The fall semester is right around the corner! Are you moving into the dorms? Your own place? Do you just know that you are going to be unsatisfied with the food choices?
Most people prep their room with the standard mini fridge and microwave, but that is not enough to prepare easy, delicious meals on your schedule. Bring these appliances with you, and implement these handy ideas and recipes, so that you too will have a unique and delicious food experience.
Mugs
Mugs, in college, are the holy grail of cooking tools! These perfectly portioned cups are excellent for making food for one in the microwave, and even come with a convenient heat resistant handle. No longer are these decorative and personalized objects limited to containing hot beverages – any meal of the day can be accomplished with a mug and a microwave!
Cake and coffee make a happy union.
For breakfast, try one-minute quiche or baked oatmeal to get your day started right. A quick lunch can be covered by a pizza muffin or even roasted tomato and cheddar soup if the day calls for it. Meatloaf or ricotta lasagna can also be spectacular comfort-food dinners too. End your meal with a sweet and delectable mug cake of the Nutella or apple crisp variety to make any day just a little bit better! The possibilities of meals in mugs are endless, so make sure your favorite mug makes it to school with you!
French Press
Fancy is finer.
Coffee is a staple in the life of almost every college student. Whether it is for a morning pick me up before a morning class or to get you through a late night study session, coffee becomes some of the most loved, and most hated, drinks on campus. Many dorms have regulations prohibiting quite a few coffee makers, or at least multiple requirements a pot must fill. A French press, however, is usually able to pass inspection, and provides way better coffee than an instant mix. Plus, have you ever had to clean a coffee pot where the last half-inch had cooled and started to solidify? Revolting! The French Press will eliminate that nasty side effect by supplying the right amount of coffee for one or two drinkers. And coffee from a French Press just tastes better! Also, check out this handy, French Press brewing guide.
Coffee Pot
Ugh. I will not drink that.
If your dorms do allow regular coffee pots, or you can find one that slides by the qualifications, great! Now you can learn about the magical uses a coffee pot can have besides making coffee. (Note, I personally do not particularly enjoy things cooked by a coffee maker, I find that I can taste the coffee in the food, but other people I have talked to, including my boyfriend, don't have that problem.) A coffee maker can be used to cook in two different ways – the pot, and the burner.
The pot can be used to cook most things that need to be boiled to be cooked, it just takes a little while. Hard boiled eggs, hot dogs, candied or roasted nuts, and oatmeal all take advantage of the bowl part of the coffee maker. The burner that typically goes under the coffee pot can also make unique foods including cupcakes, mini corn dogs, and pancakes. Play around with it, and you’ll never look at your coffee maker the same way again.
Irons
Irons are something a lot of students don’t think to bring with them to college – I mean, it is college, right? Well, while it is true most of your classmates won’t even notice if you iron or not, it is always a good idea to have one handy for those rare formal presentations or job interviews. And rather than just leaving it collecting dust between those occasions, make use of it and use it to cook! Bacon, a college student favorite, can easily be made with some foil, an iron, and some creativity.
You could be the next Iron Chef!
Other favorites are quesadillas and Paninis, both of which can easily be healthier, diet friendlier meals than what is often served in the dining hall on campus. Just make sure you follow safety protocol when using an iron; it can get hotter than you think!
Single-Serve Blender
Many college students don’t get enough fruits and vegetables in their diet – if you can only leave the dining hall with one piece of food, most of us go for the brownie rather than the apple, especially when it’s the first year and we can finally eat all the junk food we want. Fruits and vegetables though are so important for staying healthy, and a great way to incorporate them is by making smoothies for breakfast! Or for anytime! Single-serving blenders, like the Back to Basics Blender Express, that come with lids are one of the best inventions for college students, because it makes it easy and delicious to eat healthy things. Doubling as a travel cup, all you have to do is pop in some fruit or vegetables and juice, blend, and take the cup with you on your way to class.
For that cleanse after a weekend of parties.
This not only cuts down on cleanup (which is a great thing), but it also cuts down on time, so there doesn't have to be any waking up really early to make a smoothie. Check out this list of 50 healthy smoothies, and get yourself a single-serve blender to start off the school year right!
Ramen/Mac & Cheese Cooker
Ramen is well known to be the main staple of any college student or recent graduate's diet. Macaroni and cheese from a box follows close behind in second place. Unfortunately, since most dorms have banned stoves and hot plates, students have to buy the single-serving microwavable kinds – which are usually more expensive, take just as long to make, and aren’t enough food to satisfy. Rapid Ramen is a company that has come up with a solution.
Pastafarians rejoice!
The products they make can cook a full container of ramen or macaroni in the microwave in just a few minutes. If you know you are going to have to cook more than one serving of ramen at a time, definitely invest in this product. And you can even spice up your experience by making it a little more interesting with unique and genius additives. For ramen, try these ramen hacks, tips, and tricks. Do the same with your mac and cheese with these additions, themes, and alterations.
Hot Water Kettle
Hot water kettles are assumed for being used only for tea or bad coffee, so most college students don't bring them. But what most people forget is that there are many more uses for hot water. Indeed, tea is one of the main uses for a hot water kettle, but it does not have to be a drab, store-bought blend. Try replacing your usual drinks with ones of these DIY blends.
Another use for hot water from a kettle that most people skip over is heating up soups or noodles. While dining halls have the reputation of being bland and boring, if you get sick while at school, even those meals can be too much to handle.
Tea time is me time.
Following these steps, you can heat up and cook almost any canned soup or pasta meal. Lastly, on an unrelated note, the hot water from a kettle can be put in a thermos or mug to help soothe body aches, sore throats, menstrual cramps, headaches, and other ailments like a hot water bottle. Hey, mom isn't here to do that for you anymore; better come prepared!
Waffle Iron
Lastly, the waffle iron is a wonderful and handy addition one can have while trying to cook in a dorm room. The possibilities with this one truly never end, and can all be described as totally delicious. To get you started with appreciating your waffle iron, here are some easy starter recipes: Turn tater tots to hash browns or make cinnamon roll waffles in five minutes or less. For the more adventurous, the recipes can get more fun and more delicious! Falafel, burgers, pizza pockets, doughnuts, quesadillas, and crab cakes are among the possibilities!
This can go great with your french press!
And then for dessert, s'mores, brownies, and churros just barely begin to scratch the surface of what could satisfy your sweet tooth! Waffle irons come in all different shapes and sizes, so find the one that works for you and then begin your quest to find the most delicious waffle iron recipe. You can find more creative things to try with your waffle iron here, but don't let that be the end of it!
This mouse gives his stamp of approval.
There are lots of different appliances that can be used for surprisingly yummy treats. Most of the ones listed are easy to do and won't break the bank. If you're moving into the dorms or other campus-run housing, make sure you look at an approved items list before making any of these purchases. But rest assured, at least a few of these items can make their way into your cooking arsenal! Enjoy and good eating!
