Top 5 thrifty meals for students
Shannon Cohen
Business & Technology Editor
Issue date: 12/7/08 Section: Business
It is winter time, final exams are approaching and refunds and declining balances are long gone. Students are left facing the woes of eating cafeteria food, budgeting and trying to prepare inexpensive meals. Fortunately, below is a list of meals that can be prepared quickly and cheaply.
Pasta
Pasta is quick, does not require many ingredients, cooking skills or experience. The only things needed to make this dish work are pasta noodles, the sauce of choice and parmesan cheese.
The first step to preparing pasta is to boil it. Afterwards, the noodles must be drained and a tablespoon of vegetable oil added. The sauce of choice is then added and stirred in with the noodles until it is warm and all pasta is covered. Meat can also be added.
Loaded baked potatoes>
Loaded baked potatoes are ideal for students because they can be cooked in the microwave. Potatoes can be customized by adding toppings to fit the consumer. All that is required to make a baked potato is the potato, butter and salt and pepper.
The first step to making the baked potato is, by using a knife; poke several holes in all the sides. The next step is to place the potato in the microwave. Different sized potatoes and different microwaves cause the cooking times to vary.
After the potato is cooked, cut the potato and add butter. Afterwards, one may add their toppings of choice.
Quesadillas
Quesadillas are tasty Mexican treats and also do not require much preparation. The only items necessary to make them are pre-cooked chicken strips, cheese and tortillas. In order to prepare this, all one has to do is add chicken and cheese to one side of a tortilla, fold and place it in the microwave. After only about a minute, it is all done.
Chili cheese dogs
Chili cheese dogs are an all-time American favorite. They are delicious, quick and, most importantly, cheap. There are only four ingredients necessary to create this inexpensive cuisine: chili, cheese, hotdogs and hot dog buns.
There are even fewer steps to preparing it. The hot dogs must first be boiled, after which the chili is warmed. Once all ingredients have been cooked, the next step is to place the hot dog in the bun and add the chili and cheese on top.
Red beans and rice with Italian sausage
This is a Cajun favorite that can be prepared by the world's worst cooks, and still come out nearly flawless. Red beans and rice with Italian sausage only requires a few more ingredients than the others: rice, red beans or kidney beans, Italian sausage, chopped onion, chili powder and garlic salt.
However, there are only three steps required. The first step is to drain the beans, reserve the juice and add water as needed. The next step is to combine all the ingredients in a large skillet, stir and bring to a boil. The last step is to simmer for approximately 20 minutes, remove from the heat, keep it covered and allow it to stand for five minutes.•
Pasta
Pasta is quick, does not require many ingredients, cooking skills or experience. The only things needed to make this dish work are pasta noodles, the sauce of choice and parmesan cheese.
The first step to preparing pasta is to boil it. Afterwards, the noodles must be drained and a tablespoon of vegetable oil added. The sauce of choice is then added and stirred in with the noodles until it is warm and all pasta is covered. Meat can also be added.
Loaded baked potatoes>
Loaded baked potatoes are ideal for students because they can be cooked in the microwave. Potatoes can be customized by adding toppings to fit the consumer. All that is required to make a baked potato is the potato, butter and salt and pepper.
The first step to making the baked potato is, by using a knife; poke several holes in all the sides. The next step is to place the potato in the microwave. Different sized potatoes and different microwaves cause the cooking times to vary.
After the potato is cooked, cut the potato and add butter. Afterwards, one may add their toppings of choice.
Quesadillas
Quesadillas are tasty Mexican treats and also do not require much preparation. The only items necessary to make them are pre-cooked chicken strips, cheese and tortillas. In order to prepare this, all one has to do is add chicken and cheese to one side of a tortilla, fold and place it in the microwave. After only about a minute, it is all done.
Chili cheese dogs
Chili cheese dogs are an all-time American favorite. They are delicious, quick and, most importantly, cheap. There are only four ingredients necessary to create this inexpensive cuisine: chili, cheese, hotdogs and hot dog buns.
There are even fewer steps to preparing it. The hot dogs must first be boiled, after which the chili is warmed. Once all ingredients have been cooked, the next step is to place the hot dog in the bun and add the chili and cheese on top.
Red beans and rice with Italian sausage
This is a Cajun favorite that can be prepared by the world's worst cooks, and still come out nearly flawless. Red beans and rice with Italian sausage only requires a few more ingredients than the others: rice, red beans or kidney beans, Italian sausage, chopped onion, chili powder and garlic salt.
However, there are only three steps required. The first step is to drain the beans, reserve the juice and add water as needed. The next step is to combine all the ingredients in a large skillet, stir and bring to a boil. The last step is to simmer for approximately 20 minutes, remove from the heat, keep it covered and allow it to stand for five minutes.•
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