Recent Explanatory Writing: Two Tasty Recipes

This process analysis explanation was written for JOUR 104: Words at Work: Writing Essentials at the University of Kansas in fall 2020. The written instructions complement the YouTube video “7 Recipes You Can Make in 5 Minutes” by Tasty.

Two Tasty Recipes: 1. Five-Minute Mac and Cheese

First, take a regular-sized mug and add ½ cup of macaroni, ½ cup of water, and a pinch of salt. Then, stir for a few seconds with a spoon. Next, put the mug in the microwave for two to three minutes. Once the microwave timer goes off, take the mug out of the microwave and lightly stir the macaroni again for a few more seconds. At this point, the macaroni should be mostly drained of water; if this is not the case, put the mug back into the microwave until the water has almost completely evaporated. After taking the mug out of the microwave, add a splash of milk (about the size of a gulp), ¼ cup of shredded cheddar cheese, and just a pinch of pepper—You should still be able to clearly see the cheese underneath. Stir one more time until the non-macaroni ingredients are consistently distributed. Microwave for 30 more seconds. Give the mac and cheese a quick stir and a few more minutes to cool down before adding optional toppings, such as green onions. Finally, dip in a spoon or fork, and enjoy the creamy, homemade goodness that is five-minute mac and cheese.

Two Tasty Recipes: 2. Five-minute Cheesecake

Begin by adding 1 tablespoon of butter to a mug or a bowl of the same size. Next, melt the butter into liquid. In a separate bowl, crush 2 graham crackers with your hands before scooping the smashed graham crackers into the first container. Mix thoroughly; then, use a spoon to compress the mixture into a flat layer of graham cracker crust. In a clean bowl, add 4 ounces of cream cheese, 2 sugar spoonfuls, and a few drops of vanilla. Stir these ingredients until they have one consistency before placing the mixture on top of the graham cracker layer. Smooth over the creamy surface with your spoon (Then, feel free to lick your spoon!). Next, microwave the container for four minutes at 50% power, making sure the microwave is on for no longer than 45 seconds at a time. Carefully remove the warm container before letting it chill in a freezer. To take the cheesecake from the container, cut around the cheesecake’s edge with a knife. Then, put a small plate on top of the container and flip it over, so the cheesecake lands on the plate with the graham cracker layer face-down. Add raspberries on top, and enjoy!