Cooking on campus?

One of the coolest things about living on campus at LSU is that there are kitchens in each residence hall! This may not seem like a big deal, but where I am from we don't have this luxury (stoves in the halls are considered a fire hazard). When I went away to school back home, I was stuck cooking with just a microwave- no stove, no oven. And while dining hall food is convenient and tasty, sometimes you just get hungry for a taste of home. Nothing beats being able to whip up a batch of your mom's signature chocolate chip cookies when you've had a hard day (except maybe having mom send some to you). 

Blake Hall kitchen before a program

Here are a few of my favorite recipes to make when I'm away from home. I've even found ways to make them fit my college student budget...

Mom's Pasta Sauce: My mom makes the BEST pasta sauce in the world. Every time I eat spaghetti anywhere else, it leaves me feeling homesick because it just can't live up to hers. Lucky for me, I learned to cheat and make a sauce that tastes basically the same for way less money- it may not be from scratch, but it is still delicious. Try it, you won't be disappointed.

Ingredients- 

1/2 pound ground beef

1 bag frozen fajita vegetables- green peppers, red peppers, onions (you can get fresh veggies, but frozen is way cheaper
1 can of mushrooms

spices- oregano, rosemary, garlic powder, salt, black pepper

1 jar Ragu Chunky Garden Vegetable pasta sauce

Start by browning the ground beef in a saute pan. Drain, then add the vegetables. Saute until the veggies are warm and tender. Next, add the Ragu. Turn to low heat, add in spices to taste. I use about 2 tsp each of oregano and rosemary, and just a pinch each of the garlic, salt, and black pepper. Let this simmer for at least a half hour- that is where you really get all the flavor from.  (Hint: if you kind of grind the rosemary up in your palms before you add it in, it will give a stronger flavor). Then, make some pasta to go with it and enjoy!

Easy Mushroom Burgers: Every who has ever tried my mushroom burgers LOVES them. These are super easy, super cheap, and super tasty. And, as a bonus, they reheat well (yay leftovers!). 

Ingredients-

1 pound fresh mushrooms

1 onion, diced

oil (for cooking)

1 cup quick oats

1cup bread crumbs

1 egg

1 cup shredded cheese

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Saute the mushrooms and onions until they are golden brown. Put them into a large mixing bowl. Add the oats, bread crumbs, and cheese. Beat the egg and add to mixture. Stir until moist (you may need to add a second egg if mixture is too dry). Form mixture into patties and fry in oil until browned, flipping only once. You can eat these on a bun like a burger, or on their own. They are truly delicious.

Microwave White Chocolate Cheesecake: I mentioned before that where I'm from, we don't have kitchens in our res halls, which means that I learned to be really creative with a microwave. This isn't a true cheesecake, but it sure tastes like one. And it looks way fancier than it actually is- all of your friends will be impressed, trust me. 

Ingredients: 

2 packages cream cheese

1 package of Dream Whip (a powdered mix for making whipped cream, you can get it in the baking aisle)

1 package white chocolate chips

1 graham cracker pie crust

1/2 cup milk

2 cups powdered sugar

Optional: 1 can cherry pie filling

In a bowl, beat together cream cheese, Dream Whip, milk, and powdered sugar with an electric mixer until creamy. Set to the side. Pour chocolate chips into a microwave safe bowl. Melt chips in microwave on low heat for 1 minute, stirring every 20 seconds (make sure to stir so they do not burn). Once chips are melted completely, add to cream cheese mixture. Stir well, then spread mixture into pie crust. If you choose to, cover with cherry pie filling (or another type of filling). Refrigerate for 1/2 hour to let cheesecake set up. Serve and enjoy! 

Microwave Chocolate Mug Cake:

Ingredients- 

4 Tablespoons flour

4 Tablespoons sugar 

2 Tablespoons baking cocoa 

1 egg 

3-4 Tablespoons milk 

3 Tablespoons chocolate chips 

Small splash of vanilla

Put dry ingredients into a coffee mug, mix well. Add the egg and mix again. Pour in milk and oil, and give the batter a final mix. Put your coffee mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes. The cake will rise over the top of the mug, don't be alarmed. Allow to cool a little, tip out onto plate and eat! 

Easy Pizza Dough:

Ingredients-

2 1/2 c. flour 

2 3/4 tsp. baking powder (if using baking soda use half and omit salt)

1 tsp. salt 

1 tbsp. oil 

3/4 to 1 c. water

Mix dry ingredients. Add 3/4 cup water and oil. Stir until it forms a ball. If dough is stiff, add more water.The dough will be soft, not sticky. Knead on a floured surface for 3-4 minutes. Bake at 400°F for 15-25 minutes. Add your favorite toppings, then bake for 10 more minutes (or until cheese is melted). Slice and share with friends!

Cooking in your Res Hall kitchen is a great way to relax, make friends, and share a bit of where you are from and what you enjoy with the people around you! While you are waiting for things to bake or simmer, you can study, play games, or just catch up. You can even have cooking competitions with the people in your building! These are just a few of my favorite things to cook in my Res Hall... what do you like to make?

xoxo-- Girl in the Purple Polo