College Cooking 101: Recipes for apartment living

College Cooking 101

Are you new to apartment living? Are you stuck in a recipe rut and aren’t sure what to make in your confined cooking space? Look no further—we have a solution for you! Keep reading to discover some easy and quick recipes that are perfect for apartment living.
 

Breakfast

Let’s be honest, the first meal of the day is one that is easily forgotten as you jump out of bed to your third alarm. We all know the battle between 10 more minutes of sleep or having a filling breakfast. These two recipes are ones that are super easy to meal prep and are great for on the go!

Overnight oats 

½ cup of milk (plant based or regular)

1/3 cup of steel cut oats

A handful of blueberries and raspberries (or your fruit of choice)

1-2 teaspoons of honey or maple syrup

All you have to do is mix all of this into your choice or a portable container (perhaps Tupperware or a mason jar). Leave it in the fridge overnight, top with granola or fruit in the morning and you are ready to go!

Easy breakfast burrito

2 eggs

½ cup of sausage or bacon

½ cup of chopped peppers and onions

Top with your choice of cheeseMix the ingredients in a pan on the stove until scrambled, add salt and pepper to taste. Place the ingredients in a warmed tortilla of your choice. Wrap in plastic wrap and store in the fridge or freezer depending on how long you want it to keep for. To heat from the fridge, place in the microwave for 45 seconds. To heat from the freezer, place in the microwave for one minute

Lunch

It’s the middle of the day, you are running between classes, jobs, internship, social hangouts and more. Hardly anyone has time to stop what they are doing and cook a full meal for lunch! Here are some easy options you can meal prep for those days when you never get a break.

Italian pasta salad

Your choice of pasta noodles

Fresh mozzarella cheese

Red onion

Black olives

Cherry tomatoes

Cucumber 

Italian dressing

Salt and pepper to taste

Follow the instructions on your pasta box, cooking the noodles until softened. Drain the water and let the noodles cool for 10-15 minutes. Dice up your additional ingredients and add to your pasta. Finally, add in half a cup of your Italian dressing, mixing it with the other ingredients until evenly distributed. Separate into portable containers for easy grab-and-go access and store in the fridge.

DIY burrito bowl

Beans

Corn

Tomatoes

Avocado

Red

Rice

This is a super easy on-the-go meal that doesn’t always come to mind! Make your own DIY Chipotle by individually cooking these ingredients, store in a portable container, simply heat for two minutes in the microwave, and top with your choice of cheese, salsa, sour cream or guacamole!

Snacks

Everyone needs a little afternoon pick-me-up! Here is a super easy snack you can reach for in between classes, on your way to practice or while knocking out some work in the library!

No-bake coconut date balls

10 Medjool dates

2 cups of chopped walnuts

2 tbsp of coconut oil

2 tbsp of water

Shredded coconut flakes to top

This recipe is almost too easy! Simply cut each date in half, remove the pit and then place into a food processor or blender. Add in other ingredients and blend until it becomes a paste. Take one tablespoon of the paste at a time and role it in your palms until it is shaped into a ball. Have a dish of the shredded coconut and roll the ball until it is covered, and you’re done! Store in the fridge to keep them longer and enjoy this sweet treat!

Dinner

While you may be finally settling into your apartment at this time of the day, there is still a lot to do! Homework is calling, sporting events and performances are happening, and you need something quick to eat before getting on with your night. Here is an easy and delicious dinner that takes hardly any time at all.

Baked potato soup

4 large russet potatoes, scrubbed

8 bacon slices

4 tbsp of butter

1/3 cup of all-purpose flour

2 cups of milk

1 cup of half and half

2 cups of chicken broth

1 tsp of salt

1 cup of shredded cheese

1 cup of sour cream

Microwave the potatoes for 12-15 minutes and then cut them in half to cool. Once they are cool, skin them and cut them into smaller chunks. Cook your bacon and then cut it up. Simply pour the rest of your contents into a pot on the stove and let it cook until creamy. Top the soup with more sour cream, cheese and bacon, and enjoy!

Hopefully, these easy meals will help you keep a full stomach while trying to balance your full schedule. Happy cooking, Messiah!