Restaurants across the United States are slowly starting to open.  While I cannot wait to go to brunch at my favorite local spot again, one thing that I have found myself doing is spending mornings at home looking for easy recipes and cooking.

I still treat myself by picking up takeout dinner so I can support a few local restaurants every week.  I also grab a croissant at the coffee shop where I pick up my pound of beans to brew at home. However, I have definitely had time to  prepare breakfast, lunch, dinner, and desserts and am constantly learning new recipes the last few months.

One of my favorite ways to prepare food is the “one pot” method, where ingredients are slowly added into the same cooking pan to create a meal. It is great because you get all the nutrition of a regular meal without having to clean up an insane amount of pots and pans!

Last week, I was struggling to figure out what to have for breakfast. After I had brewed my cup of Weaver’s Coffee, I opened the cabinet to find my favorite mug when it hit me. Instead of doing one-pot meals, why not try to do a meal in a mug?

I have read about this idea in the past and thought I would give it a try at home. Combine and add all the necessary ingredients, and cook them in the microwave for a quick, low-stress meal that is the perfect serving size for one person.

Breakfast Recipes

Omelet in a Mug

Originally found on Simply Recipes by Elise Bauer / Photo from Simply Recipes

Ingredients

Cooking spray or extra virgin olive oil

2 large eggs

1 tablespoon milk

1 tablespoon grated cheddar cheese

1 tablespoon finely chopped red bell pepper

1 teaspoon finely chopped chives or green onion greens

Pinch salt and black pepper

1. Spray your mug (at least 12oz mug) with cooking spray or rub with olive oil.
2. Crack both eggs and add milk. Whisk with a fork until fully mixed.
3. Add salt, pepper, and other ingredients of choosing like cheese, bell pepper, or chives into the mixture and give it a stir to make sure all the ingredients are evenly distributed.
4. Microwave for 30 seconds. Check eggs, and heat in 30 second intervals until the eggs are completely cooked.

Quiche in a Mug

Originally found on St. Louis Post-Dispatch by Bill Hogan / Photo by Taste

 

Ingredients

1 egg

1 1/2 tablespoons milk

Salt and pepper

1/4 of a bagel (or slice of sourdough bread)

2 teaspoons cream cheese

6 Leaves spinach

Chopped chives

1. Beat egg and milk together with a fork in a coffee cup, adding salt and pepper to taste.
2. Tear bread into dime-size pieces; stir in.
3. Add cream cheese; stir in.
4. Sprinkle chives and spinach on top of mixture.
5. Microwave on high until done, about 1 minute 10 seconds.

Dessert Recipes

Vegan Peanut Butter Mug Cake

Recipe and photo by Kribie’s Cravings. Modified by Vincent Distrola to be vegan.

Ingredients

4 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

4 teaspoon coconut sugar

4 tablespoons non-dairy milk

3 tablespoons peanut butter

1. Combine all ingredients in an oversized microwave-safe mug. Mix with a small whisk until batter is smooth. Batter will be quite thick.
2. Cook in microwave for approximately 1 minute. If cake is not done, heat an additional 15 seconds.
3. Let cake cool a few minutes before eating.

Five-Minute Coffee Cake

Originally found on Pretty Prudent / Photo by Immaeatthat

Ingredients

Cake

1 tablespoon butter

2 tablespoons sugar

1 egg (or 1/2 egg)

1 tablespoon sour cream or yogurt

Vanilla extract (to taste)

1/4 cup flour

1/8 teaspoon baking powder

Topping

1 tablespoon butter

2 tablespoon flour

1 tablespoon brown sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1. Place butter in cup, then soften in the microwave for 10-15 seconds.
2. Stir in sugar until fluffy and creamy
3. Break egg into a ramekin and stir. Pour some (or all depending on your tastes) of the egg into your cup with sugar mixture and stir.
4. Stir in sour cream and vanilla.
5. Stir in flour and baking powders.
6. In a separate cup or ramekin, combine all topping ingredients. Mix with fingers.
7. Add crumb topping mixture to cup on top of cake mixture.
8. Microwave. Start with 1 minute, then 10 seconds more until it’s done to your liking. For my microwave, 1 minute 20 seconds does it perfectly.

Chocolate Chip Cookie (vegan optional)

Originally found on A Virtual Vegan by Mel / Photo by A Cookie Named Desire

Ingredients

1 tablespoon oil of choice

1 tablespoon water

¼ teaspoon vanilla extract

2 teaspoons ground flax seed (optional)

⅛ teaspoon fine salt

2 tablespoons sugar

4 tablespoons all-purpose flour

⅛ teaspoon baking soda

2 tablespoons chocolate chips (dairy-free chocolate chips to make vegan)

1. To a mug, add the oil, water, vanilla, ground flax, salt and sugar.
2. Stir them up, then add the flour and baking soda. Stir together until everything is combined. Don't over-mix it.
3. Add the chocolate chips and stir gently again.
4. Smooth the top out a little then place the mug in a microwave and cook on high for 45 seconds. Leave to stand for 30 seconds to 1 minute before eating for optimum cookie texture.

https://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/omelette_in_a_mug/

https://www.stltoday.com/lifestyles/food-and-cooking/recipes/coffee-cup-quiche/article_2d121f31-d6b0-564c-bbac-6fca97a08276.html

https://kirbiecravings.com/peanut-butter-mug-cake-eggless/

https://www.prettyprudent.com/a-cup-of-coffee-cake-in-under-five-minutes-2/

https://weaverscoffee.com/blogs/blog/what-is-the-best-coffee