Sometimes you really want to go out to eat. But most of the time you shouldn’t — whether the reason be money or about-to-expire-ingredients sitting in your kitchen. However, you can’t stop cravings.

There are times when you need that milkshake from the place on the corner with a huge light-up sign. Or that greasy breakfast from the place with a line out the door.

We won’t name names, but we understand the struggle.

Here’s A&E’s list of dupes for popular Dinkytown eats.

Falafel 

Serve with a selection of sauces and some strong tea for the full experience.

Ingredients:

1 can chickpeas, drained

1/2 large onion

2 tablespoons finely chopped parsley

2 tablespoons finely chopped cilantro

1 teaspoon sea salt

1 teaspoon dried hot pepper

4 (or 5 if you want to have extra fun) cloves garlic

1 teaspoon cumin

1 teaspoon baking powder

4-6 tablespoons flour

Vegetable oil for frying

1. Place chickpeas, onion, parsley, cilantro, pepper, garlic and cumin in blender

2. Blend (but don’t puree!)

3. Add baking powder and 4 tablespoons of flour to blender, pulse mixture

5. Place mixture in covered bowl and refrigerate for a couple hours

6. Form the mixture into small balls

7. Heat around 3 inches of oil to 375 degrees in a deep pot

8. Fry balls on both sides (and do NOT let the oil splash you!) (if the balls are falling apart, add a little more flour!)

9. Drain on paper towel

Malted milkshakes

Because there’s no reason to spend $6 dollars on a single serving of this. Sorry.

Ingredients: 

1 cup milk

1 cup ice cream

4 tablespoons malted milk powder

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Choice of additional ingredients (chocolate, frozen fruit, syrups, etc) for flavor

1. Combine ingredients in blender

2. Blend until creamy (30-ish seconds)

3. Transfer to tall glass (or whatever you like to sip from)

4. That’s it!! Seriously

Pasties

Road trip to the Upper Peninsula or head down a Dinkytown alley? How about neither tonight (as long as you feel like chopping).

Ingredients: 

1 pie crust

1 tablespoon butter

1 small onion, chopped

1 leek, chopped

1/2 pound hanger steak, chopped

1 parsnip, chopped

1 potato, chopped

1 carrot, chopped

2 sprigs thyme, chopped

1 egg, beaten

Salt and pepper to taste

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees

2. Melt butter in pan, add onion and leek and cook until soft

3. Remove from heat and allow to cool

3. Combine steak, parsnip, potato, carrot and thyme in bowl

4. Combine mixtures, season with salt and pepper

5. Roll out crust until 1/4 inch thick

6. Cut into four circles, each five inches in diameter

7. Spoon 1/3 cup filling onto one half of each crust circle

8. Brush edges of crust with egg and fold over

9. Brush outside of pasties with egg

10. Place in oven. When browning begins, lower heat to 350 degrees and bake for additional 25 minutes.

11. Remove from oven and allow to cool.

Macaroni pizza

No, it’s not that remarkable of a feat to create. And it’s oh so easy to make gluten free, too!

1 pizza crust (buy pre-made or DIY)

1 cup elbow macaroni

2 cups cheddar cheese

1/2 tablespoon heavy cream

1 tablespoon olive oil

1/2 cup mozzarella cheese

1/4 cup ricotta cheese

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees, spray pan with cooking spray

2. Roll out crust on pan

3. Cook macaroni noodles

4. While still hot, add 1 cup cheddar and heavy cream to cooked noodles

5. Mix well

6. Drizzle olive oil on dough

7. Spread ricotta evenly on dough and sprinkle mozzarella

8. Spread macaroni mixture evenly, top with remaining cheddar

9. Bake until golden brown (about 20 minutes)

Bokkeumbap

We won’t pretend to know how to make good kimchi. Get takeout for that.

3 cups cooked rice

3 eggs

1 cup scallions, finely chopped

1 tablespoon soy sauce

Salt and pepper (to taste)

1/2 tablespoon sesame oil

1/2 teaspoon sesame seeds

Vegetable oil (for frying)

1. Beat eggs 

2. Heat oil in a skillet over medium high heat. Add 2/3 of the scallions and fry until soft and fragrant. 

3. Reduce the heat and add eggs. Scramble until eggs are set but still runny. Set aside.

4. Return the pan to stove and turn the heat to medium high, add oil and fry remaining scallions. Add soy sauce.

5. Add the rice to pan and fry, breaking up chunks as you go. 

6. Return the egg to the pan and mix well with rice. Fry together. 

7. Add salt, pepper, sesame oil and sesame seeds.

Eggs with hollandaise sauce

Use this recipe to avoid spending money at Dinkytown’s favorite greasy spoon. 

Sauce:

2 egg yolks

1/4 cup salted butter, melted

1/4 lemon, juiced

Pinch of salt

Pinch of cayenne pepper

1. Combine the egg yolks, lemon juice, salt and cayenne pepper in a microwave-safe bowl and beat until smooth.

2. Slowly add melted butter into the mixture, whisking to mix. 

3. Microwave mixture for 15 or 20 seconds. Whisk until thick.

4. Prepare eggs any way you like ‘em, top with hollandaise.