Always Room for Dessert

Chocolate Mousse, Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting, Black Forest Tiramisu, Triple Chocolate Chip Cookies – careful, I think you’re drooling on your keyboard. Countries around the world have different ways of serving their sugar, but people everywhere share the same philosophy that there’s always room for dessert.

As kids, most of us probably claimed that we had a second stomach, just for dessert. Even when we were too full to finish our peas, we had plenty of room in our tummies for cake and ice cream. Well, I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty sure I really do have a second stomach for dessert (which is bigger than my regular stomach).

Some dessert recipes are easy to make, and don’t require many ingredients, but some can be very involved. I’ll try and stick with cheaper, easier dessert ideas for this blog. I have to say though; sometimes putting in a little extra time will allow you to make a dessert that is completely worth the effort.

Rice Krispies Treats are always a hit, and they only require three ingredients. They don’t take long to cook, and anyone who can turn on a stove can make them. The amount of Rice Krispies, butter, and marshmallows you need will depend on how many treats you need. If you want to make them a little more interesting, try adding chocolate chips, peanut butter, sprinkles, or any other candy.

Cookies are the best comfort food when you have a stressful week. Instead of buying them from the grocery store, make your own. Basic baking ingredients aren’t very expensive, and cookies taste so much better when they are fresh out of the oven. There are countless cookie recipes out there, so you should be able to find one for your favorite cookie. If you don’t have much experience baking, I’d suggest starting with a more basic recipe for a sugar or chocolate chip cookie. Once you get the hang of it, try more exotic recipes like Homemade Oreo Cookies, Peanut Butter Blossoms, or Chocolate Espresso Cookies.

Valentine’s Day is coming up soon, and cupcakes are the perfect way to show loved ones you care. They may also be a good way to get strangers to love you. Cupcakes can be made with a mix or from scratch, but mixes tend to be a little quicker if you’re short on time. Strawberry Cupcakes and Red Velvet Cupcakes are perfect for Valentine’s Day since they are red. I’ll tell you a secret though. You can make pretty much any cupcake red with food coloring. Frosting is the best part of cupcakes and fortunately, it’s really easy to make. Most cupcake recipes also give you a recipe for frosting.

Fruit is the perfect ingredient for dessert. Let’s face it; most fruit practically tastes like dessert on its own. Add sugar, and you have the perfect combination of sweet and sour. Strawberry Shortcake is one of my favorite desserts to make. It doesn’t require many ingredients, and it will definitely impress a date (or friends). You can buy Angel Food Cake that is already made if you don’t want to make your own. Strawberry Shortcake is also low in fat, which means you can eat more and feel less guilty. Apple Crisp is another great way to get in a serving of fruit. I tried making apple crisp the other night, and it came out horribly. I used a recipe with very few ingredients and directions to save time. (Don’t worry; I didn’t link you to that recipe.) It didn’t taste anything like the apple crisp my mom makes. I learned my lesson after eating dry crisp with chewy apples. When you want a recipe to taste like your mom’s, call your mom. Parents have more experience cooking, and they are usually happy to help you with cooking advice.

I could go on talking about dessert all day, but I’ll let you find some of your own recipes to try. Next time you are craving sugar, make your own dessert, and share it with your study group. Maybe they’ll be more likely to help to get an “A.”

If you are always eating in a hurry, tune in next time for a guide to cooking with frozen food.

Until then, eat healthy, cook quickly, and don’t forget to brush your teeth after you consume all that sugar.

Party Flavors

It’s finally the weekend, and you’re getting together with some friends to celebrate. Everyone has been asked to bring food, so you run to the store and grab a couple bags of potato chips. When you show up, the host mutters thanks, and puts the chips on a table with the other 43 bags. It’s easy to avoid feeling embarrassed and unoriginal by just cooking an easy hors d’oeuvres or snack yourself.

I don’t know if you know this, but the key to being popular is food. If you make good food, you will have lots of friends. Making food for parties doesn’t need to be expensive or difficult. Your unique dish will probably get you invited to more parties than the guy who brought eight bags of plain potato chips.

If you need to bring an appetizer or a snack dish, dips are an easy way to go. 7 Layer Guacamole Dip isn’t difficult to make, and the ingredients aren’t very expensive. I would suggest making extra if you are going to a big get-together, because it will likely be devoured in minutes. If you want a low-fat version, make it with non-fat beans, low-fat sour cream, and light cheese. Hot Artichoke and Spinach Dip is great on chips, crackers, or bread, and will definitely make your friends smile. If you really want to impress everyone, try making Super Simple Crab Dip.

Spinach artichoke dip

Popcorn is a perfect snack food, and it’s cheap when you aren’t buying it at the movie theater. Instead of just popping a bag of extra butter flavored popcorn, turn it into a masterpiece by adding sweet or savory toppings. If you have a sweet tooth, Almond Toffee Popcorn, Kettle Corn, Peppermint Popcorn, or Butterscotch Almond Popcorn Mix will taste like heaven. Savory popcorn is also great for parties. Try making Popcorn with Herb Butter, Nacho Popcorn, or Cheesy BBQ Popcorn, and I guarantee you’ll get at least one high five for your effort.

Bread and crackers are perfect little trays that allow you to be creative with toppings and spreads. If you don’t have time to make your own spread, buy a couple jars of tampanade or bruschetta (Trader Joe’s has some great ones), and spread them on a sliced, toasted baguette with olive oil and cheese. You could even impress your friends from Wisconsin by making Baked Brie with Amaretto, Smoked Salmon Spread (with cream cheese), or Parmesan Garlic Cheese Spread.

Addictive, crunchy snacks are always a hit at parties and get-togethers. Instead of bringing something boring, like plain pretzels, make something your friends have probably never had. Roasted Chickpeas are healthy and easy to prepare. They can be seasoned with just about anything, but they do take a little while to actually cook. The wait is well worth it though. Cheese Straws are also a great party snack, because they are like store bought cheese crackers, but better.

So next time you go to a party, you have no excuse for bringing a bag of potato chips. If none of the recipes I mentioned appeal to you, just search for party or snack foods online and find one that looks good. The web is full of recipe ideas that will taste way better than any snacks you’ll find at the grocery store. If the party host is not happy with your homemade creation, they can personally take it up with me. I will fight for your dip.

Like sugar? Tune in next time for the blog that will make you drool the most. That’s right; I’m going to find you some dessert recipes to satisfy that sweet tooth.

If you want to hear about foods I haven’t yet discussed, feel free to leave a comment suggesting a topic. I will gladly find you recipes for that zucchini or chicken sitting in your fridge that you can’t decide how to cook.

Until then, eat healthy, cook quickly, and don’t forget to take your apron off before you leave for the party.

Interview with Cal Poly Student, Marc

I interviewed Marc Ledesma, a senior at Cal Poly, to hear what other students were doing to save money on food. He had some great tips for saving money on groceries, and a few easy recipe ideas.

Audio interview

Dinner on a Dime

By the end of the day, most students are exhausted and in need of a tasty, easy meal. I know from experience that homework can make it challenging to cook a highly involved meal on weeknights. I also know that choosing whether to eat a Hot Pocket or a can of soup for dinner every night gets old really fast. Believe it or not, it’s actually easy to make a hearty meal with a tight budget and a backpack full of homework.

Most of the recipes I use make about four servings of food. If you just cook for yourself, you’ll probably end up with some leftovers. I would suggest inviting friends or roommates to eat with you, and then make them do the dishes. That’s a fair trade, right? They get food, and you don’t have to clean the kitchen (which is definitely the worst part of the cooking/eating process).

So before I start making you salivate, let me briefly go over some safety issues you should be aware of in the kitchen. (If you are a vegetarian, you can just skip this paragraph.) When you are handling raw meat, you need to be very careful. Make sure you use a plastic cutting board if you need to chop it, and wash your hands with soap before you touch anything else. Cook meat to at least 160 degrees to get rid of any harmful bacteria. Also, please be careful with sharp knives, and make sure your fingers are in the clear when you’re chopping. Telling someone your giant scar is from a cooking accident could be pretty embarrassing.

Now that you know how to safely handle meat, let’s get back to dinner ideas. (Vegetarians, you can tune in now.) One of my favorite things to cook for dinner is stir-fry. It is easy to make, and you can use whatever ingredients you want. Most vegetables taste great stir-fried, making it easy to cook something you will like. Chicken, beef, and tofu are all great in it as well. Cooking it basically just requires you to throw the ingredients in a frying pan (or wok) with oil and let them hang out for a while. If you like more structure, here are a bunch of stir-fry recipes.

If you eat meat, there are several easy recipes you can make with ground beef. (If you aren’t a fan of cows, you can substitute most of these with ground turkey.) Tacos are really easy and cheap. They’re great with ground beef, but you can also use chicken or beans instead. If you want to impress a date, meatloaf is an easy meal you can make with ground beef. Your date won’t have a clue the dish practically made itself.

I realize that macaroni and cheese is a comfort food, and many college students have become completely addicted to it. If you are dying to have some, try making it from scratch instead of a box. It’s healthier, cheaper, and can fill more bellies. I bet you can do a better job than Kraft can, anyway. If you’re feeling fancy, try adding some vegetables or ham to your creation.

I could keep listing dinner recipes all day, but who wants to keep reading when you could be eating. So instead, I will send you on your way with links to several websites with easy dinner ideas. Thanks to the internet, not owning a cookbook is no longer a legitimate excuse for eating dinner out of a box.

Have friends? Tune in next time for party and potluck recipes.

Until then, eat healthy, cook quickly, and don’t forget to put on an apron before you cook.

Recipe Sites:

Cheap and Heart Healthy Ideas

Quick and Healthy Meals on a Budget

20 Cheap, Healthy Dishes Made from 10 Pantry Staples

Cooking Light

Pork Chops with Mashed Potatoes and Caramelized Onions – YUM!

Save a Bunch on Lunch

Squished peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, overpriced cafeteria food, and flavorless instant soup – for most people, lunch is the most challenging meal of the day. It’s easy to just pick up food at the nearest restaurant, but that can get very expensive. There may not always be time to cook during a lunch break, but there are meals you can cook in the morning (or the night before) that you can take to work or school.

If you start packing your own lunch, you’re going to need something to put it in. Brown paper bags do not protect food very well. The only things they are good at is smashing your food and wasting trees. I would recommend getting an insulated lunch bag to keep your food fresh and intact. They only cost about $10, which is about how much it would cost to eat lunch at a restaurant once.

Sandwiches are probably the easiest thing to make for lunch, but eating the same kind everyday can get really boring. Sandwiches should allow you to be creative. If you love PB&J, try making it a different way. How, you ask? Just think outside of the (lunch) box. Today, I made a Grilled PB&J. Same great taste, whole new experience. I found some other interesting variations online, which included Banana Dog in a Bun, PB&J Wafflewiches, and Peanut Butter and Apple Sandwiches.

If you are a meat and cheese kind of person, there are a ton of options when it comes to sandwiches. You don’t have to eat just bologna every day. Try making a BLT Wrap, a Reuben Sandwich, or a Baked Swiss Tuna Melt instead. Another great thing about sandwiches is that you don’t need to make them on regular, sliced bread. Most sandwiches are also great on bagels, tortillas, or pita bread.

Another great meal for lunch is pasta salad. It’s easy to take to work or school in a container, and you don’t need to heat it up (before you eat it up). The pasta is sort of an essential ingredient, but other than that, you can throw in whatever you want. If you need some guidance, here are several pasta salad recipes to give you some inspiration.

You can also make your mother proud by making a green salad for lunch. Adding tuna, ham, or some kind of meat will give you protein and fill you up. If you aren’t a fan of meat, which I guess would make you vegetarian, try topping off your salad with eggs or nuts for protein. Fruit salad with yogurt or nuts is also an easy option for lunch. Here are some great salad recipes.

If you need a side dish or a snack, don’t reach for the potato chips. They won’t satisfy your hunger at all, and there are plenty of healthier options. A piece of fruit or vegetables with dip will give you lots of vitamins. Nuts, crackers with cheese, or baked chips are healthy and inexpensive options, too.

So next time your friends head to the cafeteria for lunch, grab your lunchbox and laugh at them for spending money on reheated, frozen food. Okay, maybe you shouldn’t laugh at them. But enjoy your home-cooked meal, and maybe you can convince your friends to follow suit.

If you like to eat dinner, tune in next time for cheap and easy recipe ideas.

Until then, eat healthy, cook quickly, and don’t forget to wash your hands before you touch your food.

Shop and Save

If you grocery shop like I often do, you have probably gotten to the checkout line several times to find that you put 35 items in your shopping cart that weren’t on your shopping list. Then when the total adds up to $100, you can’t figure out why.

Grocery shopping can blow a huge hole in your wallet. But if you know where to shop and how to score deals, you can save a lot of cash and still get the 35 items you “forgot” to put on your shopping list.

My first piece of advice is to buy things from Trader Joe’s and the farmer’s market whenever you can. Trader Joe’s sells some of the same things as a regular grocery store for a cheaper price.  They also have some delicious snacks, frozen foods, and desserts that you can’t find anywhere else. I personally recommend trying their peanut butter pretzels, pita chips and hummus, and frozen entrees. (Warning: You won’t be able to put the peanut butter pretzels down). You’d probably be happy with anything you buy there though.

Most cities have a local farmer’s market weekly or biweekly that sells produce, nuts, and other things. I’d suggest getting anything you can at the farmer’s market because it will taste better, cost less, and be better for the environment. Buying produce that is in season at the market means you are getting fresh food that isn’t traveling around the world before it reaches your mouth.

Also, farmers/vendors almost always give samples, and what college student doesn’t love free food? Some vendors will toss in extra fruits or vegetables when you buy from them, too. If you go to the market in the last hour, you will usually get all kinds of extra produce for free because vendors need to get rid of it.

Lately, I’ve been experimenting with seasonal fruits and vegetables from the market that I wouldn’t normally grab at the grocery store. Last week, I bought three different kinds of squash, which I’ve been using to try new recipes. An easy way to cook butternut, acorn, kabocha, or other squash is to cut it in half and glaze it with butter, brown sugar and salt. Just bake it at 375 degrees until soft and voila! You have a simple and impressive side dish.

When you do need items from a regular grocery store, there are ways to shop that can save you a lot of money. I would definitely suggest getting club cards for a few local stores such as Ralphs, Vons, and Albertsons. Grocery stores often have sales, but they are only for club members. I know, it’s totally lame, but that’s how they work.

During sales, I’d suggest stocking up on things you use on a regular basis. I don’t mean you should buy 83 jars of pickles when they go on sale. But if your favorite granola bars, peanut butter, or other non-perishable foods are discounted, definitely buy a few. I wouldn’t suggest stocking up on produce though, unless you like your apples naturally sauced (and by that I mean completely rotten).

It is also a good idea to go through newspapers and cut out coupons if you have the time. You’ll be surprised how much money they can save you. And if you don’t need many items, just grab a basket. You won’t be able to buy more than you can carry. Also, never shop when you’re hungry. Everything will look appetizing, and you’ll end up with a bunch of groceries you don’t need.

Finally, I really want to encourage you to always B.Y.O.B (bring your own BAG) to the store with you. Cloth bags only cost a couple of dollars and they are much better for the environment. Plastic is not biodegradable, and paper wastes trees. Need more incentive? Most grocery stores give you a discount for bringing your own bag, and Trader Joe’s enters your name into a raffle for free groceries.

Tune in next time for quick and cheap lunch recipes.

Until then, eat healthy, cook quickly, and don’t forget to put your perishable groceries in the refrigerator.