Throughout the country, people are heading back to school. For many of us this also means moving back into the dorm.
There are some fun things about living in a dorm. You don't have to drive to class and worry about finding a parking space and you can visit your friends without ever going outside or taking off your pajamas.
There are also some serious frustrations. I love to cook and I especially love to bake. So for me, one of the hardest things to adjust to was not having a fully equipped kitchen (well, that and sharing a bathroom with forty people). Of course there's always the cafeteria, but sometimes that just isn't an option. Maybe it isn't open, or you don't have any credit left, or you don't want to take off your pajamas, or maybe you just really don't want to go to the cafeteria. Over the past two years I've picked up a few tricks that I will now pass on to you.
1. Get a rice cooker
This is the one I have. It only cost me about fifteen dollars and it has been a total lifesaver. This isn't just because I eat a lot of rice (which I kind of do), you can use this little machine for more than just rice. You can also use a rice cooker to steam vegetables (I mean, I haven't done it myself, but you can), some cookers even come with an insert specifically for this purpose.
However, my favorite use for my cooker is making pasta. It's simple and it saves me from going to the communal kitchen and standing over a pan. All you have to do is put your pasta into the bowl, add enough water to just cover the pasta, and flip the switch. It should be done when the cooker flips to keep warm, but you may want to check on it since it can finish early depending on the cooker and the amount of water you add.
2. ...and a microwave
If your dorm is like mine then you already have access to a shared microwave. However, if you can get your hands on your own then do it. That way you don't have to worry about it being in use, funny smells or what interesting foods your fellow residents have put into it.
With a microwave you can make just about anything. You can make soup, rice, pasta, drinks, and even cakes and cookies (go look up mug cakes on pinterest, they really work). And of course there are always microwaveable meals. They aren't necessarily the healthiest or most cost effective meal but I like to keep a few frozen dinners and microwave pasta cups on hand for when I'm too busy to cook and don't want to go to the cafeteria.
3. Keep essentials on hand
I bake a lot so I tend to have a lot of supplies, but there are a few staples I think everyone should have. For basic dry goods I would recommend flour, sugar, salt, rice, some kind of pasta, broth mix, and dehydrated potatoes.
For perishable items I like to have bread, milk, eggs, butter or margarine and at least one type of fruit (usually apples or bananas since they're cheap and convenient). With just these ingredients I can create all kinds of meals, plus cookies, muffins, cupcakes, pancakes, and much more.
4. Use spices
You can buy a bottle of most spices for about a dollar and they last forever and can spice up (hehe, you see what I did there?) any meal.
For me, the be-all end-all of spices and seasonings is garlic. For you it might be chili powder or curry powder. Combine these with rice, pasta or potatoes, add some bread or vegetables, and you have a tasty and inexpensive meal.
5. Wash your dishes right away
I know, washing dishes is no fun, especially not by hand in a tiny sink. However, those dishes are only going to get nastier and the last thing you (and your roommate) want in your room is sticky, grimy and moldy dishes.
6. Get disposable dishes and utensils
This isn't the most cost effective or environmentally friendly way to eat, and I wouldn't recommend using them every day for every meal. However, there are just some times you won't be able to wash your dishes right away and this is the simplest way to avoid a mess that will cause you a headache later.
Do you have any tips or tricks for cooking and eating in the dorm? If you do, let me know in the comments!
