Duke is known for many things: academics, sports, the beautiful campus, and of course the food! Although Duke’s dining halls are excellent, college is also the perfect time to start learning a crucial adult skill: cooking. Cooking meals or quick snacks is a productive way to way to de-stress after the zoom-fatigue from a full day of classes sets in. However, Duke requires on-campus students to buy a meal plan, making cooking seem like too much of a hassle. But to prove that it’s not, here are 5 quick, plant-based recipes that can be made with ingredients from either Duke store!
- Cheddar Biscuits
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Biscuits are decidedly an American staple, known for being popular in the South. For some reason, the only flour Duke sells in their stores is a brand called Southern Biscuit flour. I initially bought this flour to use in a banana bread recipe, but quickly learned that substituting biscuit flour for all purpose was a mistake. But when life gives you biscuit flour, make biscuits … right?
This recipe is so easy, plus it’s printed on the back of the biscuit-flour bag. All you have to do is combine 1 cup of biscuit flour, half a tablespoon of sugar, half a cup of milk and 1 tablespoon of softened butter (all of which can be found at either location of the Duke Store). Then, add half a cup (4 oz) of shredded or grated cheddar. You can buy this at Cafe 300: the little cafe on the main floor of 300 Swift Apartments. Mix until combined, and drop in large spoonfuls onto a pre-greased baking sheet. Then pop into an oven at 450oF for 10-12 minutes and you’re done! They taste like cheesy muffins, and you’ll probably eat them all the same day.
- Ramen with Egg
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Low on foodpoints? Although Duke’s meal plans are generous, it can be easy to over-spend at the beginning of the semester, especially on things like coffee and snacks. If you’re ever in a bind when it comes to foodpoints, ramen is one of the most cost-efficient meals available at Duke. Just grab some instant ramen packets and a carton of eggs from either of the Duke stores. Add about a cup of water to a pan, and bring to a boil. Add the seasoning and stir well to eliminate clumps. Then, break the noodle cake into around 4 parts and add it to the boiling water. Next, crack the egg into a bowl. Add it whole to the pan and stir gently to get smooth ribbons of egg. Remove from heat and cover for at least 3 minutes to get a bowl of elevated ramen.
Recipe Idea: https://oureverydaylife.com/cook-raw-egg-instant-ramen-36652.html
- Overnight Oats
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Skipping breakfast is a common college habit that has been shown to have negative consequences. Overnight oats are a perfect solution. The great part about these oats is that it’s so simple to incorporate the prep into any night routine. Just buy some instant oats, milk, and brown sugar or honey from either Duke store. If you can get to the East-campus store, you can also buy some fresh fruit like blueberries, blackberries, or even mango. Right before bed, just add half a cup of oats and a tablespoon of sugar to a mug and fill the rest with milk. In the morning, the oats will be soaked and ready to eat. Just top with fruit or honey to sweeten, and you’re done! You can also get more creative with mix-ins like nutella, peanut butter, or even chocolate syrup (all available at either Duke store).
- Instant-Pot Mac and Cheese
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An instant pot is a college must have for those that like to cook. There’s no shortage of instant pot recipes that make cooking pasta, soup, beans, and more so simple and mess-free. Instant pots are great for students that don’t have access to a dorm kitchen or don’t want to leave their ingredients and utensils there unattended (or worse, carry everything back and forth!) For this instant-pot mac and cheese, combine half a box of pasta, 2 tablespoons of butter, 2 cups of water, and any spices that you like (all available at either Duke store) in the instant pot and close, making sure the top valve is set to “sealing.” Then, using the manual function, set for 4 minutes. Once the pot beeps, switch the top valve to “venting” for a quick pressure release. After a few minutes, you’ll be able to open the pot and stir in some shredded cheese (available at cafe 300). I would start with a cup of cheddar and a cup of sharper cheese, but you can adjust for the cheesiness and taste that you like!
The best parts about this recipe is how efficient it is. It takes around 15 minutes total, leaves you with only one pot to wash, and makes some really good mac and cheese!
Credit: https://recipes.instantpot.com/recipe/mac-and-cheese/
- Iced Coffee
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I just had to include a coffee recipe here so that y’all can stay caffeinated for fewer foodpoints and less waste. As much as I love Beyu Blue, sometimes, I don’t feel like spending $6 in foodpoints for a cup of coffee or filling my recycling bin with the cups. For great iced coffee, all you have to do is brew a large pot of drip coffee and then pop it into the fridge for a few hours. Coffee grounds and filters are available at either Duke store. It’s even easier if you sweeten the whole pot when it’s hot to avoid the awkward fumbling involved with trying to dissolve granulated sugar in cold coffee. When you’re ready for that caffeine fix, just pour it in a glass with some milk or half and half (both available at either Duke store). If you want to sweeten after chilling, you could also make a simple sugar syrup by heating water in a mug and stirring in white sugar until the mixture is syrupy.
If you end up trying any of these recipes, share a snapshot of the finished product on social media and tag @hercampusduke !!