We might not be able to share a coffee break with our co-workers just yet, but we can still enjoy a great cup of quarantine caffeine and make it social by sharing pictures with friends and colleagues.

With almost two billion installs, the social networking service known as TikTok has seen an unprecedented uptick in growth over the past few weeks. The movement is fuelled largely by stay-at-home measures enacted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

From cloud raves to video diaries, users are flocking to the platform to share glimpses of their lives from a social distance. They're also concocting some imaginative recipes, including the now-famous whipped coffee, among other delights. 

It's creamy. It's frothy. It's surprisingly simple. But how do you make it?

Today, we're sharing this recipe, along with four other trendy dishes circulating around the internet, that you can use and share with your co-workers to add a little fun to your dining room lunch breaks!

1. The TikTok Whipped Coffee

Grocery stores might be barer than usual, but you don't need any fancy ingredients to make the coffee that's taken the internet by storm. In fact, you don't need many ingredients at all!

Known as Dalgona coffee in South Korea, the beverage isn't exactly new. Yet, it’s popularity reached new heights when TikTok user @iamhannahcho posted a short video of herself making the coffee with a friend on March 10. 

For the uninitiated, here are the simple steps to follow:

  1. Add two tablespoons of instant coffee to a mixing bowl
  2. Mix in two tablespoons of sugar
  3. Add two tablespoons of hot water
  4. Whisk the mixture until stiff peaks form
  5. Pour over milk and serve hot or iced

That's it! Consider this your permission to take a break from the screen, stretch your legs and pour up a cup today.

2. #TheStew

Quirky, down-to-earth and preparing everything in her NYC apartment kitchen, chef Alison Roman is the epitome of the home cook we all wish we could be. Her most iconic, internet-famous recipe to date is lovingly known as #TheStew.

Officially titled "Spiced Chickpea Stew with Coconut and Turmeric," the multi-faceted, healthy dish is rich in flavour and spice. Here's how to make it.

  1. Sautee garlic cloves, onion and sliced ginger in olive oil for 3 - 4 minutes
  2. Add 1.5 teaspoons of turmeric and 1 teaspoon of pepper flakes
  3. Stir in 2 (15 ounces/425 grams) cans of chickpeas
  4. Cook for 8 -10 minutes or until the chickpeas begin to crisp and sizzle
  5. Remove 1 cup of chickpeas and set aside
  6. Lightly crush the remaining chickpeas
  7. Add 2 cans (15 ounces/425 grams) of coconut milk
  8. Add 2 cups of vegetable stock
  9. Bring mixture to a simmer and cook for 30 - 35 minutes
  10. Add one bunch of leafy greens to the mixture and cook for 3- 7 minutes
  11. Top with mint, reserved chickpeas, and olive oil

This article takes a closer look at how this stew went viral and the impact it had on Instagram. It's the perfect at-home comfort food!

3. The Crinkled Chocolate Chip Cookies 

Looking for something to pair with your whipped coffee? Food blogger Sarah Kieffer's beloved Crinkle Chocolate Chip Cookies are the ideal sidekick.

Crispy on the outer edge but decadently soft and gooey on the inside edge, these delights inspired a new Instagram hashtag, #panbangingcookies. Follow these steps and you'll see why!

  1. Preheat oven to 174°C
  2. Whisk 2 cups of flour with 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda and 3/4 teaspoon salt 
  3. In a separate bowl, mix 2 sticks of butter until creamy
  4. Add 1.5 cups of granulated sugar and 1/4 cup brown sugar to the butter
  5. Beat on medium for 2 - 3 minutes
  6. Mix in 1 large egg, 1.5 teaspoons of vanilla and 2 tablespoons of water
  7. Stir in the flour mixture 
  8. Add 6 ounces (170 grams) of chopped, bittersweet chocolate
  9. Form the dough into balls and place on a baking pan lined with parchment paper
  10. Freeze the dough for 15 minutes, then bake for 10 minutes
  11. Gently lift the side of the baking sheet about 4 inches (10 cm) and drop it back down
  12. As the cookies puff back up, repeat the lifting/dropping process a few more times
  13. Bake for 16-18 minutes total

Kieffer's helpful notes on the recipe are included in this post.

4. The No-Knead Bread

No bread on the shelf? A quick internet search reveals that it's easier than you thought to make your own.

This viral no-knead bread recipe is great to have on hand at any time, but it's especially beneficial now. 

Created by chef Jim Lahey, owner of Sullivan Street Bakery in NYC, the recipe is devoid of any special techniques or ingredients, which helped catapult it to fame when it was featured in the New York Times. Here's what to do.

  1. Combine 3 cups of all-purpose or bread flour with 1/4 teaspoon of instant yeast
  2. Add 1 1/4 teaspoons of salt and 1 5/8 cups of water 
  3. Stir everything until blended and cover the bowl with plastic wrap
  4. Let the dough rest for 12 -18 hours at room temperature
  5. When the surface is bubbly, flour a work surface and turn the dough over a few times
  6. Cover the dough with a plastic wrap and wait for 15 minutes
  7. Shape the dough into a ball 
  8. Coat two (non-terry) towels with flour and put the dough inside, seam-side down
  9. Let the dough rise for about 2 hours
  10. Half an hour before you're ready to bake, heat your oven to 230°C and put a covered pot inside 
  11. Put the dough into the warm pot, seam-side up
  12. Cover with the lid and bake for 30 minutes, then bake for 15 minutes uncovered

Print this recipe and keep it in your favourites.

5. Instant Pot Butter Chicken

Chances are, your slow cooker and Instant Pot have been on heavy rotation lately. Now is the perfect time to try the iconic Instant Pot Butter Chicken!

Thousands of people have tried this Indian recipe from home, which means it’s worth the hype.

Originating on the food blog "Two Sleevers", it's a rich and aromatic wonder that will leave you wondering why you ever ate chicken any other way.

To make it, first place the following ingredients into your Instant Pot, in this order:

  • 1 can (14-ounce/396 gram) of diced tomatoes
  • 5 - 6 cloves of garlic
  • 2 teaspoons of minced ginger
  • 1 teaspoon of turmeric
  • 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper
  • 1 teaspoon each of: smoked paprika, kosher salt, garam masala and ground cumin

Then, follow these steps:

  1. Mix the sauce well and add in one pound of chicken thighs. 
  2. Set your Instant Pot for on high for 10 minutes 
  3. Release remaining pressure, open the pot and set the chicken aside
  4. Blend the remaining ingredients together
  5. Add 4 ounces/113 grams of butter, 4 ounces/113 grams of heavy cream, 1 teaspoon of garam masala
  6. Stir in 1/2 cup of chopped cilantro
  7. Remove half the sauce and save for later
  8. Add the chicken back in and heat throughout, serving over noodles

This hearty meal beats a microwaved lunch in the break room any day!

Working From Home Can Be Deliciously Rewarding

As employees all over the world get used to working from home, these recipes prove that there are plenty of ways to add variety.

Why not challenge your teammates to create a few of these dishes in their own kitchen? Then, you can share photos with each other to connect from afar!

Remember to use your meal and snack times as a chance to take mindful breaks and reconnect with yourself as you get used to this new normal. Especially during this unsettling time, nourishing your mind and body is of utmost importance. Of course, the caffeine boost from whipped coffee helps too!

Looking for more health and safety related business advice you can trust? Get in touch with us today.

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