Bachelor Pad cooking – Meal in a pan.

This is a cheep and tasty recipe that is quick to prepare and serve.
The basic recipe:

1. Place ¼ cup dried grain (I’ve used barley and several kids of rice) in an 8 inch cast iron pan.
2. Add water until the grain is awash and just starting to float.
3. Put a ¼ to ½ lb portion of frozen meat on the grain.
4. Top with toppings of your choice:
• Bacon (particularly if the meat is lean)
• Frozen sliced pepper, onions, etc.
• Salt, pepper, or other spices.
• Frozen vegetables; corn, bean, peas. (Or as a side dish.)
5. Cover and seal with tinfoil.
6. Bake at 350°F for 50-90 minutes

Cooking time depends on the type and size of meat; For me, pork seems to take about 50 minutes, chicken more like 90. Until you know how long to cook it, check doneness with a meat thermometer or cut the meat open to check for any remaining pink sections.

With a little planning ahead this can be prepared in under 5 minutes. If you keep and eye out you can often get chap meat (I’ve seen it at little more than as $1/lb), cut this into serving sizes and freeze them in individual Ziploc type sandwich bags. Vegetables can similarly be prepared and frozen in advance.

Bachelor Pad cooking – Shake and Bake Pancakes:

This easy to make recipe has only cheep and common ingredients and results in very few items to clean up. (Prep time, 10-15 minutes, cook time 13-15 minutes.)

1. Start oven warming to 450° F
2. In a 12oz canning jar, put 1 ½ Tbs. of real butter and a few oz of milk, don’t worry about measuring the milk.
3. Nuke this for about 30-60 seconds. The butter should be starting to melt but you don’t want the milk to hot. Stir vigorously (use a chopstick or other small stick) until the butter finishes melting.
4. Add:
• ¼ cup sugar
• ½ tsp. baking powder
• Salt to taste
• A few drops of vanilla extract (optional)
5. Mix thoroughly.
6. Add 1 egg.
7. Close lid and shake until mixed.
8. Open and add:
• ½ cup flower
• Milk to fill the jar, leaving some shaking room.
9. Close the jar and shake vigorously, making sure all the flower gets mixed in. If needed scrape the sides with a chopstick.
10. Pour into a well greased pie plate and bake for 13-15 minutes.
    
11. Cut the side of the pancake free with a knife, razor blade or pointy stick and flip the pan over on a large dinner plate. Using a chopstick and being careful not to burn your self, separate the pancake from the pan (using a clear glass pan makes this easier).
12. Enjoy!