In these times of uncertainty, “comfort food” has developed an entirely new meaning. It seems like all roads lead to the fridge every hour without fail. Although right now our days might seem redundant, I encourage you all to reevaluate your surroundings and spice up your lives with the heart of the home: your kitchen. You may not know it, but the things you currently have in your pantry are just one experiment away from a masterpiece you would have never imagined.
Putting the “Quarantine 15” issue aside, the beauty in all of this is that we have been given the gift of time to try learning skills we’ve never explored and meals we’ve never cooked. As we get through this global crisis together, it’s important to remember to nourish our minds and our bodies, so why not make things interesting? In this blog post, you’ll find some cool cooking hacks to make your life a whole lot easier during self-isolation, and some tried-and-true recipes endorsed by our I Heart team members!
When I found myself on the 6th day in a row of eating spaghetti, I was done. I was scavenging through my drawers trying to find anything exciting to introduce to my stomach and all I found were spaghetti boxes (the obvious), corn tortillas, cereal, butter, expired milk, and very ripe avocados– a pristine diet if I do say so myself. I realized two things at that moment: 1) I needed to go grocery shopping and 2) I wanted guacamole. Now, I understand I was missing a lot of things one would want in this scenario, but the most crucial ingredient was…the chips. What is guacamole without the crunchy pairing of tortilla chips?
For someone who doesn’t know how to properly operate any cooking appliance other than a stove and microwave, I was sure ambitious to convert my corn tortillas into chips, BUT I knew this recipe would only involve one ingredient so it had to be simple — and I was right. Other than the corn tortillas themselves and maybe table salt, the other key component of my experiment is a cooking hack I’ve been using for quite some time now, and I’m super excited to share it with all of my OTO friends.
Here’s how it works:
- Go to fridgetotable.com
- Enter in all the items in your pantry/ingredients you want to use
- Voila! Pick a recipe, any recipe!
Now I have to be honest, it wasn’t my grand original idea to think of using my corn tortillas to solve my chip deprivation problem. I initially gave up on the idea of using what I already had and went to fridgetotable.com to see recipes with ingredients I would later order through grocery delivery. However, I was pleasantly surprised when this “homemade tortilla chips” recipe popped up and shook my world. See below so you can create your own!
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The fun doesn’t stop there! Here at I Heart Old Towne Orange, we shared our fun and quarantasty meals with each other, which definitely encouraged me to get creative the next time I head to the fridge. Here’s what I gathered from the team:
Kelly:
Whole30 Chicken Tikka Masala in the Instant Pot
In the days where we could go out to eat, Indian food was always a staple outing in my weekly routine. Looking at this glorious photo taken by our very own Kelly is making my mouth water so much I might have to give it a try (she promised even a cooking amateur like me could handle it).
Andrea:
Drea was super excited to share this gem of a recipe with me ever since I halted my vegetarian journey. Since chicken has become a regular part of my diet, I am very eager to try this good-looking meal in all its citrusy glory.
Alex:
Alex reminded me that there is life beyond spaghetti and Kraft Mac & Cheese…and I am 100% here for it. Don’t let this fancy spin on noodles scare you, I took a peek at the directions and it’s super simple!
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Lindsay:
Peanut Butter Banana Chia Oatmeal
If you’re looking to make your breakfasts more exciting, our girl Lindsay found the recipe for you. This ooey, gooey, delicious-looking oatmeal is great for both your taste buds and your health!
CJ:
This magnificent recipe is packed with both protein and flavor. CJ found us a powerful dinner idea that every member of the family will enjoy.
Well, you made it to the end of this blog post, but not the end of this series. Now that we’ve given you a glimpse into how the I Heart team has been slaying quarantine with our kitchens, we invite you to do the same! What cooking concoction have you stumbled upon in quarantine? Share the love in the comments below or post on social media using the hashtag #IHOTOmeals. We can’t wait to see what our community has whipped up!
BONUS FOR OUR SUBSCRIBERS!
We partnered up with Woody’s Diner right here in Orange and they shared the recipe for their famous Bloody Mary. Want it for yourself? Just subscribe to our newsletter and it’s yours! Don’t feel like making your own? The team at Woody’s is ready and waiting for you to order yours to-go. They’re serving up food and cocktails for you to take home and it’s as good as ever!
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