Kitting Out YOur College Kitchen

 It's that time of year when the kids nmove into their dorms. Some have kitchens which is a blessing. yet many of these are bare minimum.It's time to remedy that and give the cooking area a n A plus upgrade.

A lot of parents and school officials feel that students could cause a disaster if there'sa kitchen in their dorms area. Yet it would come in handy as well as teach responsibility.Some schools such as Harvard have a communal kitchen area equipped with the most basic. There are stoves, ovens and fridges but that's about it.Manhattan based New York University,, or NYU actually have apartments with full kitchen, complete with the basics and cabinets for storing pots, pans and utensils. Some just allow a microwave and a mini fridge which are enough to make simple recipes and heat up frozen foods and leftovers. A good idea is that have half the  roommates buy one appliance like the microwave and the other half buy the mini fridge. What is the best microwave for college dorms? Try Hamilton Beach  which is also the best budget wise.it's 1.1 cubic feet capacity. It can defrost which is great for those frozen lasagna from mom along with having the usual buttons for popcorn, pizza and frozen veggies.panasonic and Whirlpool also offer good and budget friendly microwaves. 

To match this is the dorm mini fridge. Which ones are the best? A mid size ones that perfect for chilling water as well as keeping yogurt and other dairy products chilled. It should be about three cubic feet. some have extra space for a freezer to store ice cube trays and small ice cream containers.Black and Decker has a good model that also has room for liter bottles and a door that can go from right to left handed and vice versa. Frigidaire is another good model and it comes with a small freezer section for frozen food and frozen treats. If your student wants crisper , hot food without all the calories then buy an air fryer. These are perfect for heating up steaks ,nuggets and all sorts of veggies. it'll give the meals a more home cooked taste too. The Ninja AF101 Air fryer is a good choice.It not only air fries but also roasts, dehydrates and reheats. The control panel is a snap to use  and the basket slides out for easy cleanup. Cosori has a sleek air fryer that would work well with any dorm.It can fry evenly and cleans up like a dream. What else is needed?easy to wash melanine plates that are sturdy and easy to wash and dry. They're also easy to store. Knives and forks can be had anywhere. Check Dollar Tree or Dollar General for very cheap sets. 

It's time to move into the dorms. Outfit them with good appliances that will make eating easy. It'll make for good eating which will lead for good studying

Are You School Ready?

 Even though it;s the steamy days of August it's time to look ahead a few weeks to the new school year? Are you ready for those pre made lunches and dinners on the run? If not , you should be.It'll be chaos in the kitchen if there;s no plan.

Starting any school year can be nerve wracking. It's not just school starting but also soccer season along with continued music and art lessons from the summer. That means quick dinners that are easy to heat up. Should you start making them now? No but you can make up some componies now. Thsi si a great time to use those tomato harvests to make sauces, both for pasta and pizza. Yes you can make a pizza sauce with fresh tomatoes. They're usually Roma tomatoes cooked with olive garlic sauce, sugar , garlic powder and white vinegar. An easy Friday dinner is spaghetti and meatballs or homemade pizzas with a toppings bar. Those tomatoes can also be turned into a delicious homemade salsa using two kinds of tomatoes, namely ROma and any other kind. Fresh onions and jalapenos are also added. Imagine this one fun weeknight supper of brick layer  nachos full of ground beef and bacon along with cheese. You could also freeze zucchini slices or zucchini noodles  - zoodles for dinner later on.This is also true for eggplant slices .Make sure that the zucchini is cooked first and cooled before putting into into the fridge.

What about those older kids heading off to college. Most freshman don;t have kitchens in their dorms so you can get them a microwave. Some schools have what's called a microFridge unit - a small area that contains a fridge, microwave and sometimes a freezer, This does allow students to create nutritious vitamin packed lunches and dinners. Before they head off to college , go food shopping with them. Show them how to create good dinners using healthy and inexpensive veggies and meats. show them how to test for ripeness and what meat cuts offer the best values for the dollar. If the kids are college seniors them they'll probably living in their first off campus apartment. Make sure they have the right gadgets and tools. They should have a good immersion blender for creating soups and sauces. A crockpot is  a must because they can make stews and chilis in the ,morning and have a hot meal when they come home for dinner. Sheet  pans are also ah must have because they can make an easy dinner with all the trimmings just on one pan. These als double as cookie trays if they want to bake.

This is the time to start planning. Make some sauces now. Test your college senior's knowledge on cooking. it'll make for an easy transition into the  new.schhol season

It's Just You And The Kitchen

 This is the time of year when the nest empties out. The kids have either gone back to college or flown the nest in their first post graduate apartment. That means  the kitchen is yours again. It's time to have fun.

Many couples may feel that loneliness yet it's also a time to celebrate and discover. Remember the time when it was just you two, newly together. You had fun. You cooked for each other. If yo want to splurge and have lobster for dinner you did. if you wanted a candleight supper with champagne you arranged it. Now you can do it again. Treat youselves to a lush seafood dinner. Think shrimp kabobs on the grill or steaming crab legs. If you're into beef then then a juicy and buttery filet mignon on the barbecue. Serve with Hasselback potatoes which are those fancy sliced potatoes. with the kids away you can also put out all those stinky cheeses you loved and they hated. Imagine a charcuterie board full of Limburger and Camembert wedges. Now you can even experiment with Pont l"Eveque which smells like a mix fo barnyard and bacon and Robiola , an cheese with a strongly unique aroma.Kinds are also picky when it comes to unusual foods like escargot  or smails. Yet if you loved them when you first had your kitchen then get them again.

Having the kids around meant seeing homemade treats get gobbled up in seconds. Now with just two you can easily bake and have a batch of cookies or even a cake last for a week. Again, like with savory food, indulge youselves now. Bake a scratch chocolate cake with homemade fudge frosting. If a whole cake is rtoo much then think of a mini cake. It's easy to get the pan for it. You can also make all those 'icky" desserts thant the kids turned upt heir noses at . Try your hand at a pear galette or aquafaba meringues. Another plus about havinmg the kitchen to yourself is less clean up. There's not the big crowd anymore .There are no friends staying for dinner or coming over for snacks and games. You can leave  dinner dishes in the sink overnight and don't have to go crazy mopping the floor. (because those muddy feet are dirtying up their dorm rooms or apartment)There will be night when you'll be cooking for one or ordering in. Forgo the plates . Use them when the kids come or friends come over. Use the aurfryer and microwave more too.

It's just you and your kitchen, Enjoy this alone time. Celebrate it. Have fun cooking old recipes again and just baking for two.

A Student's Kitchen

It's that time of year again when many college kids are packing up and heading off to school. For many , it means living off campus or living in a dorm where there's a shared kitchen.  That means cooking  even though it's quick. It also means assessing what will be needed to survive,

Luckily all kitchens are more or less equipped. Every one should have a working oven/range and fridge. What may be needed is a microwave(should have) and possibly a toaster oven (ought to have but not necessary). The first is valuable in heating up everything from hot pockets to leftovers. However a microwave is also invaluable for heating up ingredients such as melted butter or warmed milk along with cooking such dishes as stuffing and even spaghetti, The last can be boiled in one however it doesn't taste as good as pasta boiled on the stove. A toaster oven may take up room yet it is handy.It does more than toasting. It's great for making English muffin pizza giving the muffin's edges a nice crispness. It's perfect for making grilled cheese and tuna melts along with reheating leftovers such as pizza and egg rolls.Another reason to have a toaster oven is that it's easier to use at times rather than the conventional one, especially if you come home tired after a full day of work and school.

What other kitchen items should head off to college?A good, all  purpose knife is a must. Farberware has some excellent ones and these can be used for slicing dicing and even cutting into pies and cakes. A small paring knife is another invaluable must have. It  not only skins fruits and veggies it can be used for cutting up butter and margarine sticks for baking.Good pots and pans are also high on the list. Remember, that with the proper care, they can last well into that first apartment and even into the first house. You could buy some fun but useful ones such as the omelet pan  for one or the grilled cheese griddle for one . A stock pot is another must. Use it to make large quantities of soups that can later be frozen for future eating. It's also good for pasta too. Many students are big fans of the Insta-Pot. They've seen the successes their parents have had with them. These can do everything from steam rice to braise beef.If you feel that it's too expensive (some can run close to $200 ) then just get the three quart one . Another option is the crock pot which can be had for only $9.00 at Target. It does the trick too, especially when making tomato sauce or chili,.

It's time to pack up the gear for dorm or apartment life. It's also time to pack up or buy the kitchen gear that will make cooking easier. Choose smartly.

Healthy Care Packages

This is the  time of year when kids start going back to college.  That means  eating at all different hours and non stop snacking. It also means gaining weight and unhealthy diets. What to do? Plan for sending good and healthy care packages.

It's hard to monitor your student when he or she are miles away. You can always tell them to eat healthy and instill good eating habits when they're at home. However that all changes when they get their first nip of  freedom. What you can do is either bring or send healthy and tasty dishes that make up for all that junk. Iif you're a two or three hour drive away from the campus you can always visit with a cooler of premade frozen dinners. Most dorms have some kind of kitchen or microwave where they can cook or live in a regular apartment or house with a kitchen. You can easily premake whole wheat pastas with healthy , fresh made sauce. These are always tasty and appreciated. Also think about making dinners  that feature salmon or chicken. Bring brown rice dishes as well or bring boxes of it for the kids to cook fresh.

If your collegiate is farther than three hours then send a care package. The most traditional care packages contain homemade cookies along with cakes and breads. If you want these to be healthy then consider baking with whole wheat or gluten free flour.A good recipe is oatmeal raisin cookies made with whole wheat flour and brown sugar. You can also add good for you cranberries and walnuts. Of course  the more appreciated are chocolate chip cookies. These can easily be made with all natural ingredients. Think about sending whole wheat breads and cakes too for  alternative treats. A slice of  zucchini or banana bread  is a great snack for the morning or during an evening study session. Care packages also can contain dry  or jarred ingredients. You can pack whole wheat pastas, all natural jams and sauces along with homemade granola mixes too

Even though you;re not there you can still make sure your kids eat healthy. Send them care packages not only packed with love but with nutritious snacks and treats. Your dorm student will have fun food and a good diet.
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