While the pandemic has been, overall, a pretty bad time, one positive is that I get to live in a suite style dorm this semester, which means I have a kitchen. Throughout the semester, I’ve been taking advantage of my kitchen and have accumulated a few quick recipes that even the most novice chef can pull off.
- Quesadillas
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I’ve been eating so many quesadillas this semester it’s kind of crazy. They’re very quick, so if I’m hungry before one of my classes and don’t have time to go to the dining hall, I’ll make one. I make my quesadillas with corn tortillas and a Mexican four-cheese shredded cheese blend. If I’m feeling extra creative, I’ll slice some avocado and put it on top and drizzle it with lime juice. You could also add mango and red bell pepper inside the quesadilla for a bigger meal and a richer flavor.
- Mac ‘n’ Cheese
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Mac ‘n’ cheese is undeniably an easy dorm food, but I have somehow found a way to make it even easier. If nothing is calling my name in John Jay, I grab some plain pasta and take it home to make mac ‘n’ cheese! I generally pour some milk into a pot and add cheddar and American cheese, as well as some flour. It’s important to sift the flour before adding it to the cheese and milk, though, because the first time I made this I did not sift and ended up with chunks of flour in my mac ‘n’ cheese, which made the experience a bit worse.
- Mug Cake
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This recipe is only applicable for those with a microwave (which I, unfortunately, don’t have), but I have visited my friend’s microwave more than once to heat up a mug cake. If you have extra cake-baking materials like flour or sugar in the kitchen, a mug cake is a quick and very delicious way to use them up. The linked recipe is my favorite mug cake of all time (and trust me, I’ve tried a lot of them)!
- Fried Rice
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This is another dish that’s easy to make with dining hall food. Ask for extra rice next time there’s some at the dining hall and save it for a day. Then, fry it up in a pan with some eggs, soy sauce, and frozen veggies, like peas and carrots. I also like to add whatever protein I can find in my fridge: ham, turkey, chicken, tofu, anything works!
Hopefully, you could find some tasty dorm meals to make on this list! Happy eating!