As the anticipation for living off-campus in my own apartment with awesome roommates and the ability to cook my own food grows, I know I'm not the only one that's starting to ask the big question: what am I going to eat? Well, here's your answer. It comes in the form of 12 recipes that my roommates and I will definitely have to make. They are delicious, healthy, and won't break the bank!

1. Taco Soup (via iheartnaptime.net)

Ingredients:

• 1 lb hamburger or turkery burger
• 1-2 TB Mccormick taco seasoning (more or less to taste)
• 1 medium sweet onion, chopped finely
• 1 green bell pepper, chopped
• 1 red bell pepper, chopped
• 1 15 oz can black beans, drained
• 1 15 ozcan kindey beans, drained
• 1 15 oz can pinto or white beans, drained and rinsed (optional)
• 1 15 oz can corn
• 1 can rotel tomato's
• 1 15 oz can diced tomato's
• 1/4 cup salsa (fresh is best)
• 1 15oz can tomato sauce

Directions:

1. Brown hamburger in a large pan over medium heat. Add in the onions, bell peppers and saute for a few minutes.

2. Add in the remaining ingredients and stir until combined. Let simmer for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. You can add a little water if it starts getting too thick. You could also put this soup in a crock pot and let cook on low for several hours.

3. Top with sour cream and cheese. Serve with tortilla chips. Enjoy!

2. Spinach Feta Grilled Cheese (via budgetbytes.com)

Ingredients:

• ½ Tbsp olive oil
• 1 clove garlic
• ¼ lb. frozen cut spinach
• Pinch of salt & pepper
• 2 ciabatta rolls
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 oz. feta cheese
• pinch red pepper flakes (optional)

Instructions:

1. Mince the garlic and add it to a skillet with the olive oil. Cook over medium-low heat for 1-2 minutes, or until it begins to soften. Add the frozen spinach, turn the heat up to medium, and cook for about 5 minutes, or until heated through and most of the excess moisture has evaporated away. Season lightly with salt and pepper.
2. Cut the rolls in half. Add about ¼ cup of shredded mozzarella and ½ oz. of feta to the bottom half of each roll. Divide the cooked spinach between the two sandwiches, then top with a pinch of red pepper flakes, plus ¼ more shredded mozzarella on each.
3. Place the top half of the ciabatta roll on the sandwiches and transfer them to a large non-stick skillet. Fill a large pot with a few inches of water to create weight, then place the pot on top of the sandwiches to press them down like a panini press. Turn the heat on to medium-low and cook until the sandwiches are crispy on the bottom. Carefully flip the sandwiches, place the weighted pot back on top, and cook until crispy on the other side and the cheese is melted. Serve warm.

3. Spaghetti With Garlic, Olive Oil, and Chili Flakes (via popsugar.com)

Ingredients:

The measurements in this recipe can be shifted depending on your taste preferences.

1. Cook spaghetti according to the directions on the package, until it is al dente.
2. Strain spaghetti and place in a large serving dish.
3. Add minced garlic, chili pepper flakes, olive oil, salt, and pepper, and mix together well.
4. Serve warm or at room temperature

4. Burger Sliders (via myrecipes.com)

Ingredients:

• 4 slices bacon
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 3 pounds lean ground beef
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• Salt and pepper
• 24 small dinner rolls

Preparation:

In a skillet, cook bacon until crisp. Remove bacon and drain on paper towels. Discard all but 2 Tbsp. bacon fat. Cook onion in bacon fat until translucent, about 3 minutes, then add garlic and cook 30 seconds longer. Remove mixture from pan and let cool. Crumble bacon when cool enough to handle.

In a large bowl combine beef, bacon, onion mixture, Worcestershire sauce and salt and pepper, and mix well. Form into 24 small patties and chill.

Preheat grill to medium; oil when hot. Cook burgers for about seven minutes for medium rare, turning once halfway through. Serve burgers on rolls.

5. Margherita Pizza Quesadilla (thekitchenpaper.com)

Ingredients:

• 1 flour tortilla
• 1 tomato, sliced
• 3 oz mozzarella, sliced
• 4 large basil leaves, chopped

Instructions:

1. Heat a heavy skillet over medium-high heat.
2. Place the tortilla in the pan, and layer the tomato, mozzarella, and basil leaves on one half of the tortilla. Cook for a minute before folding the empty half of the tortilla over the other side. Cook for another two minutes, or until the cheese is beginning to melt and the underside of the tortilla is brown. Flip, and cook until this side is also brown.
3. Slice and serve!

6. Green Salad with Apples and Toasted Walnuts (via myrecipes.com)

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup walnut pieces
• 2 Granny Smith or other tart apples, cored, halved and thinly sliced
• 1/4 cup white wine vinegar
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 2 tablespoons minced shallot
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• Salt and pepper
• 1/3 cup olive oil
• 8 cups mixed salad greens

Preparation:

1. Preheat oven to 350ºF. Spread walnut pieces on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake walnuts for 5 to 8 minutes, stirring every 2 minutes, until just toasted. Pour into a bowl to cool.

2. Place apples in a bowl and toss with 1 Tbsp. vinegar. In a small bowl, whisk together remaining vinegar, mustard, shallot and sugar; season with salt and pepper. Whisking constantly, drizzle in olive oil and continue to whisk until smoothly blended.

3. Place salad greens, apples and walnuts in a large bowl. Toss with dressing just before serving.

7. One Pot Pizza Casserole (via clarkscondensed.com)

Ingredients:

• ½ pound Italian sausage
• 1 15 ounce can tomato sauce
• ½ of a 12 ounce box of penne pasta (gluten free if necessarY)
• 20-25 pepperonis (gluten free if necessary)
• ½ can water
• 1 6 ounce can tomato paste
• 1 tablespoon garlic infused oil (or 1 teaspoon garlic cloves)
• 1 teaspoon Oregano
• 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• ½ to 1 cup of mozzarella cheese
• ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese

Instructions:

1. Bring water to a boil in a pot. Boil pasta until al dente. Drain and set aside (or you can add the pasta later, bring the sauce to a boil, and boil until cooked. You will need to add an additional one can of water if you do this.)
2. In an oven safe pot, cook and crumble sausage. Drain excess grease and return to pot.
3. Add tomato sauce, about ½ the pepperonis, the water, tomato paste, garlic, oregano, and red pepper flakes to the sausage. Cook until everything is combined and warm.
4. Mix in the parmesan cheese and cooked pasta.
5. Cover with mozzarella cheese. Place pepperonis on top of that.
6. Place in oven at 400 degrees for about 10 minutes, or until cheese is warm and bubbly.

8. Bacon Waffles (via myrecipes.com)

Ingredients:

• 1/2 pound sliced bacon
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cups milk
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 2 large eggs, at room temperature
• Maple syrup, for serving

Preparation:

Cook bacon until crisp. Drain and then coarsely crumble.

Plug in an electric waffle iron to preheat.

Meanwhile, combine flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in a large bowl; whisk together to blend.

Pour milk in a glass measuring cup and microwave for 1 minute at full power to heat slightly. Pour into medium bowl; whisk in melted butter and eggs. Add liquid ingredients to flour mixture, whisking just until blended.

Grease waffle iron with cooking spray. Spread about 1/3 cup batter over each iron (or appropriate amount according to manufacturer's directions) and sprinkle 1/8 of bacon on top. Close waffle iron and cook until done. Repeat with remaining batter and bacon. Serve with warm syrup if desired.

9. Homemade Microwave Lasagna (via realsimple.com)

Ingredients:

• 1 15-ounce container ricotta
• 4 cups baby spinach, chopped (about 4 ounces)
• 2 cups grated mozzarella (8 ounces)
• 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan (1 1/2 ounces)
• kosher salt and black pepper
• 1 24-ounce jar marinara sauce (2 3/4 cups)
• 6 no-boil lasagna noodles

Directions:

1. In a bowl, combine the ricotta, spinach, 1 ½ cups of the mozzarella, ¼ cup of the Parmesan, and ¼ teaspoon each salt and pepper.
2. In the bottom of a microwave-safe 8-inch square baking dish, spread ½ cup of the sauce.
3. Top the sauce with 2 lasagna noodles, ½ cup of sauce, and half the ricotta mixture. Repeat.
4. Top with the remaining lasagna noodles, sauce, mozzarella, and Parmesan.
5. Cover with wax or parchment paper, then a plate. Microwave on high (power level 10) until the noodles are tender, 15 to 20 minutes.
6. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.

10. Baked Potato Casserole (via hercampus.com)

Ingredients:

• 3 Russet potatoes
• 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• ¼ cup sour cream
• Salt
• Pepper
• 1 teaspoon Butter or Margarine
• Chives (optional)
• 1 tablespoon Hormel Bacon toppings

Directions:

1. Using a potato peeler, peel three medium-to-large potatoes.
2. After the potatoes are peeled, rinse them under warm water for 15 seconds. Scrub away any dirt with a vegetable brush.
3. Using a fork, poke holes into the potatoes about six times all over to help them vent while in the microwave. If you skip this step, your potatoes will explode.
4. Place the three potatoes inches apart on a large dish. Microwave the potatoes for 7 minutes. If the potatoes still feel hard, microwave for additional time until they are to the desired tenderness.
5. Let the potatoes cool for 1-3 minutes.
6. Once the potatoes have cooled, cut them into medium-sized chunks as if you were preparing mashed potatoes.
7. Pour the potato chunks into your casserole dish.
8. Place 1 teaspoon of butter or margarine and mix throughout (optional).
9. Measure out ¼ cup of sour cream (or more depending on how much you desire) and using a spoon, mix it in with the potatoes until covered.
10. Measure out ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese and spread it throughout the casserole dish.
11. Sprinkle your bacon bits and chives on top of the potatoes.

11. French Toast (via foodnetwork.com)

Ingredients:

• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 4 eggs
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 8 slices challah, brioche, or white bread
• 1/2 cup maple syrup, warmed

Directions:

• In a small bowl, combine, cinnamon, nutmeg, and sugar and set aside briefly.
• In a 10-inch or 12-inch skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Whisk together cinnamon mixture, eggs, milk, and vanilla and pour into a shallow container such as a pie plate. Dip bread in egg mixture. Fry slices until golden brown, then flip to cook the other side. Serve with syrup.

12. Swiss Cheese Chicken (via prepared-housewives.com)

Layer Ingredients:

• Cover bottom of pan with Chicken. You can leave the breasts whole, or cut as small as you like. You can even make this with about 2lbs of canned chicken– it’s not as scary as it seems ;)
• Layer 6 slices of Swiss Cheese on top of the chicken (I actually tried out Pepper Jack this time, so feel free to mix it up too)!
• Mix the Cream of Chicken with 1/4 cup of Milk – You can also add more milk to have more of a sauce, whatever you prefer.
• Pour the Cream of Chicken Mixture over the Cheese.
• Sprinkle Stove Top Stuffing Mix over the top!
• Drizzle 1/4 cup melted Butter over the Stuffing mix!

That’s it! Now you throw it (or place it gently) in the oven and bake it uncovered at 350 for 45-60 minutes (or until the meat is cooked through).