it is an evolutionary adaptation that makes us attracted to colorful foods because they are often highly nutritious (Lucky Charms and other artificially colored foods not included).

Rainbow Salad

2 cups baby spinach

4 cucumber slices, halved

1 hard boiled egg, chopped

1/4 cup shredded carrots

4 cherry tomatoes, halved

1/4 cup roasted red bell peppers, chopped

3 portabello mushrooms, halved

1/4 cup black beans

Dressing

1 tsp rice wine vinegar

1 Tbsp sesame oil

2 tsp reduced sodium soy sauce

black pepper

1. Pile spinach on a plate, and top with cucumber, egg, carrots, tomatoes, bell peppers, mushrooms, and black beans in that order.

2. Mix together the dressing ingredients and drizzle on top of salad.

Josh's Fish Panini

Crispy, warm, and stuffed with melted cheese, this panini by Josh Leung is both easy to make and delicious.

Josh's Fish Panini

2 slices whole wheat bread

1 fish filet

2 slices American cheese (or cheese of your choice)

1/2 cup spinach leaves

1. Assemble sandwich.

2. Press on the panini press for 2 minutes, or until bread is golden brown and cheese is melted.

3. Cut in half.

Microwave Broccoli

We know, it doesn't sound particularly delicious. You might wonder, "The Ratty has steamed broccoli, so why would I waste my time firing up the microwave for a few vegetables?!" For one, you can control how cooked your broccoli is. Secondly, you can season your broccoli. And last but not least, microwave broccoli turns an awesome other-worldly bright green that just looks cool.

Microwave Broccoli
a few broccoli florets (raw, from salad bar)
a drop of sesame oil
a drop of soy sauce
a drop of broth (any clear soup will do, like beef broth or onion soup) or water
black pepper

1. Get a bowl and combine everything in the bowl.
2. Microwave on high power for 45 seconds, or until broccoli has turned a bright green slightly translucent color. The goal is to get it cooked but not mushy.

Hot Pastrami Swiss Cheese Panini on Rye

Delicately crispy, with nutty rye, savory pastrami, and melty swiss cheese in every bite. I thought having veggies in the sandwich would compromise the panini's texture, but you can definitely enjoy them on the side.

Hot Pastrami Swiss Cheese Panini on Rye

2 slices light rye bread

3-4 slices pastrami

2 slices swiss cheese

1/2 cup green beans (on the side)

1. Layer one slice of swiss cheese, pastrami, and the other slice of swiss cheese on a slice of rye.

2. Place the other slice of rye on top and press in the panini press for 5-7 minutes or until nice brown char marks appear.

3. Enjoy with steamed green beans (the Ratty calls them "French beans" I think) on the side.

DO NOT Make this Peanut Butter Waffle!

This was originally posted a long time ago, before we were notified that no one should put peanut butter in the waffle irons because of allergies! We are sincerely sorry for setting a bad example, but instead of deleting this post, we feel that it would be helpful to keep it here as a friendly reminder for future peanut butter waffle lovers.

Original Post:

The peanut butter mixed directly into the waffle batter makes an extra crunchy crust and infuses the whole waffle with a rich peanut butter flavor.

Peanut Butter Waffle
1/2 ladle waffle batter
2 Tbsp peanut butter
1 small banana, sliced
1 Tbsp honey + 1 Tbsp peanut butter
whipped cream
cinnamon

1. In a cereal bowl, mix waffle batter and 2 Tbsp peanut butter until well-blended.
2. Spray a waffle machine with non-stick spray and pour the batter in the center. (Note: We used less waffle batter to give the waffle an fun shape)
3. Cook waffle as directed.
4. In a small cup, mix honey and 1 Tbsp peanut butter. (Note: Feel free to use just honey instead of the mixture, if you prefer)
5. Garnish waffle with sliced bananas, peanut butter and honey mixture, and whipped cream.
6. Dust the top with cinnamon.

Nathan's Macho Nacho Burrito

This delectable burrito is the product of Nathan Feng's genius, and is an efficient and tasty way to get the flavors of nachos without having to load the toppings on individual tortilla chips.

Nathan's Macho Nacho Burrito

1 whole wheat tortilla

1/4 cup diced tomatoes

2 Tbsp salsa

1/4 cup shredded cheese

2 Tbsp sliced olives

1/4 cup guacamole

2 Tbsp sour cream

1/4 cup refried beans

1/2 cup shredded lettuce

1. Put toppings on tortilla.

2. Wrap it up so it resembles a burrito.

"Honey Nut Cheerios"

A friend mentioned the other day that the Ratty doesn't have Honey Nut Cheerios - well, you can make your own! And you can customize the honey-ness and nuttiness.

"Honey Nut Cheerios"

1 cup Cheerios

1 Tbsp old-fashioned peanut butter

2 tsp honey

2 tsp sunflower seeds

2 tsp pumpkin seeds

3/4 cup soymilk

1. Get a bowl of Cheerios. Drizzle on peanut butter and honey, and top with the seeds.

2. Add soymilk.

Pasta and Spinach Salad Medley with Egg

I love making salads with ingredients from all corners of the food pyramid. In this one, you get your grains (pasta), meat/protein (sausage & egg), dairy (cheese), unsaturated fat (olives), and of course, veggies (spinach, broccoli, tomatoes). Oh alright, the candy/sweets group is missing. I suppose you could add a drizzle of honey? Or some chocolate sprinkles...?

Pasta and Spinach Salad Medley with Egg

1/2 cup pasta shells

handful of baby spinach

2 slices sausage, chopped

7-8 olives, sliced

5-6 cherry tomatoes, halved

3 broccoli pieces, chopped

1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

1 tbsp basil infused olive oil

1 sunny-side-up egg

salt and pepper

1. Mix pasta and all ingredients excluding egg on a plate. Put in microwave for about 1.5 minutes, or until cheese is melted and spinach is starting to wilt.

2. Get a sunny-side-up egg and place on top of salad. Add salt and pepper to taste. Break the yolk and enjoy!

Tuna Salad Salad

What else would you call a salad with tuna salad on top?

Tuna Salad Salad

2 cups mixed greens

4 grape tomatoes, halved

3 olives, sliced

1 slice Seven stars bread

basil infused olive oil

Tuna Salad

3 tsp mayonnaise

black pepper

1/8 tsp garlic powder

1/8 tsp onion powder

1/8 tsp ginger powder

1 Tbsp red bell peppers, diced

1 Tbsp green bell peppers, diced

1/4 cup tuna

1. Toss the mixed greens, tomatoes, and olives.

2. Lightly drizzle both sides of bread with basil infused olive oil. grill on the panini for 3 minutes, or until golden brown.

3. Meanwhile, mix together all ingredients of tuna salad.

4. Remove bread from panini press, tear into crouton-sized pieces.

5. Garnish salad with tuna salad and croutons, and some black pepper.