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PREP TIME: 15 minutes

COOKING TIME: 20 minutes

1 1/2 cups Trader Joe-San

Wasabi Peas

1 cup Trader Joe’s Japanese-

Style Panko Bread Crumbs

1 cup whole milk

1 large egg

kosher salt and freshly ground

black pepper

1 pound Trader Joe’s Organic

Free Range Chicken Breast

Tenders

kosher salt and freshly ground

black pepper

canola oil, as needed

Pour a beer on the side and these greenish chicken tenders are fine fare for a St. Paddy’s Day celebration.

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.

2. Seal the wasabi peas into a plastic bag and pound them into crumbs. If you have a blender, you can also use that to crumble the peas. Place the crumbs in a medium bowl and mix in the panko bread crumbs.

3. In another medium bowl, use a fork or whisk to beat the milk and egg together to combine.

4. Season both sides of the chicken with salt and pepper. Dip each chicken tender into the milk-egg mixture and then into the wasabi-panko mixture.

5. In a medium skillet, heat 1 inch of oil over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add several chicken tenders (do not crowd the pan) and cook until the crust turns golden, about 1 minute per side. Remove the fried tenders to a rimmed baking sheet. Repeat until all the chicken tenders have been fried.

6. Transfer the baking sheet to the oven and bake until the chicken tenders are fully cooked, 6 to 8 minutes. Cut into the thickest chicken tender to determine it’s no longer pink.

7. Remove from the oven and sprinkle with salt.

CHAPTER 11

DESSERTS & DRINKS

A lot of people sail through dinner just to make it to the dessert. I mean, who doesn’t enjoy indulging in sweet treat? When I was in college, my desserts consisted of dry cakes from the dining hall or a tub of Ben & Jerry’s. Baking just wasn’t something I did. Thinking back, it’s pretty inexcusable. These recipes will reward you with some easy sugary decadence. There are tons of delicious homemade desserts that don’t require a ton of work, like Sunflower Seed Butter Cookies, made from just three ingredients. And while some recipes, like Raspberry Brownies, are a great way to treat yourself at the end of the day, others, like Banana Bread with Pralines, are good for impressing your friends with your crazy baking skills.

And let’s not forget about drinks. For some college students, drinking is mainly associated with the least expensive alcohol available. But, you can make boozy drinks that taste downright delicious, like sangria made from Trader Joe’s affordable wines or a chocolate milkshake spiked with Kahlúa.

ULTIMATE BERRY MUFFINS

YIELD: 12 muffins

PREP TIME: 15 minutes

COOKING TIME: 25 minutes

2 cups water

1 (8-ounce) bag Trader Joe’s

Dried Berry Medley

2 large eggs

1/3 cup vegetable oil

1 (20-ounce) box Trader Joe’s

Cranberry Bread Mix

These can double as a breakfast snack or end-of-the-day treat.

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray 12 muffin cups with cooking spray.

2. Fill a microwave-safe bowl with the water, and microwave on high until the water boils, about 3 minutes. Add the dried berries to the water and let them soak for 10 minutes, then drain.

3. In a large bowl, use a fork or whisk to combine the eggs and oil. Add the cranberry bread mix and stir until the batter is combined. Gently fold in the berries with a spatula.

4. Fill each prepared muffin cup three-quarters full with batter. Bake until the tops of the muffins are crispy and a toothpick or knife inserted into the center comes out clean, 22 to 25 minutes.

SUNFLOWER SEED BUTTER COOKIES

YIELD: 12 cookies

PREP TIME: 10 minutes

COOKING TIME: 5 minutes

1 cup sugar

1 large egg

1 cup Trader Joe’s Sunflower

Seed Butter

This cookie recipe is for those days when you crave fresh, homemade cookies with little fuss.

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray.

2. In a medium bowl, mix the sugar, egg, and sunflower seed butter.

3. Roll tablespoons of dough into balls and arrange the balls about 1 inch apart on the prepared baking sheet.

4. Bake until