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.

Foodie On Vacation

Yesterday’s New York Times featured an article about cooking while on vacation. It’s a great idea and the article offers some suggestions. You don’t; really need to take aloof supplies with you. Just enough to make do for a week or two.

The article, brilliantly written by Jhumpa Lahiri features what to bring and what to make. Lahiri is a big proponent of keeping it simple and she recommends that you only should bring along a skillet. This is great for cooking eggs in the morning, grilled cheese for lunch and cod and potatoes for dinner. You can also make a crisp in it too. I wouldn’t bring a skillet, myself, but a stock pit for making ratatouille and boiling lobsters and corn along with a sauce pan. I would think about buying a small fry pan for making eggs, bacon and the occasional burger.

If you’re lucky enough to rent a house or even an efficiency for your holiday , I’d recommend my suggestions along with some microwavable containers. Let’s face it, you’ll be eating out a lot and you may want to bring home leftovers for the next day’s lunch. I would also bring some along some basic knives and forks and a good chef’s knife . Other extras would be just sturdy paper plates plastic utensils for beach picnics and hot and cold cups.
You don’t have to haul your entire kitchen when you go away. Just take what you think you’ll need the most. After all you’re on vacation to relax - not to cook,