Cooking from home can be a fun and productive way to spend your time in quarantine. Photo via Flickr

While being quarantined at home all day, cooking can be a good way to release stress and do something new and creative. These four recipes include a variety of ways to make meals or snacks that are particularly geared for our new lifestyle changes, such as constantly being at home, cooking more often and maybe finding new things to do while in quarantine. Hopefully they serve as a fun way of trying something different during this new reality.

Skillet chicken and ravioli

Having to live and work from home all day can be hard for many, especially when cooking meals for yourself or a family. This chicken and ravioli recipe from Food Network only requires one skillet and yields four servings in 30 minutes.

Total time: 30 minutes

Ingredients:

Tuna casserole

This simple 5-ingredient recipe, found on the All Recipes website, includes many items that are commonly found in the pantry. Hopefully, it can be made without a trip to the grocery store.

Total time: 45 minutes

Ingredients:

3 cups macaroni noodles

1 can (5 ounces) canned tuna

1 can (10.75 ounces) condensed cream of chicken soup

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1.5 cups fried onions

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 F.
2. Mix the macaroni, tuna and condensed soup together in a 9 by 13-inch baking dish and sprinkle cheese on top.
3. Bake for about 25 minutes. Top with friend onions and bake for 5 more minutes.

Chia seed pudding

Tired of eating frozen food or instant ramen everyday? Food Network’s Giada De Laurentiis’ chia seed pudding is not only healthy and easy to make but can also be eaten for a breakfast, snack or dessert.

Total time: 40 minutes

Ingredients:

1 cup vanilla-flavored unsweetened almond milk

1 cup plain Greek yogurt

2 tablespoons maple syrup (preferably Grade B) and 4 teaspoons for serving

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/8 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup chia seeds

1 pint chopped strawberries

1/4 cup toasted, sliced almonds

Directions:

1. In a medium bowl, gently whisk the almond milk, yogurt, maple syrup, vanilla extract and 1/8 teaspoon salt until blended. Whisk the chia seeds in with everything else and let it sit for 30 minutes.
2. Stir again, cover and refrigerate overnight.
3. The next day, toss the berries with 4 more teaspoons of maple syrup in a medium-sized bowl. Mix in the almonds.
4. Spoon the pudding into small bowls or glasses. Top it off with the berry mixture and serve.

Chocolate mug cake

With all the uncertainty in the world right now, it is important to still treat yourself every once in a while. A simple mug cake, which can be made in just minutes, can be a good way to de-stress and take a break from responsibilities.

Ingredients:

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 cup sugar

1/8 teaspoon baking soda

1/8 teaspoon salt

3 tablespoons milk

2 tablespoons canola oil

1 tablespoon water

1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Mix all dry ingredients (flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt) in a microwave-safe mug.
2. Stir in all wet ingredients (milk, canola oil, water and vanilla extract) into the mug.
3. Microwave for about 1 minute and 45 seconds or until cake is cooked in the middle.

This story was written by Skyler Chun. She can be reached at [email protected].