GLaDOS' Chocolate Mug Cake

I have something to confess. I'd never played Portal until this last month.

/hang head in shame

Sometimes I just don't get the itch to follow a trendy game. It actually took my brother who talked to my husband who talked to me...to finally get me to take a look at the game. Conveniently it was on sale at Steam. So I gave it a try.

I was hooked. Simple introductions to the mechanics and easy puzzles that gradually got more difficult. It was really fun! I could see why a lot of people liked it. And I had a really good laugh (at myself) when I finally really understood the "cake is a lie" references. /facepalm@self. I have to say though, my favorite part was at the end of the testing when GLaDOS pulls the bait and switch. Talk about getting an emotional vested interest in a game! Then she cracked up me later with this comment that I'll never forget:


Didn't we have some fun, though? Remember when the platform was sliding into the fire pit and I said "Goodbye", and you were like, "No way!" And then I was all, "We pretended we were going to murder you." That was great.

But I'm no GLaDOS. I promise that this cake is no lie. You can make your own personal chocolate cake in less than 5 minutes. Which is good because that's all the time you have before you die from my neurotoxin. Then the cake will be all mine.

You will be missed. Goodbye.

P.S. (My other favorite quote from Portal2)

It's been a long time. How have you been? I've been really busy being dead. You know, after you murdered me. But I think we can put our differences behind us. For science. You monster.


GLaDOS' Chocolate Mug Cake

2 Servings | Total Time: 6 min | Apprentice

Mats:

• 8 Tbl Flour
• 4 Tbl Sugar
• 3 Tbl Cocoa Powder
• 1 Egg
• 6 Tbl Milk
• 6 Tbl Canola Oil
• Splash of Vanilla Extract
• 2 Tbl Chocolate Chips
• 3 Strawberries
• Powdered Sugar

Craft: Mix together all ingredients. Divide and pour into 2 microwave proof coffee mugs. Microwave one at a time for two minutes. Remove the tops from the strawberries and slice in half. When the cakes are done, remove from microwave with pot holders, they're hot! Dust with powdered sugar and garnish with strawberries. This can be eaten from the mug or tipped out onto a plate.

Strategies:The cake will rise above the edge of the coffee mug. Don't panic! It simply does that while it's cooking. It'll go back down when it's done or when the heat stops.

LFM: The perfect dessert to compliment any meal.

Total Cost: < $1.00
Cost Per Serving: < $0.50

Category: Critical Hits, Cheat Codes, Phat Loot, Snackage

Thunder Chicken Thighs

There are lots of debates out there about what makes an avatar appealing. Some people will even go so far as to choose their game based on how customizable the characters are. In City of Heroes you get to choose everything from height, and weight to bust size, as well as the usual hair styles and coloring.

Being picky about your avatar, to me, is completely understandable. If you are going to spend hours on end looking at the character on the screen, you may as well make it as appealing, or interesting to look at as possible.

However, when I first became addicted to WoW I was not prepared for the pickiness my husband began voicing for me, IRL. Again, I understand that I am married to him, and he is the one who actually has to look at me, but I do not think I am over-weight (at least when I am not pregnant) at 130 lbs and 5'5". So the first time he told me he was concerned about my WoW addiction it sounded something like this, "Honey, I just don't want you to get teacher butt from sitting at the computer all day." I know my husband had good intentions, he wants me to be fit and be a good example for the kids and all, but his tact seemed to have escaped him that day.

I resented what he said to me for several years, especially when I would see his choice in avatars. Skinny, beautiful females with the daintiest features only physically possible in the realm of art and fantasy. I eventually got over it though. I have been playing WoW for 6 years now and am proud to say I don't have teacher butt, but with a little instruction from my awesome friend at EC Writes, I now have some fabulous Thunder Chicken Thighs to eat. I might even get some Str, Agi, and Stam from it!

Thunder Chicken Thighs
4 Servings | Total Time: 30 Minutes | Apprentice

Mats:

• 4 Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs
• 2 tsp Olive Oil
• 4 tsp Mrs. Dash© Original Seasoning

Craft: Preheat oven to 350°. Place chicken thighs in a baking dish. Lather each thigh with 1/2 tsp of olive oil. Sprinkle 1 tsp of Mrs. Dash on each thigh. Cook in the oven for 25 minutes or until juices run clear.

Strategies: You can use any cut of chicken that you want. It doesn't even need to be boneless and skinless, it is simply easier to eat that way. 

Cost:

• Boneless Skinless Chicken Thigh $4.70 
• Mrs. Dash $3.50 

Total Cost: $8.20
Cost Per Serving: $2.05

Category: Casual, Cheat Codes

Alterac Manna Biscuits w/Galv's Favy Gravy

I don't know about you but there are some times when I just want to say forget the diet and gimme some good ol' fashioned biscuits and gravy. Ooey gooey, salty, fatty, scrumptious goodness! Nothing is more filling than that. It sticks to your ribs so you have plenty of energy to take down (or protect) Captain Galvangar and grind out your AV rep so your twink can have those tasty health/mana biscuits. (Those were the bomb in vanilla!)

And the great thing about biscuits and gravy is that there's two ways to make it. You can take your time and make them from scratch for a homemade deliciousness that can't compare. Or if you're short on time or don't trust your cooking skill level yet you can get some cheating help from the store and still make some pretty leet tasting biscuits and gravy. So below you'll find two recipes. One that's made-from-scratch and one that's totally cheating.

Alterac Manna Biscuits w/Galv's Favy Gravy
4 Servings | Total Time: 35 min | Master

Mats:

• 2 1/4 cup Flour, divided
• 3 3/4 cup Buttermilk, divided
• 1 12oz tube Mild Ground Sausage
• 1/4 tsp Baking Soda
• 1 tsp Baking Powder
• 8 Tbl Butter (if using unsalted butter, add 1/8 tsp salt)
• Cooking Spray

Craft: Preheat oven to 450°. Slice butter into small pieces and set aside. In a medium bowl combine 2 cups of flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt (if using unsalted butter). Cut in butter with a pastry blender until the mixture resembles coarse meal. This step can also be done by hand but will take a little longer. Add 3/4 cup of buttermilk and stir until just combined. Add more buttermilk, 1 splash at a time if needed to make sure all the dry ingredients get moist.

Turn out dough on a lightly floured surface and pat out until roughly 1 inch thick. Use a biscuit cutter or round cup to cut out biscuits. Place biscuits on a lightly sprayed cookie sheet. Spray the tops lightly with cooking spray then bake for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. (Makes 12 biscuits)

While the biscuits cook, brown the sausage in a large saucepan. When it's done, remove from the pan and set aside. Using the same pan over medium heat, whisk together 3 cups of buttermilk and 1/4 cup of flour. Scrape up the browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Cook, stirring constantly for 5 minutes or until the gravy has thickened. Add the meat to the pan and stir until combined.

Pour 2/3 cup of gravy over 3 biscuits and serve hot!

Strategies: The key to good biscuits is to keep the butter and the dough cold so you must work with it quickly. You also need to handle the dough as little as possible so it doesn't get tough. No kneading after the buttermilk is added and no rolling pins allowed.

LFM: This is a very hearty and filling meal but it does go very well with fresh fruit if you're looking to fill up the corners!

Cost:

• Flour $2.00
• Buttermilk $1.50
• Mild Ground Sausage $2.50
• Butter $3.50

Total Cost: $9.50
Cost Per Serving: $2.38


Leet'n'Cheatin' Biscuits & Gravy
4 Servings | Total Time: 20 min | Journeyman

Mats:

• 1 pkg Refrigerated Biscuits
• 1 pkt or jar of White Gravy
• 1 cup Milk or Buttermilk
• 1 12oz tube Mild Ground Sausage

Craft: Bake biscuits according to package instructions. Meanwhile, brown sausage in a large saucepan. When it's done, remove sausage from the saucepan and set aside. Using the same pan over medium heat, cook the gravy according to package instructions. When the gravy is done, add 1 cup of milk or buttermilk and cook another 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Add meat back to the pan and stir until combined. Pour 1/2 cup of gravy over 2-3 biscuits and serve hot!


Strategies: If you like more gravy than your average person, get an extra jar or packet of white gravy.


LFM: This is a very hearty and filling meal but it does go very well with fresh fruit if you're looking to fill up the corners!


Cost:

• Refrigerated Biscuits $1.50
  
• Buttermilk $1.50
  
• Mild Ground Sausage $2.50
  
• Gravy Mix $0.50
  

Total Cost: $6.00
Cost Per Serving: $1.50

Category: Raid Night, Casual, Journeyman, Master, Critical Hits, Cheat Codes, Rez Plz

*This meal contains staple items such as spices that you may or may not have in your pantry so your cost may vary.

Pull Faster Chili Master

There are times when fast just isn't fast enough. Like facerollin' through heroics that you outgear. You just want your Valor points! You can't even count the number of times you've completed this same dungeon over the last few months. Just kill things as fast as possible so we can move on to doing other, more fun, things!

There's no better way to describe how fool-proof-easy-and-fast this soup is to make. It's practically cheating! Like you found the secret cow level and unlocked godmode. Do you know how to open a can? Do you know how to put a pot on the stove and turn on the heat? Then you can make this delish soup. Just like outgearing heroics. It's that easy. And it's that fast. And you can take all the credit if you want. Go ahead! Claim how you made it from scratch and it's been simmering all day! I won't tell anyone.

Pull Faster Chili Master

4 Servings | Total Time: 10 min | Apprentice

Mats:

• 2 cans of Chili with Beans
• 1 can Whole Kernel Corn
• 1 can Cut Green Beans
• 1 8oz can Tomato Sauce

Recommended Addons:

• Shredded Cheddar Cheese
• Sour Cream

Craft: Open all the cans. Drain the corn and green beans. Pour all the cans into a medium pot over medium heat. Heat through, stirring occasionally.

Strategies: This recipe is very easy to double and triple if you have company over. You can also add some heat to it if you'd like by adding a dash of hot sauce. It reheats well too so you can have it for lunch the next day.

LFM: Crackers, rolls or biscuits.

Cost:

• Chili with Beans x2 $3.00
• Whole Kernel Corn $0.50
• Cut Green Beans $0.50
• Tomato Sauce $0.30

Total Cost: $4.30
Cost Per Serving: $1.01

Category: Raid Night, Troll Fuel, LFG, Cheat Codes

*This meal contains staple items such as spices that you may or may not have in your pantry so your cost may vary.

King Tuscar's Taco Salad

The Tuscaren Glacier is cold. And yes, that's an understatement. You'd think that King Tuscar and Queen Tula would get tired of being cold all the time! I mean, even their minions are cold! Icebound skeletons, frostbound skeletons, iceweaver hatchlings and the ice lords. Really? Riding the cold themed train are we? Well there is one hot thing in the whole Glacier (besides the Queen) that Tuscar enjoys! Taco salad!

This taco salad is the perfect combination of crunchy and smooth. Salty and creamy. Hot and cold. You start with some crunchy corn chips on the bottom, top it with meat and cheese, then top that with salad and ranch with taco sauce. Or sour cream and salsa! Or any combination of any toppings you'd like!

This makes a great meal for nights when you're going to be venturing into the Glacier. It's easily eaten with one hand and if you buy bigger corn chips then you don't even need a fork! It's quick cooking and if you know you're gonna be gaming in advance then you could cook the meat in advance. So all you need to do is heat it up the night you eat it.

I know why this is a favorite in King Tuscar's little fam because it's a favorite in mine too. It combines everything my husband wants (meat & cheese!) and everything I want (salad!) in one scrumptious meal.


Taco Salad


4 Servings | Total Time: 15 min | Apprentice

Mats:

• 1lb Ground Beef or Turkey
• 1 Taco Seasoning packet
• 1 bag Corn Chips (Frito)
• 2 cups Shredded Cheddar Cheese
• 1 bag Iceberg Lettuce (shredded or salad style)

Recommended Addons:

• Ranch Dressing
• Sour Cream
• Taco Sauce
• Salsa

Craft: Cook and crumble ground beef in a large skillet over medium heat until completely browned and no longer pink. Drain then add taco seasoning packet. On a plate, spread a layer of corn chips, 1/4 of the ground beef, 1/2 cup of cheese and 1/4 of the lettuce. Top with desired addons and serve.

Strategies: For a healthier version, use lean ground turkey breast and low-fat/fat free toppings. You won't taste a difference!

LFM: Jello!

Cost:

• Ground Turkey $1.50
• Taco Seasoning packet $1.00
• Corn Chips (Frito) $1.50
• Shredded Cheddar Cheese $2.00
• Bag of Iceberg Lettuce $1.50

Total Cost: $7.50
Cost Per Serving: $1.88

Category: Raid Night, Critical Hits, Cheat Codes

Poor Man's Pizza Rolls

When you're a new character starting out in a new game or on a new server you've got to find ways to cut your expenses down until your cash flow goes up. Don't be buying stuff from the AH or other people until you get your professions leveled and you can start selling things for gold. Sometimes you even forgo buying new spells for a couple levels as you save up for a mount or a new weapon.

Sometimes it's that way IRL too. You're in college and need to save what little money you have for tuition and to feed yourself some bare minimal stuff. Or you've got a family to feed, a mortgage to pay and a couple other bills here and there. It's nice to be able to save a bit on that large grocery bill. This meal is the perfect, cheaper (and tastier!) alternative to hot pockets! And just like hot pockets they are totally versatile in the kinds of fillings you use.

You can cut them up into smaller portions for parties or leave them whole, burrito-style and take it with you to work for lunch. They're not messy or greasy on the outside so you can handle them easily while gaming. And just like any pizza, they go great with a side salad if you wanna get some veggies in.

They are really quick and easy to make too so when you're in a rush, you can still have something delicious and hot to eat. No worries about pots and pans to clean here. Just a paper plate and a spoon to spread the sauce. Maybe a knife to cut it up if you're so inclined.

All around this meal gets a big thumbs up from my family and friends for tastiness, ease, speed and minimal clean-up hassles.

Poor Man's Pizza Rolls

8 Servings | Total Time: 10 min | Apprentice

Mats:

• 8 Flour Tortillas
• 8 Tbl Pizza/Spaghetti Sauce
• 2 cups Mozarella Cheese
• 8 Tbl Cheddar Cheese
• 1 pkg Pepperoni Slices

Craft: Spread 1 Tbl of sauce onto each tortilla. Sprinkle 1/4 cup of Mozarella on each tortilla. Put 15 slices or so on each tortilla. Sprinkle each tortilla with 1 Tbl cheddar cheese. Microwave each tortilla separately on high for 1 minute. Roll up and serve.

Strategies: Like any pizza recipe, you can use whatever toppings you'd like. I recommend trying BBQ Sauce, pineapple, and ham. Or try Ranch dressing, uncooked baby spinach, Parmesan cheese and some cooked, shredded chicken.

LFM: A crisp green salad with pudding or a parfait for dessert!

Cost:

• Flour Tortillas $1.50
• Pizza Sauce $1.50
• Mozarella Cheese $2.00
• Cheddar Cheese $2.00
• Pepperoni Slices $2.50

Total Cost: $9.50
Cost Per Serving: $1.19

Category: Raid Night, Troll Fuel, Snackage, Cheat Codes

Pywll's Parfait

High King Pywll was a pretty wise man for his time. Without him, many Aluvians might have been lost to savage war times and then who would Asheron have called to help his people in the land of Dereth? But the thing about the king that most people didn't know is that he had a taste for sweet and fruity things.

This royal treat is a quick and easy nom to make. No cooking required! Maybe a little slicing and dicing but as long as you have dagger/melee d spec buddy you should be fine. It's creamy and crunchy. It's sweet and salty. It's perfect for breakfast. It's perfect for dessert. It's perfect for a snack. It's everything you want after you've done nothing but stuck your hiney in a corner and killed lugians for a few hours.

Pywll's Parfait

1 Servings | Total Time: 5 min | Apprentice

Mats:

• 1 cup Vanilla Yogurt
• 1 Granola bar, chopped up
• 1/2 cup Blueberries
• 1/2 cup Strawberries, sliced in half or quarters

Craft: In a cup layer 1/3 of the blueberries, 1/3 of the strawberries, and 1/2 of the yogurt. Repeat once then top with remaining fruit and all the granola.

Strategies: You can use just about any fruit that you have available. Fresh fruit is always tastier but you can use frozen fruit too. You can use canned fruit too but I highly recommend rinsing the fruit gently to remove the syrup it's packaged in. To make it a really sweet treat, use granola bars with chocolate chips in them or add a tsp of chocolate syrup between each layer and drizzled on top.

Cost:

• Vanilla Yogurt $0.75
• Granola bar $0.50
• Blueberries $2.00
• Strawberries $2.00

Total Cost: $5.25
Cost Per Serving: $5.25

Category: Rez Plz, Expansions, Snackage, Phat Loot, Cheat Codes

Korthos Island Pig

After venturing through the dark sewers of Korthos Island you might not feel like eating. However, if you maintain your adventurous appetite you should be lucky to find yourself at the Wavecrest Tavern, drinking Old Sully's Grog and eating some mighty Tasty Ham. This is the recipe that Sigmund Bauerson himself creates for him famous ham-eating contests.



This island beauty is the other reason Sigmund moved to a tropical location for his ham-eating contests. It is a lot cheaper to make when you don't have to pay import shipping fees for the ingredients!

Korthos Island Pig
2 Servings | Total Time: 10 Minutes | Apprentice

Mats:

• 2-1/4 lb Ham Steaks
• 3/4 cup Applesauce
• 1/4 cup Brown Sugar
• 1/2 tsp Cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp Ginger
• Kitchen Weapon Proficiency: Indoor Appliance Grill
  

Craft: Plug in your weapon to preheat it. Mix together applesauce, brown sugar, cinnamon and ginger. Dip the ham steaks in the mixture and place them on the grill. Coat the ham steaks evenly with the rest of the sauce. Close the lid and let cook for 5-8 minutes or until heated through. Remove ham steaks from the grill and place them on plates. Use the drippings in the grease catch to dress the steaks again.

Strategies: You can replace the brown sugar in the recipe for honey.

Cost:
Ham Steaks: $5.50
Applesauce: $2.00

Total Cost: $7.50
Cost Per Serving: $3.75

Category: Raid Night, Cheat Codes, Critical Hit

Welfare Epic Burgers

You know how sometimes, like towards the end of an expansion, it’s so easy to gear up your brand-new character that you feel like you’re cheating? Epic gear that is really easy to get has come by the nickname of ‘Welfare Epics’, which became the inspiration for this recipe. It is so easy and so simple but the burgers are so awesome it feels like you cheated to get them! And you do, kinda!

You can get preformed burger patties at the store for only a couple bucks more than a pound of ground beef. You can certainly use this recipe and form the patties yourself but when you're pinched for time, getting preformed patties will save you a good 10-15 minutes. You could clear trash halfway up to the first boss in an instance in that amount of time!

Once you've got your patties it's just a matter of making them taste more epic than your average burger. That's where this recipe comes in. Simple is better so I've stuck with basic ingredients that do more to enhance the flavor of the meat than to cover it up like some spices do. Top this burger with some classics like lettuce, tomato, pickles and cheese and people will think you worked hard on them!

Welfare Epic Burgers

2-4 Servings | Total Time: 20 min | Apprentice

Mats:

• 1 pkg Preformed Burger Patties (2-4 patties)
• Onion Powder
• Garlic Powder
• Salt
• Pepper
• Cooking Spray
• Kitchen Weapon Proficiency -Indoor Appliance Grill

Recommended Addons:

• 2-4 Burger Buns
• Pickles
• Lettuce
• Tomato
• Onion
• Ketchup
• Mustard
• Mayo
• Cheese, your choice

Craft: On both sides of each pattie sprinkle desired amount of onion powder, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Gently rub the seasoning into the meat. Heat up your indoor grill and spray it with cooking spray. Place the pattie on the grill and close the lid. Cook 3-5 minutes or until cooked through. Remove from the grill and immediately add cheese if desired. Repeat for other patties.

Strategies: To enhance the flavor even more you can get ground beef instead of preformed patties. Then mix in the seasonings with the beef as you form the patties. This will take some extra time though! Don't have an indoor grill? No worries. You can purchase this appliance for $15-20. You can also just as easily cook this on an outdoor grill when the weather cooperates. Just keep in mind that it will add a little time as well.

LFM: Fries, Tator Tots, Chips, Potato Salad, Coleslaw, Fruit Salad or Baked Beans.

Cost:

• Preformed Burger Patties | $5.00

Total Cost: $5.00
Cost Per Serving: $1.25

Category: Raid Night, Troll Fuel, Cheat Codes

*This meal contains staple items such as spices that you may or may not have in your pantry so your cost may vary.

Romantic Picnic

Earlier today I made some Less Than Three Eggs and saved the center cutout from the bread for just this recipe! Lunchtime now looms like a Fel Reaver, ground-shakin', growling stomachs and all. So I'll pull out my sammich baggie of heart shaped bread slices and get to work!

These mini sammiches of goodness can be made with any kind of filling you'd like. My hubby likes PB&J while I like deli meat with cheese and lettuce. But you can also fill it with a chicken finger and some marinara sauce or some mayo and tuna and pickles!

The important thing to note about these sammiches is that they are smaller than the average sammich. So you'll want to make more and then suppliment this picnic with lots of other goodies and finger foods. If you want to be truly romantic, pack your food in a 10-slot picnic basket and take him/her to a park (or if it's cold out, spread a blanket on the living room floor and play some co-ops while you munch). You can also hide a present for your sweetheart inside the basket! GameStop gift cards make great, hide-able gifts (hint, hint my dear!)


Romantic Picnic

2 Servings | Total Time: 5 min | Apprentice

Mats:

• 8 slices of Bread
• 4 Tbl Peanut Butter
• 4 Tbl Jelly or Jam, any flavor

Craft: Using a heart-shaped cookie cutter or your artistic skills, cut out heart shapes from the center of your bread slices. Spread peanut butter on 4 hearts and Jelly on the other 4. Pair your PB&J halves and enjoy!

Strategies: You don't have to use PB&J for this recipe. Try any filling you'd like on a sammich.

LFM: You can go with the obvious chips & dip route or you can kick it up a notch and add some fancy finger foods. Try some fruit and cheese. Strawberries, grapes and apples with Sharp Cheddar, Swiss, and Provolone. Follow-up this meal with chocolate chip cookies. Or a small box of chocolates!

Cost:

• Wheat Bread $1.00
• Peanut Butter $1.50
• Grape Jelly $1.50

Total Cost: $4.00
Cost Per Serving: $2.00

Category: Raid Night, Troll Fuel, Snackage, Cheat Codes, LFG

Cheaterfish Noodles

Cheaterfish isn't a fish of Azeroth, but it is quite commonly used around our world, Earth. Many of the fish on Earth have nicknames. For example, the Vermillion Snapper is commonly nicknamed "Beeliner" and Baracuda's are sometimes known as "Barney." However, Tuna Fish is such a simple and common name that no one has bothered to come up with a nickname for it, until now.

I am not a fish lover. I don't like the smell, and in most cases I don't even like the taste or texture. Tuna is the exception. It comes conveniently canned and pre-cooked and when mixed with mayonnaise or other creamy dressings, can be quite tasty. It is also cheap in comparison to most fish you find at the grocery store. So, Tuna, I dub thee, Cheaterfish! It's a fish that isn't what other fish is and is therefore cheating!



This dish makes awesome leftovers and can be served cold, making it great option for doubling up on the recipe.

Cheaterfish Noodles

4 Servings | Total Time: 20 minutes | Apprentice

Mats:

• 1/2 lb package Elbow Macaroni
• 1 can Cream of Mushroom soup
• 1 can Tuna Fish
• 1/4 tsp Garlic Powder
• 1/4 tsp Onion Powder
• Salt and Pepper to taste

Craft: Cook elbow macaroni per package directions. Strain noodles and add remaining ingredients. Serve warm.

Strategies: You can add most any small vegetable (i.e. corn, peas...) to this dish to give it color, flavor and more nutrition.

LFM: Crackers are a great side dish here. Forget the fork or spoon, scoop it up onto a cracker and save yourself time doing the dishes later!

Cost:

• Elbow Macaroni $1.00
• Cream of Mushroom Soup $0.89
• Tuna Fish $0.63

Total Cost: $2.52
Cost Per Serving: $0.63

Category: Troll Fuel, Raid Night, Cheat Codes

AFK Dinner Features

All of our recipes on AFK Dinner have a few different categories attached to them that you'll be able to search by according to what your current food needs are. Here are our categories:

• Rez Plz - Food for the dead of morning
• Troll Fuel - Lunches to nom between forum topics
• Raid Night - Dinner in less than 20 minutes
• Casual - Dinner when time is of the essence (20 min-1 hour)
• Hardcore - Dinners when time matters not (1 hour or more)
• Expansions - Side dishes to boost your mealtime xp
• Snackage - A quick bite for the bio break
• LFG - For the LAN PARTY
• Phat Loot - The guilty pleasures
• Critical Hits - Author’s favorites
• Cheat Codes - Fantastic meal ideas with little work required
  

You will also be able to search for recipes according to your skill level in cooking. These skill levels are indicated in color just below the recipe name. Here they are from easiest to hardest:

• Training
  Recipes marked with this are indicative of a recipe that will teach you how to cook something that people might take for granted! It’s a great way to level up your cooking skills from Apprentice to Journeyman or Artisan to Master!
• Apprentice
  Anyone who knows how to operate a microwave or has basic stove top skills can handle these recipes. Just because you haven’t been grinding your cooking tradeskill doesn’t mean you can’t eat tasty food too!
• Journeyman
  You’ve actually dabbled in raising your cooking profession. You’ve figured out how to use the oven and the broiler! And dagnabit if you ain’t pretty decent at it too! No microwave nuking needed here! Unless you’re a mage, then nuke away. Recipes here will prove to be no challenge and they give decent XP too!
• Artisan
  Stuff always tastes better baked, fried or grilled and you know how to do all that. You can multi-task like an AoE tanking pro! Recipes in this section will require a little bit more knowledge of spices and the cooking 1337sp34k but you’ve got all that nonsense covered!
• Master
  There’s not a word in this cookbook that you wouldn’t know the meaning to. Truss a chicken? Pfft, please. You know how to saute, souffle, filet, and melee. You’d game in the kitchen if you weren’t concerned about how to get sauce out of your controllers.
  

It can be hard to feed yourself and your family nutritious and delicious meals when you're living on a budget. To help you keep an eye on your gold pieces, you will find at the bottom of every recipe we've included a general pricing list of all the ingredients and how much the recipe should cost you per serving. Please keep in mind that your actual price will vary a little according to where you live and where/how you shop. (i.e. buying off-brand vs. brand name items.)

Lastly, inside all our recipes you will find two more helpful sections- Strategies and LFM. In the Strategy section you will find alternative ingredients or alternative ways to cook the recipe. Sometimes you will also find time-saving tips! In the LFM section you will find optional side dishes that will compliment your meal nicely. These side dishes are not included in the mats list nor are they included in the pricing list.

If you have any suggestions on other helpful features you'd like to see included on AFK Dinner Recipes please let us know in the comments section! We'd love to hear from you!