It’s 3 a.m. on a Tuesday night, and all on-campus dining options have long closed their doors. You’re cramming for tomorrow’s exam and are in desperate need for some brain food. You then find yourself at the nearest vending machine, settling for trail mix. Avoid this nightmare by checking out these dorm room recipes and tips to help kiss the Goldfish and fruit snack diet goodbye.
When it comes to culinary function in the dorms, the microwave is your best friend. It’s good for far more than enabling popcorn addictions and warming up lunch leftovers. Enjoy a bowl of macaroni and cheese by adding half a cup of pasta, half a cup of water, a quarter cup of milk and approximately half a cup of your favorite cheese in a bowl and salt to taste. Then, microwave on high for seven minutes, stirring periodically.
Scrambled eggs are also a surprising dorm room “do.” Grab a microwavable mug and coat it in butter before cracking in two eggs and adding a tablespoon of milk, cheese to preference and preferred meats and vegetables. Microwave on high for thirty seconds, stir and repeat for a breakfast treat.
For those seeking a tasty vegetarian option, junior Esha Vallabhaneni offers a simple solution that helped her survive two years of dealing with Chartwell’s limited veggie options.
“As a vegetarian in the dorms, I had my fair share of trouble when it came to mealtime. So I often fell back on a staple meal that hit all the main food groups. The best part was that you could make the dish in a microwave in less than five minutes,” Vallabhaneni said. “Basically, I steamed a bag of vegetables and seasoned them to taste, cooked about a cup of instant brown rice, and topped it off with a half cup of black, kidney or pinto beans. It was yummy, filling and nutritious!”
Of course, no meal is complete without appeasing the sweet tooth. So after you heat up a bowl of macaroni or give Vallabhaneni’s creation a try, refer to junior Nicole Lyn Johnson’s recipe to satisfy your need for sugar-induced relaxation:
Ingredients:
½ cup of cake mix
1 egg
1 tbsp of butter (or oil)
4 tbsp of water
Mix all ingredients in a small bowl on medium power in the microwave for two minutes. If not thoroughly cooked, continue heating in 20-second intervals.
words_danielle reid. illustration_michelle brener.