August 19, 2020

The Zen of College Cooking

A quote from one of the masters of home cooking Julia Child as you embark on the next step in life.

“This is my invariable advice to people: Learn how to cook — try new recipes, learn from your mistakes, be fearless and above all have fun!” – Julia Child

It’s 1994 and my first night of the semester in a new student apartment with 3 room mates. Eager to show off my cooking prowess using my new wok I made our first shared meal – Kung Po Chicken with rice. For a novice cook it was fairly involved, lots of chopping and an egg white batter to coat the chicken with the added challenge of hot oil to cook in. I followed the recipe to a T and if smart phones had been a thing back then I’m sure it would have made an instagram appearance.

My somewhat adventurous beginnings quickly waned as campus life took hold. Lectures began, extra curricular activities piled up and I realized that I was unable to sustain my enthusiasm on my basic government grant. I was out of my apartment for long periods, and pasta, bread, and noodles were my friend. But even back then I remember having a some basic pantry staples including herbs, spices, soy sauce and vinegar. Looking back, the only regret I have is that I didn’t buy a slow cooker. I didn’t even know that they existed!

With time and money at a premium during these informative years, spending a few dollars up front can set you up for hot, healthy meals on a budget. This week we’re sharing a few tips and recipes to get you started for a successful future in home cooking. Quick Start your Zen of College Cooking journey today with a mini tutorial below.

Budget Recipes to get you going

Balsamic Sausage Buns $1.90 per serving *
Vegetable Tortilla Soup $1.89 per serving *
Red Lentil Coconut Curry $1.66 per serving *
Black Bean Quesadillas $1.89 per serving *

Leftovers Made Over

And don’t forget that you can use up all your leftover root veggies for a refrigerator soup. A chopped onion, a spoonful or two of Italian herbs or curry powder, a handful of lentils and a quart of broth. It’s a forgiving combination that you can leave to bubble all day. Cook for 8-9 hours on LOW, 3-4 hours on HIGH in the slow cooker. Low cal, nutritious, and budget friendly.

Additional resources include the Getting Started pages on our website, including tips for cuts of meat, liquids, and more easy recipes.