I tried the bacon mug that @radi8 posted today. Here’s my thoughts:
Visuals: 4.5/5
The final product looked pretty good. Unlike Radi8, I actually had shredded sharp cheddar, so I sprinkled some of that on. I don’t know if my microwave is more powerful or something like that, but the shredded cheese melted pretty well with the hot mug, which increased the visual appeal from the original 4/5 to a 4.5/5.
Flavors: 4/5
The whole thing tasted pretty good. I did not run into the raw egg issue, mostly because I nuked the egg for about 30 more seconds than Radi8 did, which definitely cooked it through. My only issue with this meal is the salsa, which doesn’t taste all that good mixed with all of the hot food. Salsa is not my favorite food all in all though.
Ease of Preparation: 5/5
The bacon mug is really easy to prepare. All it requires is a few common household foods, a mug, and a microwave, all of which can be found in most homes. The meal was prepared in 7:41 minutes, which is about a 30-second increase from Radi8’s time because of the extra microwaving.
Overall Tastes: 4.5/5
Overall, I actually really liked this recipe. The blend of the bacon, egg and cheese was really good, even with only one slice of bacon. The salsa, despite not being a food I generally eat, was decent in this meal. The egg tastes especially good with the cheese. Overall, this was a nice break from my usual buttered toast. I would probably make this again in a pinch.
Overall Score: 4.7/5
No photos because lack of phone
Day 1: Spicy Salsa and Bacon Breakfast Mug
Today marks the first day of doing it. I started off with Google Bard because it’s my go-to most of the time. Tomorrow will also be done using Google Bard. I am using the same prompt for all the chat bots, the following:
I want you to make a meal plan for me. It should be for breakfast. I have a cheese bagel, a toaster, bacon, cheese slices, some condiments (Sriracha sauce, salsa, ketchup, mustard) , eggs (If you want me to make scrambled eggs in the microwave,) and more. I only have a toaster, microwave, mugs, (no pans, ovens, stove tops, etc.) and utensils I can use to make my meal, but it must take under 10 minutes to cook and be ready to eat. Keep in mind I don't have ingredients such as cream cheese. I would like only two recipes. In the two recipes, please have two sections: one for ingredients, and one for instructions. If a part of the instructions should have a time I do it for, please provide the time. Get creative!
Google Bard returned the two meal plans as requested, and this was the first one:
Ingredients:
1/2 cheese bagel, toasted
1 slice bacon, cooked and crumbled
1/4 cup salsa
1 egg
1 tbsp shredded cheese
Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
1. Toast the bagel: Place half a bagel in your toaster and toast until golden brown, about 2-3 minutes.
2. Cook the bacon: While the bagel is toasting, cook your bacon slice in the microwave until crispy, about 1 minute per side. Let it cool slightly and crumble.
3. Prepare the mug: Break the toasted bagel into bite-sized pieces and place them in a microwave-safe mug. Top with the crumbled bacon and salsa.
4. Crack the egg: Carefully crack the egg on top of the other ingredients in the mug. Season with salt and pepper.
5. Microwave: Microwave on high power for 1 minute and 30 seconds. Check for doneness, and if needed, microwave for an additional 15-second intervals until the egg is cooked through.
6. Top and serve: Sprinkle with shredded cheese and enjoy!
This recipe took 7:09 to complete and be ready to eat (all food and cooking tools were taken out previous to starting the stopwatch,) finishing just ~3 minutes before it needed to be.
Review
Overall, it was a good breakfast. I found the bacon to be a bit burnt, though it wasn’t really noticeable when eaten with everything else. I would have cooked it for less time, as a minute for one piece is a bit extreme. I also got a bit of raw egg white, but that wasn’t too big of a deal.
The numbers:
Visual appeal: 4/5. The final result was a bit hidden by the cheese, though I didn’t have proper shredded cheese. Before the cheese was put on, it looked good, and I would eat it.
Flavor combinations: 4.5/5. The mix of salsa, egg, and bacon was really good. The flavors did not clash in any way. The crunch of the toasted bagel chunks added flavor as well. I’m only taking 0.5 points for the egg being slightly raw.
Overall taste: 5/5. I really liked it. I was a good change from what I eat everyday, and it made a good meal with the limited options I gave it.
Here are some pictures:
