It's that time again! College students all over the world are gearing up to head back to their universities. As freshmen, most colleges require students to live on campus, paying room and board. A few weeks from now, if you've skipped dinner because your cafeteria was serving something you didn't quite recognize and the local fast food places are closed for the night, all is not lost. Not if you’ve got some essentials, a few spare minutes, a little creativity, and if the dorm rules permit, you can feed yourself a healthy and nutritious meal or study snack made in your room. Please make sure that you are allowed to cook in your room before you head out to buy an indoor grill or electric skillet. Cooking in the dorm is the second leading cause of dorm fires. If everything checks out and you receive a green light, there are a few essential appliances you might want to take a look at. A microwave, a crockpot, a rice cooker, a refrigerator, a toaster oven or toaster, and a hot pot will let you make just about anything. Before you spend money on appliances for your dorm room take a look at a few safety rules.
A Cooking Capsule is a “compact kitchen,” a single, 30″-wide appliance that contains a range, refrigerator and sink. I WANT ONE! Wow technology...don't you just love it?
Basic Safety Rules for Cooking in the Dorm
- Always unplug an appliance when you're done using it, and let it cool completely before storing.
- Keep flammable items, like paper and clothing, away from your cooking area.
- Pay attention while you're cooking; don't leave the room if you are grilling something or when something is in the microwave.
- Always clean up immediately. One reason many colleges don't allow cooking in dorm rooms is because food attracts pests. Get in the habit of washing utensils, plates, and appliances as soon as you're done eating......and use dish soap not your shower gel!!
- Don't use equipment for purposes other than those intended. Don't use a rice cooker to pop popcorn; don't stir-fry on a popcorn popper.
- A small fire extinguisher kept next to the cooking area is not a bad idea....you just never know.
- Be sure that your refrigerator can hold food at the proper temperature, around 38 degrees. Some of the smaller refrigerators may not be efficient.
The perfect gadget for a college dorm room, the 3-in-one breakfast station. A griddle, toaster oven, and coffee maker, these 3 must-have college accessories are combined into a compact design that requires very little space and only cost $39.99!
Keep it simple! If you aren't used to cooking, start slow. Heat things up, or combining foods in no cook meals. A bagged salad topped with some precooked chicken, raw veggies, and shredded cheese makes an excellent meal with little work and no cooking. Buy some good bread and make sandwiches; use your hot pot to heat water for instant oatmeal, or to heat up a purchased rice mix in the microwave and add some chopped ham. Make your own wrap sandwiches with some deli salads and tortillas. Canned soups are super easy and nutritious. Make quesadillas by sprinkling cheese, pre-cooked chicken and veggies between two flour tortillas, then use your indoor grill or pop it in the microwave. Below are links to easy dorm cooking recipes. Hope you find something to your liking.
Microwave Recipes for the Dorm
- Microwave Scrambled Eggs
You can omit the cheese if you don't have any on hand. - Microwave Sweet and Sour Meatballs
Thaw the meatballs according to the package instructions; don't let them stand at room temperature! - Microwave Mexican Cube Steaks
This four ingredient recipe is a real winner; it's super easy to make and delicious. - Sweet and Sour Microwave Chicken
Substitute a bottled sweet and sour sauce for the pineapple juice mixture to make this a four ingredient recipe. - Microwave Beef Stroganoff
A can of condensed soup makes a good sauce for cooking in tight quarters. - Spaghetti in the Microwave
You don't need an extra pot of boiling water to cook the spaghetti in this recipe! - Mexican Chicken
This easy recipe can be served with flour tortillas and a great Spanish rice mix for a complete meal. - Special Kay Bars
Hey, you can't live on healthy food alone! These fabulous bars are perfect for a study break. - Easiest Fudge
Two ingredients + 3 minutes = great fudge!
Crockpot Recipes for the Dorm
- Crockpot Ham and Lentil Stew
This easy recipe will have your dorm-mates flocking to your door to see what's cooking! - Sweet and Spicy Crockpot Chicken
A bagged salad and some bread are all you need to complete this easy meal. - Crockpot Honey Chicken with Dried Fruit
Heat up a rice pilaf from a package to serve with this delicious recipe. - Crockpot Double Corn Chowder
You can also make this easy recipe in an electric skillet; just heat it until it bubbles. - Peanut Chicken
This wonderful recipe tastes like Chicken Satay, but takes about 5 minutes to prepare. Serve it over rice. - BBQ Pinto Beans
Serve this hearty dish with some cornbread from the bakery section from your grocery store and you've got a delicious dinner.
Indoor Grill Recipes for Dorm Room Cooking
- Citrus Chicken
This recipe is a good way to get some vitamin C into your diet; boil the marinade in your hot pot while the chicken is cooking. - Mexican Steak Salad
You don't have to use all of these ingredients; the essentials are the salad greens, beans, salsa, steak, and salad dressing. - Three Ingredient Bacon Chicken
Make sure that the chicken and bacon are cooked through; this easy recipe is fabulous served with some fresh fruit and breadsticks.
Give cooking in your dorm room a try...you'll be glad you did!
Recipe with No Cooking Required
- Bean and Tuna Salad
You can leave out the onion and squash, and even substitute a bottled oil and vinegar salad dressing for the homemade dressing in this recipe. Canned beans and canned meats make great salads with little work. - Pantry Gazpacho
With just a couple of cans, you can make this flavorful and super easy soup in minutes. - Wrap Sandwiches
Any sandwich fixings can be rolled into lettuce or tortillas for a quick and easy sandwich. - Disaster Meals
No, this doesn't mean a meal that turns into a disaster! These recipes can be made with foods that don't require refrigeration (until you open the cans or packages). - Top 10 No Bake Cookies
Everybody needs a snack now and then for a study break. These ten recipes don't require an oven (although some need heat) and they're fun to make too. Our daughter and her friends make no bake cookies ALL of the time!
You can find more info on dorm cooking at http://busycooks.about.com/od/fallrecipesandmenus/a/dormroom_2.htm.
Good Luck to all students this fall. May your mind be filled with knowledge and your tummies with good food!
Give cooking in your dorm room a try...you'll be glad you did!
ENJOY!
the domestic curator ~ ronda
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