Kitchen Basics for College Living
By Anna Schell
If you’re anything like me, cooking for yourself for the first time can feel intimidating. When you have had one too many peanut butter and jellies and ramen noodles have lost their novelty, what’s next? With the hectic season that comes with the start of a new school year and my own extremely limited expertise in the kitchen, it began to feel impossible to find the time to grocery shop and creates healthy, affordable, and easy meals that actually taste good. After my first month of living in an apartment, cooking has become one of the highlights of my day. Cooking is now something that I actually look forward to, even on the busiest of days. Through trial and error, I have learned a few tricks and tips that have turned into some really delicious meals and snacks. Here are some of my favorite recommendations:
The best investment I have made in the kitchen has been my air fryer! My favorite and the most simple thing to cook in the air fryer is broccoli. I don’t use exact measurements; I eyeball and add a good amount of olive oil, onion salt, lemon juice, and a little bit of onion powder. Don’t be shy about adding oil and spices! I then massage the broccoli in a mixing bowl and add them to the air fryer at 400℉ for 6 minutes and you have the easiest, crispiest broccoli!
My biggest lifesaver has been Trader Joe’s frozen meals; I cannot recommend them enough. I know this isn’t technically cooking, but it’s great in a time crunch. My favorites have been the Chicken Burrito Bowl, Cauliflower Gnocchi, and Mushroom Risotto. Each of these meals takes less than 10 minutes to make. They are extremely affordable, and also taste amazing. I like to keep my freezer stocked with these frozen meals so I know that even on the craziest of days I have a substantial and delicious meal.
One of my struggles in the kitchen is using produce before it expires. I have the tendency to buy fresh produce, put it in the fridge, and forget about it until it's rotten. I’m working on cooking the produce when it is freshest, but with a busy schedule that is not always possible. When the bananas I bought were going bad, I almost threw them out, but then I remembered my mom's banana bread recipe. Using overripe bananas was the perfect ingredient and a sustainable save. So far my mom's banana bread is my favorite thing that I have cooked! Attached is the recipe, and my favorite way to bake it is to leave the middle slightly undercooked!
After this first month in the apartment, I have learned so much. While most of what I learned may seem like common sense, it can still feel intimidating being self-reliant for the first time. I still have a lot to learn in the kitchen, but I have enjoyed every second of the process. Try out something new in the kitchen - you’ll be happy you did!
