Spring Break
Cheap feasts for students
by Matt Brown
Staff Writer
Food | 9/4/07
Posted online at 11:30 PM EST on 9/3/07
/ Last updated at 1:42 AM EST on 9/3/07
Considering the average student's budget, it's no surprise that the culinary arts are not heavily practiced in college. Being a gourmet is a hobby expensive in time and money, and those are the two things college students lack more than any other. What little money there is for "luxuries" is not commonly spent on food. Most cookbooks geared toward the 18-25 crowd pretty much contain recipes for cheap, fast and simple dishes. But cheap, fast and simple do not delicious foods make; there should regularly be more to a meal than ramen noodles, Easy Mac or microwaveable dinners.
Besides, fancy dinners are fun! Invite friends!
The cornerstone of any worthwhile meal is bread. Last summer I purchased a high-quality, multi-functional bread machine for just over $40. Bread machine recipes are all over the Internet, so there's no need to buy a book. At Hannaford, flour is only $2 per bag, and yeast is $2.19 for a 3-pack-those are the two fundamental ingredients that any decently stocked student kitchen might not have. But really, if you don't have flour, how can you bake cookies?
The bread machine principle is the same as for hybrid cars: Although the starting cost is higher, in the long run it will save you money (on gas/bread) and do some good (for the environment/for your taste buds). There are also bread mixes, for those without the time or money to be able to do everything from scratch. These come boxed in a variety of flavors at only $2.59 each; I find them totally worth it.
Any basic bread machine has a dough function, which lets you shape your bread however you like and bake it in the oven. With the door open for rolls, breadsticks, challah or bread bowls, how can anyone resist?
And speaking of bread bowls, stew is the kind of meal that, though mildly time-consuming, works perfectly for fancy dinner parties. Part of what makes stew appealing is that you don't necessarily need the best cuts of meat (a money-saver). That, and dealing with the leftovers is so easy. While most stews require wine-and recommend using higher-quality than three-buck chuck-the cooking wines that supermarkets stock work just as well; they're about the same price as three-buck chuck, but come without all the impurities, making for a better meal. Just don't drink it straight.
Besides, fancy dinners are fun! Invite friends!
The cornerstone of any worthwhile meal is bread. Last summer I purchased a high-quality, multi-functional bread machine for just over $40. Bread machine recipes are all over the Internet, so there's no need to buy a book. At Hannaford, flour is only $2 per bag, and yeast is $2.19 for a 3-pack-those are the two fundamental ingredients that any decently stocked student kitchen might not have. But really, if you don't have flour, how can you bake cookies?
The bread machine principle is the same as for hybrid cars: Although the starting cost is higher, in the long run it will save you money (on gas/bread) and do some good (for the environment/for your taste buds). There are also bread mixes, for those without the time or money to be able to do everything from scratch. These come boxed in a variety of flavors at only $2.59 each; I find them totally worth it.
Any basic bread machine has a dough function, which lets you shape your bread however you like and bake it in the oven. With the door open for rolls, breadsticks, challah or bread bowls, how can anyone resist?
And speaking of bread bowls, stew is the kind of meal that, though mildly time-consuming, works perfectly for fancy dinner parties. Part of what makes stew appealing is that you don't necessarily need the best cuts of meat (a money-saver). That, and dealing with the leftovers is so easy. While most stews require wine-and recommend using higher-quality than three-buck chuck-the cooking wines that supermarkets stock work just as well; they're about the same price as three-buck chuck, but come without all the impurities, making for a better meal. Just don't drink it straight.
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