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1. Cook the rice in the microwave according to the package directions.

2. In a large microwave-safe dish, place the cooked rice and stir in the black beans. Microwave on high until hot, 2 to 3 minutes, stirring halfway through.

3. Stir in the guacamole and pico de gallo. Top with dollops of sour cream and scallions.

OLIVE. RED PEPPER, and ARUGULA PIZZA

YIELD: 2 servings

PREP TIME: 10 minutes

COOKING TIME: 16 minutes

flour, as needed

1 ball Trader Joe’s Pizza Dough,

at room temperature

1/2 (10-ounce) Trader Joe’s

Pizza Sauce

1 handful arugula

1/2 (8-ounce) Trader Joe’s

Mozzarella, grated

1 red pepper from Trader Joe’s

Fire-Roasted Red and Yellow

Peppers, cut into slices

1/4 cup pitted kalamata olives,

cut in half

Let your creativity go wild to top this pizza with whatever you have in the fridge. No rolling pin required, just your hands are needed to stretch the dough.

1. Preheat the oven to 450°F.

2. Sprinkle 1 to 2 tablespoons flour onto a cutting board, flouring the cutting board and your hands. Remove the pizza dough from the plastic. Slowly, stretch the dough on the back of your knuckles, rotating the dough and stretching it out into a circular shape. When the dough is stretched out to about 1 foot in diameter, place on the cutting board and stretch the pizza dough even more, using your fingertips.

3. Place the dough directly onto one of the oven racks. Bake until the bottom of the crust is cooked through, about 4 minutes. Using tongs, remove from the oven, and place on the cutting board with the bottom face-up.

4. Spread the pizza sauce onto the dough and top with mozzarella slices. Add the red pepper slices and olives on top of the cheese.

5. Place the pizza in the oven, directly on the wire rack. Bake until the crust is fully cooked and crisp and the cheese has melted, about 12 minutes longer. Using tongs, carefully remove the pizza from the oven.

6. Spread the arugula on top and cut into pieces.

VEGETABLE FRIED RICE

YIELD: 2 servings

PREP TIME: 5 minutes

COOKING TIME: 10 minutes

2 large eggs

1 tablespoon water

1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon

canola oil, divided

1 (12-ounce) bag sugar snap peas

1/2 (16-ounce) bag frozen Trader

Joe-San’s Vegetable Fried Rice,

thawed

1/2 (7-ounce) package Trader

Joe’s Organic Baked Tofu Savory

Flavor, cubed

2 scallions, chopped

The key to good vegetable fried rice is to make sure the frozen rice is fully thawed so each rice grain can get coated with oil and “fried” during the cooking process.

1. Crack the eggs into a small bowl. Add the water and use a fork or whisk to combine.

2. In a medium nonstick skillet, heat 1 teaspoon oil over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the eggs and use a spatula to constantly move the eggs from the side of the skillet into the center until they’re fully cooked, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer the eggs to a clean bowl and set aside.

3. Microwave the sugar snap peas in their bag on high for 2 minutes.

4. Wipe the skillet clean, then heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil over high heat until shimmering. Add the vegetable fried rice. Cook until hot, 2 to 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Add the sugar snap peas along with the tofu. Stir to combine and cook until hot, 1 to 2 minutes.

5. Stir in the reserved scrambled eggs and remove from the heat. Sprinkle with scallions.

CHAPTER 7

MICROWAVE MAIN MEALS

These recipes prove that even if you’re equipped with just a microwave and a tiny fridge in your dorm, you can still cook tasty meals. Armed with Trader Joe’s ingredients and these recipes, there’s no excuse not to whip up a feast. Also, Trader Joe’s frozen goods are of such high quality they don’t have that frozen food taste that others suffer from. No one will ever be the wiser that the entire meal was made in the microwave.

TAMALE-ENCHILADA CASSEROLE

YIELD: 2 servings

PREP TIME: 2 minutes

COOKING TIME: 10 minutes

1 (10-ounce) package Trader

José’s Handcrafted Chicken and

Cheese Tamales

1 (10-ounce)