I have been racking my brain trying to come up with a 4th post. Deciding what I think any of you would actually want to read about is a really hard choice to make. I can’t just rant about random things in my life for every post. But have no fear, when something happens in my life that I have some feelings about, you all will definitely get to read about it. Still, not being home yet makes it hard to not just talk about the same things over and over again due to the fact that my life is the same thing over and over again every day. However, because of that, I have become very good at mixing it up meal-wise when the only thing usually at my disposal is a microwave. When I’m at home with my full kitchen I love to cook and I’m pretty good at it. Baking is still a work in progress, but I can whip up a damn good meal. A good deal of my life is spent in barracks rooms, hotels, and on the road. Eating out gets expensive, the same microwave meals get old, and you don’t always have the resources to actually cook anything or eat healthy in any way.
Now, my claim to fame in my squadron is that, once while on a detachment to Iceland (my favorite place in the WHOLE world), I made microwave mashed potatoes and a medium rare rib eye… in a toaster. Yes, a toaster. I was so proud of myself and it was so good! I cannot claim that I just came up with this out of the blue. We all wanted steaks and the guys purchased those little camping disposable grills. I watched them attempt to light them outside during a blizzard with no luck. Giving them a hard eye roll, I went back to my kitchen to figure out a solution to my problem. Now this big ol’ kitchen came outfitted with a microwave, sink, toaster, and refrigerator. Oh, and a bucket to use as a trash can, can’t leave that part out! I pulled up Google and typed in “cooking steak in a microwave” and the results weren’t promising. Then the toaster caught my eye and I thought “hmmm”. The Youtube gods came through for me and there it was, a video with toaster instructions for cooking a steak to your preferred likeness. So if you ever find yourself in a jam and you just need to have that steak, I’m here for you.
Toaster Steak
- Season your steak to your heart’s desire.
- Lay the toaster on its side to prevent the juices from going down into the bottom…that shit will cause the toaster to start smoking.
- For medium-rare put the toaster on the highest setting and you will cycle the steak through 4 times. This will take approximately 12 minutes.
- Eat your steak while watching the boys still try to light their little grills in the snow. Watch from the window though so you and your steak are still warm.
P.S. The guys did get their steaks cooked to their liking and even discovered that their kitchen came with a panini press. Which turned out to be it’s own asset in making burgers and chicken breasts.
Lately I have been finding different meats that I can microwave and adding either sticky rice or pasta to it. Again, all things that are able to be prepared in the microwave. But I jazz it up with some avocado and some sort of sauce. Today’s meal was breakfast sausage, sticky rice, avocado, Italian dressing, and some pepper. I’ve got to say, I’m probably going to have it again tomorrow!
Would I rather have a kitchen and all of my things to make whatever meals I’d like? Fuck yes. Should it show you how “Ground Hog Day” my life has become as month 6 is coming to a close and the most exciting things are what I can find to microwave? Yes, it absolutely should!! OHH!!! The most important part to all of my recipes is to always have a stock of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups in the freezer to snack on while you wait for the beautiful ding of the microwave that lets you know it’s finally time to eat.
Now that I know you’re all hooked and will be following me strictly for my recipe’s, hold onto your hats because next time I’ll let you in on the secret of the perfect amount of water for ramen noodles! Just kidding. Hopefully by the time I come up with something else to make you read about I’ll be home and have a much more interesting life.
Meander With Mal 