List of cheap easy to make meals

<p>Since most college students dont have the time to cook meals or even how to cook for that matter, lets start a list of easy to cook good food that will last you the whole week so that we can have an alternative to Maruchan instant soup.</p>

<p>Ill start:
Pinto Beans: soak the beans overnight, next day cook them in double the water, add salt, keep re-adding water when you see that the water level has reached beans. taste until theyre good.</p>

<p>Mexican Rice: Add vegetable oil to pot so that the rice does not stick, add rice, stir until the rice is somewhat brown, stop stirring, then add some chopped onion, tomato sauce, salt put pan over pot and dont stir. taste every 10 minutes to check when ready</p>

<p>Bagel Bites and Instant Noodles FTW</p>

<p>sandwiches always work.</p>

<p>Dumpster diving</p>

<p>ohhhh good idea!!! Quick question: When do most CAL undergrads move out of the dorms? Is it easy to find apartments near campus?</p>

<p>Mac and Cheese always an easy fix with store- bought elbow macaroni, garlic salt, 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, 1 1/3 cups shredded Cheddar cheese, 1 tablespoon butter, 2 eggs, beaten, BACON is always a must in my macandcheese, and sometimes breadcrumbs</p>

<p>fried rice is always really easy to make, and gnocchi is easy too for potato lovers!!</p>

<p>most move out after the first year.</p>

<p>I either make plain white rice or have a bagel.</p>

<p>cereal!!!</p>

<p>Buy bulk whole grains, nuts, plant oils, tea, coffee and beans from somewhere like Costco. Then buy perishables such as fresh (i.e. sans preservatives and conditioners), whole grain bread and fresh produce at your standard grocery store; before it spoils, freeze what you won’t use. </p>

<p>You’ll be healthier than your classmates, have more energy than your classmates (giving you an edge on the curve), and you’ll be spending significantly less money than them.</p>

<p>try the freegan lifestyle</p>

<p>If you add a little green pepper and hot sauce to the mexican rice, it becomes Spanish rice and can last a loooong time (covered in fridge). Seriously good.</p>

<p>Spaghetti sauce is super easy to make and tastes better the longer it sits in the fridge.</p>

<p>And totally easy to make any kind of soup, throw anything you like in a pot, fill it with water and boullion cubes (or broth) and let it simmer an hour.</p>

<p>Haha, useful thread. My advice:</p>

<p>1) Steamed salmon: Defrost one “chunk” of salmon (buy from Costco) in fridge. Wash and pat dry. Drizzle oil on one side. Rub on seasonings of your choice; I recommend thyme, rosemary, garlic powder, and black pepper. Repeat for other side. Place on ceramic plate. Place ceramic plate on metal rack (or whatever they’re called). Place into boiling water (use tongs or whatever they’re called). Cover lid. Done in ten.</p>

<p>2) Pan fried tofu: Cut tofu block into cubes onto plate. Incorporate 1 tablespoon of Korean BBQ sauce onto tofu cubes using a spoon. Sprinkle black pepper. Add oil to wok. Heat up wok. Put in tofu and let sit to brown. Flip tofu using spatula. Done in ten.</p>

<p>3) Stir fried eggs and shrimp: Defrost shrimp. Wash and pat dry. Marinate by mixing in sesame oil, salt, sugar, or whatever. Add oil to wok. Heat up wok. Put in shrimp. Stir, flip, or whatever. Pour in egg(s). Stir until solid. Done in five.</p>

<p>4) Boil some veggies.</p>

<p>I beat Rachael Ray by about 2 minutes.</p>

<p>Quinoa, yogurt/cottage cheese, frozen chicken breasts, and bananas and fruit. Easy, protein filled. And protein forces slower digestion with more caloric burn. Also, get peanut butter. Decent source of protein with the fact that it sticks to your stomach making you less hungry.</p>

<p>I like roasting a chicken or two on a free day (it’s not like you have to tend to it while it’s in the oven), then the breasts can be used for sandwiches for the rest of the week, legs for stir-fry, scrappy ends for pasta sauce, bones/‘frame’ for stock (which can be then boiled with tofu/greens to make soup). Gives good variety too.</p>

<p>steamers ftw</p>

<p>Split pea soup. Split peas are cheap, and all you have to do is throw them in a big pot with water, a bit of ham (optional, but worth it as long as you’re not a vegetarian) and some onions and let it boil for an hour or two. Ridiculously easy.</p>