In my group of friends, I am decidedly not the best baker. While my roommates nonchalantly whip up Oreo-crusted cheesecakes and white chocolate raspberry cookies, I happily assume the role of taste-tester or batter-off-the-spoon licker and let them do their thing. I’m far less impressive when it’s my turn to make dessert — my chocolate chip cookies from a mix pale in comparison to most of their creations.

To try to get out of my boring cookie rut, I stopped eating the cookie dough long enough to try different dessert combinations that don’t require much more work. Here are some …

In a dorm kitchen with no appliances, it’s not only hard to be imaginative with new recipes; it’s often tough to recreate simple favorites that require a stove, oven, or other staple appliance from your kitchen at home. But before you start planning an impromptu visit home because you miss your pots and pans, consider another solution: buy a George Foreman grill.

Like the dorm microfridge or the spork, a George Foreman grill is one of those genius all-in-one inventions that you don’t know you need until it solves all of your problems. The title calls it a “grill,” but …

It’s possible that I have a slight Chinese food addiction. Day or night, high-class or Panda Express, I could eat it for every meal for weeks before getting sick of it, both because of the never-ending variety and the complete lack of need for any type of dishes (because hey, I’m in college! I reserve the right to eat straight from the carton). If I haven’t been to the grocery store in weeks or class ran long and I’m too hungry to make a full meal, I can always call up my local restaurant (on speed dial, of course) and …

Finding a great meal on campus is hard to do, especially if you’re limited by a dinky dorm kitchen or less-than-spectacular cafeteria food. That’s why I was so excited to discover GW Bites on my campus: a student run service that provides weekly home cooked meals and other creative food services to customers. For under $12, you can get an amazing dinner — last week’s impressive menu included spaghetti vegetable casserole, meatballs, homemade baguettes, and butterscotch brownies — delivered straight to your door!

Below, Cristina Roman, a senior at GWU and the mastermind behind the budding business, shares her tips …

Dinner parties have become a staple in my college life, whether they’re to mark a special occasion or just gather an old group of friends together. But hosting is tricky; you may want to impress guests with your cooking skills or incredible new apartment but not want to feed them all from your kitchen (or bank account). These guidelines will help you put together a great party even on a budget.

Make a Guest List. …and stick to it. It can be a lot of fun playing the host, but the easiest way to spend too much money on a …

Mediterranean Chicken Couscous
Serves 2-4

Read the original post here.

Ingredients
1 1/4 cups low-sodium fat-free chicken broth
1 (5.6-ounce) package toasted pine nut couscous mix
3 cups chopped cooked chicken (about 1 rotisserie chicken)
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
1 (4-ounce) package crumbled feta cheese
1 pint grape tomatoes, halved
1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon grated lemon rind
1/4 teaspoon pepper
Fresh basil leaves for garnish

Heat broth and seasoning packet from couscous in the microwave on HIGH for 3 to 5 minutes or until broth begins to boil. Place couscous in a large bowl, and …

My freshman year of college, I had an almost daily dilemma when it came time for dinner. After a long day of class, I would be hungry for a home-cooked meal, but my options were all underwhelming. Cafeteria food was sometimes promising — or, as promising as “meat” in “sauce” could ever be – but it was never a first choice. There was always take-out, but that got expensive and somewhat repetitive quickly. And while cooking was often ideal, my kitchen consisted of the typical dorm mini-refrigerator/freezer/microwave that only fits what you absolutely need (ketchup, Diet Coke, a few pints …

I practically lived on ramen noodles my freshman year in college – for 10 cents per bag, there is no better way to get a cheap meal. But after a short while, the same old soup staple can get incredibly repetitive and unappetizing. To balance the tantalizing price and so-so taste, here are some ways to disguise the basic dish.

1. Hearty Ramen Soup. a healthier, more fulfilling take on the original. Make the package of noodles as directed (with the flavor packet and all), and then add peas, chopped carrots, cubed chicken and sliced celery. Serve with bread or …