Delicious College Menu

There are simply some foods that go with anything and are also essentials for quick, easy, and delicious meals and snacks.

White Rice - It's cheap, filling, and goes well with almost anything. No need for Ramen! This is just as easy and quick to prepare. 1 cup of boiling water + 1 cup of minute rice + cover for 5 minutes = Fresh cooked rice. Note: Brown Rice is a healthier and more flavorful alternative to white, although it takes a little longer to cook and it won't keep as long in storage.

Whole Wheat Bread - Another staple that can be used in an infinite number of ways: Toast, sandwich, egg in a basket, etc... It's good for every meal. Make sure to get wheat though because white bread, though maybe more attractive to some, uses a process where the most nutritious part of the grain is discarded, leaving bread that is barely worth your time.

Eggs - A great source of protein! Studies have shown that people who eat a high protein breakfast generally have a healthier weight than those who don't. Eggs are also incredibly cheap and can also be used in baking and several other foods.

Tuna - This one is a very personal favorite of mine. It's another big shot of protein with little fat and little cholesterol. As with most of the things on this list, it's also cheap. What's different about this item, and what makes it one of my favorites of the list, is that it can be eaten without any preparation and it is still good. Of course it can be combined into other things, but really, all that's need to eat a can of tuna is a can-opener.

Frozen Vegetables - Eating greens is a very important part of any diet. Pick out your favorite vegetable or vegetable medley and stick it in your freezer. They last far longer than any fresh vegetables and once they are cooked are nearly just as delicious. These can be combined with rice, tuna, and egg for a delicious and easy stir fry.

Low-fat Milk - An excellent source of calcium and a great way to fill out your dairy quota for the day. Make sure to get a low-fat milk though, because whole milk has almost twice the fat content of 2% and almost four times the amount of fat 1%. Milk is great for baking, cooking, and is also great all by itself!

Dry Pasta and Pasta Sauce Easy to fix, versatile to nearly any toppings, and delicious. Pastas can be casual, quick meals, or they can be impressive romantic gestures (for those wanting to impress that special someone). Boxes of pasta generally cost about a dollar. The way to a girl/guy's heart is really inexpensive!

Onions - These flavorful vegetables can last for months without degrading in flavor or vitamin content. And these little guys are full of nutritional content. Even disregarding the fact that it is fat and cholesterol free, contains many essential vitamins, and has a nice fiber value, onions have a chemical in them called quercetin. Quercetin has been shown to reduce the risk of heart diseases and cancer. Did I mention that it adds instant flavor to anything you put it in?

Condiments, spices, cheese, and butter - These are things that are sure-fire to turn a bland meal into something delicious. Grab your favorites: Ketchup, mustard, mayo, salad dressings, relish, etc... For spices be sure to always have: Salt, pepper, sugar, cinnamon, oregano, and basil. Fresh herbs are great, but dried are fine. Everyone has a favorite cheese, but don't be afraid to try new ones!

Extra Virgin Olive Oil - No, you aren't going to eat this, but it comes very much in handy when backing, cooking, sauteing, making dough, etc... Any kind will do.

What You'll Need

1 Cup of Minute Rice
1 Can of Tuna
1/2 Celery Stalk
5 slices of cucumber (diced)
1 chopped green onion
1 Tbsp of Red Wine Vinegar
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Salt & Pepper
Soy sauce (add to taste)

How to Fix it

In a bowl, mix the tuna, celery, cucumber, green onion, red wine vinegar, a small amount of salt and pepper, and about a teaspoon of soy sauce. Stir together. While you let that concoction marinate together, follow the directions on you rice to make 1 cup of rice in a saucepan.

When the rice is finished, in the same saucepan, add a bit of olive oil and add your previous bowl mixture into the rice. On medium heat stir together, adding soy sauce of your preferred level until the whole mix is light brown.

Serve in a bowl or plate (you can even put it back in the same bowl you used to mix with to cut back on dishes). Enjoy.

Makes 2 servings.

Now, I wouldn't presume to try to tell you how to make just one specific sandwich since they are one of the most customizable food items on the planet. But I will share some general tips for sandwich making to ensure that they taste as fresh and bold as they can.

Tip 1 - Use a bread that a decently hard outer crust (such as baguettes) or, in absence of that, lightly toast your bread. This will keep it from getting soggy when it soaks up the juices from your toppings.

Tip 2 - Use very defined layers. Don't put all of your most moist (condiments, tomatoes, cucumbers) items all together (separate them with your meats and cheeses).

Tip 3 - Try using a slice of fennel rather than lettuce. When lettuce comes in contact with oils, it wilts, sucking the fresh crunch out of your sandwich.

Tip 4 - Don't mix condiments if possible! Keep them separated so that the flavors don't homogenize and take away from the overall diversity of flavor of your mix.

There's nothing more disappointing than having aspirations for a great meal and getting stuck warming up some frozen dinner in the microwave. I've decided to let you in on a secret that will allow your microwave to emit the magic of Italy!

To make pasta in your microwave, the first thing you need is a big enough microwavable bowl. A nice microwavable casserole dish will work just fine.

Now, you'll need to follow a rough ratio of about a quart of water to every cup of pasta used. Microwave for about 20 minutes (check halfway to gauge more accurately). This will take a bit of experimentation because all microwaves are different.

As an easier alternative, I would recommend picking up one of these:

Grilled cheese is one of the most basic and easy foods to make. The classic version consists of two slices of bread, two slices of American cheese, butter the outside of the bread, and throw it in a skillet until it's nice and golden with cheese oozing out of it. Now, I'm not knocking that formula. It's made me happy almost my whole life. But I am going to let you in on a secret that will get you excited about grilled cheese again.

The recipe is still very simple.

Take two slices of bread. On one, put mustard and a bit of pepper (freshly ground if possible), on the other spread some mayonnaise. Grab two slices of pepper-jack cheese and lay one on each slice of bread. You can put onions, ham, bacon, or whatever you want to be your "featured taste."

Now, put the two halves together and rub some olive oil on the outside of the bread. Toss it in the skillet on medium heat, flipping occasionally until the cheese is melted and the bread is golden.

Enjoy the best grilled cheese you'll ever eat.

The wonderful thing about a crockpot or slow cooker is that, with minimal work in the morning or afternoon, a delicious and hot meal can be waiting for supper. I've been told by several people that this is the best soup they've ever had. I'm inclined to agree.

You'll need:

About 8 potatoes (this is flexible depending on how much you like)
1 cup of onion chopped up
6 cups of chicken stock
1/2 cup of chopped up lunch meat ham
2 Tablespoons of butter
1 Stalk of celery, chopped
1/4 cup Parsley flakes
1/2 cup of flour
2 cups of milk
Shredded cheddar cheese
Sour cream
Bacon bits

Cube the the potatoes (you don't have to peel them if you don't want to, but make sure to wash them well). Add the potatoes, onion, ham, chicken stock, celery, butter, and parsley flakes to the pot and cook on low or medium throughout the day. An hour or so before you plan to eat, add the milk, bacon bits, and flour.

Serve bowls with sour cream and shredded cheese on top. Enjoy!