College foods....a first top 5.

Photo Credit: ~ReducedExposure, DeviantArt

I've been at the University of Central Florida for 3 months now, and I'm really starting to get the hang of this college thing. Today, while chowing down on a Lean Pocket, I thought of the various college foods that I consume on a daily basis.

Sure, everyone tells you about Ramen noodles, but one can only ingest so many cheap, egg-based noodles before sickness occurs. I've compiled a list of my top 5 other 'dorm foods'; some well-known, some a little on the creative side, and some that many people I know (including my roommate) find just plain odd and borderline disgusting (yeah, I have weird taste sometimes.) But it's good to try new things, right? Right.

1. Hot Pockets/Lean Pockets

If you live in a dorm and this is not a staple of your diet, you're missing out. Seriously. There is so much variety: spinach artichoke chicken, santa fe breakfast quesdilla, cheeseburger, philly cheesesteak, and even broccoli and cheese and three cheese pizza for you vegetarians. I'm convinced there is a secret line of gourmet hot pockets for the elite; you know, filled with caviar and foie gras and escargot and the like. Plus, they come with those awesome crisper sleeves, which is a godsend for those students like me who don't have regular access to a stove or a toaster. Just make sure that your freezer works well with a low enough temperature, because nobody likes a soggy hot pocket (I am aware that what I just said gives way to a really disgusting 'that's what she said'.)

2. Easy Mac

Come on. It's like the better alternative to Ramen. Water, stir, microwave, enjoy. What more do you need, really? And if you're lazy about washing dishes (like me) then you can buy the ones that come in a prepackaged bowl for easy disposal.

3. Tuna

Everyone knows that tuna is easy and cheap, much like your mother, possibly. But sometimes you want a little more variety than just slapping some mayonnaise, relish, and tuna on sandwich bread. Here's where it gets a little weird. Two words, my friends: Raisin Bran. I know what you're thinking: what drugs are you on, exactly, and where can I get my hands on some? Well, that's a discussion for another blog. As for the Raisin Bran, it makes sense. Think about some chicken salads that are sold at your local deli. They may often be garnished with raisins or grapes or some type of fruit.....and bran is really just like little slices of bread, right? Right. The results are possibly visually disturbing, but delicious. Just make sure and have some consideration- wipe up the sink or whatever after you're finished making the tuna and maybe spray a little Febreze, because nothing is more disgusting than coming home from class and being slapped in the face with the odor of canned fish.

4. Warm Delights

Oh. My. God. I discovered these little beauties about a month ago and I haven't looked back. It is really difficult to get your hands on fresh baked brownies when you have to walk across campus to even come close to finding a stove; this is as close as you're gonna get, and believe me, it is DAMN good. They even come in little 100 calorie sizes for you health/weight conscious people. You just mix in two teaspoons of water, stir, pop it in the microwave, and BAM! Instant chocolate fix. *Note: the microwave brownies do not come in "special" flavor....unfortunately.

5. Spaghetti

I am a pasta freak. I love, love, love spaghetti. I think it goes back to elementary school, where we had Friday Fundays and lunch was always homemade spaghetti, crisp garlic bread, and a little brownie. But I digress. There IS a way to make spaghetti (and rice and steamed vegetables, for that matter) in the microwave. It is this lovely little plastic invention I got from Target called the microwave rice cooker by NordicWare. I'm not sure how accurate a brand name this is for a microwaver rice/pasta cooker. First of all, their little logo is a viking. I'm not sure the vikings had need for a plastic pasta cooker considering that they didn't have microwaves. Hell, they didn't have plastic. Did they even have pasta? But again, I digress. Basically, this invention is awesome, it costs 8 bucks, and it allows you to make actual meals with minimal effort. I used it to make chipotle season chicken, steamed asian medley vegetable, and black beans on basmati rice, and it took me like 20 minutes.

Wow. This was fun! I think I'll continue doing little top 5s of college/dorm advice. I'm learning a lot as a freshman. Next up: 5 ways to cope with freshman year insomnia.

-Angele