Crispy and Delicious Loaded Baked Potato Skins

Category: Junior Year
Servings: 1-2 people
Prep-Time:  1 hour and 10 minutes
Cook-Time: 15 minutes

Why is this a survival recipe?

Making delicious loaded potato skins is as easy as baking a potato. These are my favorite appetizers, and they are so delicious when made fresh that you’ll never want them in the frozen appetizer box again.

I always have baking potatoes, and I use the center of the potato to make delicious mashed potatoes or I lay roasted chicken over the center for lunch with my snack.

If you have a Gluten Allergy, make sure all of your brands and products are gluten free.

Ingredients:

• 1 baking Potato
• 1/4 cup of Shredded Cheese
• 1 dollop of Sour Cream
• 1-2 tsp of crumbled cooked Bacon

Step one: Bake your potato until it’s nice and crispy.  (See recipe: Crisp and Fluffy Baked Potatoes)

Step two: Cut your potato in half and scoop out the middle; save this for later, and make sure there is about half an inch of potato left in the skin

Step three: Melt in your cheese by returning the potato to the oven for about 10 more minutes

Step four: Dollop your sour cream and bacon, and then cut your potatoes in half

Step five: Enjoy your delicious appetizers.

Fresh and Clean Fruit Salad

Category: Senior Year/Vegan
Servings: 2-4 people
Prep-Time:  5 minutes

Why is this a survival recipe?

Fresh fruit is the original fast food. Fruit salads are simple, but very versatile and incredibly easy to put together and to make in advance.

Knowing when to slice up your fruit is crucial to a perfect fruit salad. For example, when you’re using bananas, wait until they are just starting to get brown spots on the peel and that’s when you know they’re ready to eat.

If you have a Gluten Allergy, make sure all of your products and brands are gluten free.

Ingredients:

• 1 small Banana, peeled and sliced
• 1 cup of Blueberries, washed and drained
• 1 cup of Strawberries, washes, sliced, and drained
• 1 cup of Raspberries, washed and drained

Step one: Wash, drain and slice your fruits

Step two: Mix them together evenly in a bowl and serve immediately or refrigerate for later

Simple Shrimp Cocktail

Category: Senior Year/Gluten Free
Servings: 1 person
Prep-Time:  10 minutes
Cook-Time: 5-7 minutes

Why is this a survival recipe?

Learning how to perfectly boil shrimp is something everyone who enjoys seafood should learn how to do. Buying frozen, shell-on shrimp will save you boatloads of money, and cooking them yourself is incredibly simple.

Once you know how to boil shrimp, you open your doors to the ultimate “surf” pairing with any “turf”. There are so many possibilities, but my favorite way to eat shrimp has to be shrimp cocktail.

If you have a Gluten Allergy, make sure all of your products and brands are gluten free.

Ingredients:

• 10-15 medium frozen Shrimp, shell on
• Your favorite Cocktail Sauce or Russian Dressing (See: Russian Dressing)

Step one: Thaw your shrimp by running cold water over them until the ice has melted. Then peel the shell from the shrimp like this:

Step two: Bring a pot of water to a boil; cook your shrimp until fully opaque, about 5-7 minutes

Step three: Immediately drain and transfer the shrimps into an ice bath

Step four: Once the shrimp are cool, serve them over ice with your favorite cocktail sauce!

BBQ Mini Hot Dogs on a Stick

Category: Holidays/Gluten Free
Servings: 3-6 people
Prep-Time:  5 minutes
Cook-Time: 15-20 minutes

Why is this a survival recipe?

If you’re like my friends, get-togethers are rarely planned in advance, and this usually means a store bought appetizer or a bag of potato chips.

As a college student, I almost always have barbecue sauce and hot dogs, and as long as you have these ingredients you have a ready-made appetizer that shames the pants off of chips and dip.

If you have a Gluten Allergy, make sure all of your products and brands are gluten free.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 bottle of your favorite BBQ sauce
• 1 package of Mini Hot Dogs

Step one: In a medium pot, warm up your barbecue sauce

Step two: Drain your mini dogs

Step three: Warm the dogs up fully in the BBQ sauce

Step four: Plate with toothpicks and you’re ready to go

Crescent Roll Stuffed Sausage Bites

Category: Holidays
Servings: 2 people
Prep-Time:  10 minutes
Cook-Time: 5-10 minutes

Why is this a survival recipe?

I’ve always loved spicy chicken sausage and I’ve also always loved crescent rolls so one Thanksgiving I decided to combine them. The result is outrageously delicious, and even easier to make.

These are a perfectly balanced appetizer that can also be eaten as a perfectly simple lunch outside of the holiday season. I always have sausage and rolls in my kitchen, so whenever I need an easy lunch all I need to do is preheat the oven.

Ingredients:

• 1 package of Crescent rolls
• 2 pre-cooked Sausages (Chicken sausage, Turkey sausage, Spicy sausage, Sweet sausage etc)
• Honey or Dijon mustard

Step one: Preheat your oven to the temperature on the crescent roll package; unroll your crescent rolls on a cookie sheet and spread a bit of mustard on your roll

Step two: Roll up your sausage in the crescent roll!

Step three: Bake until the crescent rolls are done according to the package, about 5-10 minutes

Step four: Slice up your sausages into bite sized pieces, and add toothpicks 🙂

Fresh Italian Caprice Salad

Why is this a survival recipe?

This appetizer is fresh, easy, and affordable. If you’re feeling really adventurous, you could even make a delicious grilled sandwich out of this appetizer by just adding bread and popping it on your stove-top for a few minutes.

If you have a Gluten Allergy, make sure all of your products and brands are gluten free.

Ingredients:

1. 1 red, ripe Tomato
2. 2-3 inch round Mozzarella cheese
3. 2-3 tsp of Pesto
4. EVOO for garnish

Step one: Slice your tomato into half inch slices and lay down on your plate; drizzle your pesto liberally over the tomato

Step two: Slice your Mozzarella into half inch slices and lay them over the tomato and pesto. If desired, drizzle a bit of Extra Virgin Olive Oil over the top!

Step three: Grab a fork and knife and dig in to this fresh, delicious salad

Simply Delicious Fried Zucchini

Category: Holidays/Vegetarian
Servings:  2-3 people
Prep-Time:  10 minutes
Cook-Time: 15 minutes

Why is this a survival recipe?

I make fried zucchini as an appetizer during the holidays, and sometimes just for fun before dinner. This recipe is a quick and easy way to spice up a boring meal.

I like usually like to think of fried zucchini as the precursor to eggplant Parmesan, and it is truly delicious and incredibly simple.

Ingredients:

1. 1 Zucchini
2. 1/4 cup Breadcrumbs
3. 1 beaten Egg
4. Vegetable oil to cover zucchini
5. Salt/Pepper to taste

Step one: Slice your zucchini into half inch slices and beat your egg. Dip your zucchini in the egg, and then in the breadcrumbs

Step two: In a pan on medium high heat, heat oil until it ripples

Step three: Carefully!!  add zucchini to the oil (THE OIL IS VERY HOT AND MAY SPIT). Flip once so that it will be golden brown on both sides USING TONGS!!

Step four: After the zucchini is golden brown on both sides, transfer to a plate and pat excess oil off with a paper towl

Step five: Sprinkle a bit of salt or Parmesan cheese over the top and enjoy!

Smoked Paprika Deviled Eggs

Category: Holidays/Gluten Free/Vegetarian 
Servings: Varies, 3-5 people
Prep-Time:  12 minutes
Cook-Time: 5 minutes

Why is this a survival recipe?

Deviled eggs are a must have at every holiday and special event in my life. I love them more than any other appetizer, and the best thing about them is how easy they are to make.

I always have the ingredients in my kitchen, and in no time at all you can have a gourmet snack at your fingertips right in your dorm room.

If you have a Gluten Allergy, make sure all of your products and brands are gluten free.

Ingredients:

1. 5 Hard-boiled Eggs
2. 1 tsp Yellow Mustard
3. 1.5 rounded Tbsp of Mayo
4. Smoked Paprika for garnish
5. Sweet Relish
6. Salt/Pepper to taste

Step one: Hard boil your eggs let them cool and split your eggs down the middle the long way, and remove the yolks (See: Perfect Hard Boil Eggs)

Step two: Combine your yolk, mustard, mayo and relish, salt and pepper to taste, and mash with a fork

Step three: Fill a small resealable bag with your yolk mixture, cut off ONE corner tip and squeeze the mixture into the cavity of the white

Step four: Sprinkle with smoked paprika, refrigerate for half an hour and serve.