Student-tested recipes for midterm exams, projects and other nonsense

March madness isn’t just about basketball.

With midterms approaching, students across campus scramble to prepare for exams they might or might not have studied for well in advance. With the onslaught of late-night cram sessions approaching, Fresno State students should stock up on healthy foods that don’t just give them energy, but are also good for them.

Following are some tried-and-true family recipes that work for students on a schedule and a budget.

Red, White and Brown Baked Potato

• Start with: Four potatoes
• One cup of chopped tomatoes
• Two tablespoons of ketchup
• ½ a cup of grated low fat mozzarella cheese
• ½ a cup of red bell peppers
• Prep: Wash the potatoes, then pierce them three to four times with a fork.
• Stick it in the microwave, and cook on high for six minutes. Rotate the potatoes ¼ turn. If baked in the oven, set to 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 45-60 minutes (works if you have time to prep for a study group).
• Place the chopped tomatoes and ketchup in a medium bowl. Stir in the chopped red bell peppers.
• Remove the potatoes, and allow enough time for them to cool. Slice them lengthwise down the center.
• Load on the toppings. Sprinkle the potatoes with two tablespoons of mozzarella cheese and put the potatoes back in the microwave. Heat until cheese melts.
• Adding other favorite toppings works well too.
• Guacamole, diced ham, cream cheese and sour cream are all good ways to go. When all the toppings are on there, dig in.

Raisin and Apple Pizza

• Start with: Two flour or whole-wheat tortillas
• Two tablespoons of lowfat cream cheese
• Two tablespoons of honey
• ½ a cup of raisins
• One cup of finely chopped apples (about the amount chopped from a medium apple)
• One teaspoon of cinnamon sugar
• Prep: Bake tortillas at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. If using a toaster oven, bake for three to six minutes. Turn the tortillas halfway through cooking.
• Combine the cream cheese and honey in a small bowl.
• Stir in the raisins and apples.
• Spread the cream cheese with the raisin mixture and sprinkle in the sugar.
• Cut into quarters if desired cold, or return to oven for two minutes to warm. Once the pizza is the wanted temperature, serve to friends or hog it all.

Veggie and turkey scramble

• Start with: One pound of ground turkey.
• ½ a cup of uncooked elbow Macaroni
• One 32-ounce jar of spaghetti sauce
• One 16-ounce package of frozen mix veggies
• Two cups of frozen chopped onions
• One teaspoon of garlic powder
• Prep: Crumble the turkey into a small baking dish that can fit in a microwave. Don’t forget to cover the turkey.
• Microwave on high for five to seven minutes.
• Stir up the turkey. Make sure it’s cooked all the way through. If not, put it back in. Heat in two-minute increments until it’s completely cooked.
• Add macaroni and spaghetti sauce, and stir together.
• Put the lid back on and microwave on high for 15 minutes.
• When it’s done cooking, open the lid so that you don’t burn yourself.
• Stir in veggies, onions and garlic powder.
• Cover and microwave for 10 more minutes on high.