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"Sure, the convenience is great, but when it only takes a few minutes and a few tears to chop up some onions that I bought at 69 cents a pound, why would I pay $2 or more for a small 8-ounce bag of pre-cut onions that have been treated with some sort of strange preservative so they don't spoil quickly?" Morales says.
A regular shopping trip sets Morales back $45 to $50, including food for her cat, and will usually last her two to three weeks. She shops at stores that offer non-national brand name foods, such as Trader Joe's, as well as major chains. For produce, Morales says natural food coops (Lawrence has the Merc) and local farmers markets offer a better quality of produce, and make her feel good by supporting local farmers and merchants.
"Cutting out the middleman also reduces costs for the consumer, so this is a great way to shop." Morales says.
RACING THE CLOCK
Time can be an enemy when it comes to cooking in college, but preparing meals in advance can save you. Slow-cooker meals, such as soups, stews or curries keep well and don't take a lot of effort to prepare. Get your ingredients ready in the morning, put them in the crock pot, and leave them to cook. By the time you're ready to eat, your dinner will be, too. Another option is to make food ahead of time, freeze it, and warm it up when you need a quick meal on the go.
Want to make time for a meal with friends, but don't want to spend all day in the kitchen? Mertz suggests potlucks as a cheap and fun way for friends to cook for each other and hang out.
In a world of student loans, rent, car payments and numerous demands on your time, it's easy to hit the culinary doldrums. But with a little creativity, it isn't as hard as it first appears, whether you're an experienced cook trying to work with a tiny kitchen or a budget, or a newcomer looking for easy ways to make good food. There are plenty of options for busy, budget-conscious cooks who want to make food for themselves or others. For some students, like Shackelford, feedback from his dinners gives him pride and also helps him improve.
"I get great satisfaction out of people who taste my food and really understand it," Shackelford says. "If they don't enjoy it, I require them to provide constructive criticism. I enjoy that because it makes me better!"
Photo illustration by Karsten Lunde
Simmering medley. Javon Shaeflocke cooks up a pasta dish of linguine, green beans, garlic, lemon butter and
... If you are hesitant to whip up a masterpiece, start with easy and doable recipes.
THE COOK'S PANTRY
Before you start cooking, it's important to make sure you've got plenty of essential ingredients. Here are a few items to consider stocking up on:
- BROWN RICE
- COUSCOUS
- DRIED OR CANNED BEANS
(INCLUDING KIDNEY BEANS,
GARBANZO BEANS AND BLACK
- GARLIC
- CHICKEN OR VEGETABLE BROTH
BEANS)
- OLIVE OIL
- COCONUT MILK
- SPICES
- TOMATO PASTE
- TORTILLAS
"The Tim"
- 1 box Linguine pasta
- ½ lb fresh green beans
SOME STUDENT RECIPES;
- 2 tablespoons of salted butter
- 2 cloves of garlic
- 1 quartered lemon
- 1 quartered fresh tomato
Start by boiling water, then add pasta to the salted pot of boiling water, only cooking it for six to seven minutes. Next mince the garlic and sauté in the butter. Once the garlic is soft add green beans to the mixture. Cook for five minutes. Finally, add the cooked pasta to the green bean/garlic mixture and incorporate well. Serve pasta with fresh tomatoes and lemon wedge. Add coarselyground black pepper as needed.
Bright & Sunny Black Bean Salad (From poorgirlearswell.com, courtesy of Kimberley Morales)
- 1 can black beans, drained
- 1 can sweet corn, drained
- 2 medium tomatoes, diced
- 2-3 green onions, chopped
- 1 avocado, pitted & chopped
- 1 c baby spinach leaves
- 4 T lime juice
- 1 T ground black pepper
- 3/4 T salt
- 1/2 t crushed chili flakes
In a large bowl, combine beans, corn tomatoes, onions, and avocado and toss together gently. In a smaller bowl, whisk together lime juice, salt, pepper, and chili flakes. Add dressing to the veggies. Tear spinach leaves into smaller, bite-sized pieces, add to the rest of the ingredients, toss together and enjoy!
Goo Bars (a.k.a. Gooey Butter Cake):
- 1 stick (1/2 c.) butter, softened, but not melted
* 1 egg
- 1 pkg. yellow cake mix
- Mix together cake mix (just the mix, not the other ingredients called for on the box) with butter and one egg. Pat into an ungreased 9 by 13 inch cake pan.
- 1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened
For the "Gooey Butter" filling:
*2 eggs
*1 (1 lb.) box confectioners' sugar (powdered sugar)
*1 tsp. vanilla
Cream together cream cheese, two eggs, powdered sugar and vanilla. Pour over cake mixture, spreading to the edges. Bake at $ 3 50^{\circ} F $ for 35 minutes.
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