more charming critter cookie jars

You will need:

Frozen jumbo pork sausages (these are skinless I'm pretty sure but you just use what you like)

One (1) tin of sweetcorn

A bunch of baby/mini potatoes, cut into halves/thirds depending on how big they are

Butter

Chilli powder

Chilli oil (optional)

Here's what to do:

Stick the sausages in the oven for approx 6 minutes less than their stated cook time

When you're around 5 minutes out from that, boil the kettle (or you can boil a pan of water, the kettle is just faster)

While that's going on, stick your potatoes in a microwave safe bowl and layer a few pats of butter on top (just how many is up to your discretion but I like to almost cover the potatoes)

Sprinkle on a generous amount of your chilli powder and optional chilli oil

Once the water is boiled and the timer has gone off, stick your can of sweetcorn in a pan and add enough water to almost submerge the tin (or until you're pretty sure that any more would cause the pan to boil over, whichever comes first)

Stick the potatoes in the microwave, covered, for 6 minutes (based on my 850w (I think) microwave) or just until they're the texture you like, but if that's less than the amount of time left on the sausages, make sure to set a separate timer so they don't end up undercooked

Best order to plate in (trust me)

Drain the sweetcorn and add to the plate first

Add the sausages

Add the potatoes, making sure to get that yummy spicy melted butter all over the sweetcorn

Enjoy your yummy time!

spaghetti (if you’re upsetti)

-cook spaghetti or your favorite pasta. if you don’t know how to cook pasta, google has some great tips.

-homemade red sauce: sauté chopped onion (about a half) & garlic (lots), cut up tomatoes (fresh and/or roma are best) or use canned diced tomatoes. tomato paste and water can be added to get the right consistency

-season with basil, parsley, salt, black pepper, crushed red pepper & cayenne if ya feel, add turmeric if you have anti-inflammatory needs like I do

****you can also jazz up a jarred marinara sauce by sautéing onion and garlic in olive oil, then pouring the sauce over to heat it, and adding those same seasonings

-for more nutrition you can add: ground meat or meat substitute, cooked lentils, roasted chickpeas, eggplant, zucchini, or whatever tbh

the only egg sandwich, as far as i’m concerned

-toasted bread, naan, wrap, or sandwich round

-half avocado, mashed

-mix mayo with chili powder, sriracha, garlic, turmeric, or whatever you have available/ like best

-1 egg over easy/medium: just spray the pan or melt some butter, crack an egg right into it, and let it cook until the clear part turns white (the longer it cooks, the less runny the yolk will be)

-spread the spicy mayo on the toast base, then mash the avocado, then place the egg on top

-top with salt, pepper, chili flakes

-you could add breakfast meats or veggies if you’re feeling fancy

quesadillas

-grab a tortilla

-put cheese on one side

-add veggies, meat, or whatever you want on top of the cheese

-spray the pan or put a little oil in it

-fold the tortilla in half

-place it on the pan, smush with a spatula

-flip it once it gets crispy; it’s done when the second side is crispy and the cheese is melted

-top with salsa, sour cream, guacamole, or ranch, or enjoy it plain

grilled cheese

-if you don’t know how to make a grilled cheese sandwich, message me and i will help you with this crucial life skill

-use as many cheeses as you can find or just your favorite kind. grilled cheese doesn’t discriminate.

-things i’ve added to grilled cheese: apple butter, spinach & feta, bacon, tomato, buffalo chicken dip

-you can also grill a pb&j or pb & banana sandwich the same way! 10/10 would recommend.

rice & beans

-cook rice in a pot, use some of the liquid from the bean can along with the water for more flavor, or use chicken/vegetable stock if you have it on hand!

-i like to season my rice as it cooks with cumin, garlic, and chili powder; just sprinkle it right into the pot

-if you’re feeling fancy, you can sauté some onion and garlic in the pan first, but garlic & onion powder will work just fine too

-pour a can of beans into a pan, season with salt, pepper, cumin, chili powder

-let them cook on low-medium heat for as long as it takes the rice to cook

-you can add whatever you want to the beans: leftover meat, mushrooms, a can of tomatoes, corn, etc.

What’s your favorite traditional dish? Is it hard to make? Commercialized? Family recipe? What’s in it? Would you be adverse to my main character (who is, in fact, Mexican, don’t worry) to reference it or try to make it? If it’s a family recipe, would you like it credited? Obvs I’m not asking for the full line by line recipe, I’m not cooking it, but a few ingredients and maybe a hot or cold indication would be lovely. Even just a name and a short description is more than enough. Of course, you can also answer this if you yourself are not from Mexico, I don’t judge.

Thanks :)