This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Bentley chapter.

Freshmen: now that we are all settled in at college, let’s talk about something important. FOOD. Unless you’re the son or daughter of Rachel Ray, chances are your parents did not send you to school with pots and pans designated for cooking your own homemade meals. But never fear, because we have a few ideas to put that oven in your common room to good use and get that dusty, beat-up microwave from the 90s to do a lot more than burn popcorn.

Here are a few of our own secret recipes for cooking in your freshman dorm.

Campus Cookies

Are you missing mom’s home baked cookies? Well, we have the next best thing… fresh cookies baked in your college dorm! Making fresh baked cookies is the best way to relieve stress and homesickness and give you something to enjoy that actually tastes like home. All you have to do take an Uber to the local Target or Hanaford and pick up some Tollhouse Cookie Dough (or even ask grandma to pack some in your next care package)! You can make these cookies the original way or make them your own. Try adding an Oreo into the cookie and wrapping the dough around it, for example. Miller Hall has a brand new oven that is perfect for baking cookies and is open for use, so get your dough and come on down! WARNING: The smell of cookies is bound to spread through the building, so be prepared to share… or run back to your dorm room really fast.

Nachos

It’s game day, and the Pats are on! You have your refreshments but are so craving some nachos to eat as you watch Brady (or Garoppolo) throw the perfect pass. We have the solution for you! Nachos are beyond easy to make, even in freshmen dorms. Hit up Falcon Mart for some Tostitos chips and salsa, and grab some shredded cheese at the grocery store (which you can easily store in your fridge). Combine the cheese, chips, salsa, and maybe some veggies or meat from The 921 and throw it in the oven. Keep an eye on your masterpiece, as not all nachos take the same amount of time to cook. We recommend cooking them for about 10 minutes at 375 degrees.

The 921 Fun-Mix (Homemade)

Are you sick of the basic dessert table set up every day, or eating those stale Rice Krispies treats that were in your care package from two weeks ago? It is time to make your own creative snack: The 921 Fun Mix. You may not all realize this, but The 921 and Falcon Mart totally hooks us up with some great snacks. From chocolate-covered pretzels and jellybeans to M&Ms and raisins, both have some great ingredients for your tasty mix. Just grab a large bowl and throw in some microwave popcorn, pretzels, chocolate candies, Doritos, or whatever else will satisfy your sweet tooth. All that’s left is to enjoy your tasty treat!

Iron-Grilled Cheese

Being in college is the ultimate realization that you aren’t a kid anymore. You are responsible for your own actions and future, and sometimes that’s pretty scary. Try bringing it back to childhood with a warm, gooey grilled cheese to help relieve those tensions and remind you of simpler times. Grab some bread as well as mac and cheese from The 921 (or you can make easy mac using your microwave) for this recipe. Next, turn your iron to medium heat, butter each slice of bread, slap that mac and cheese in the middle of the bread, and wrap your sandwich entirely in tin foil. Next, place the iron on the tin foiled sandwich for approximately 4 minutes on each side. Let it cool, unwrap that baby, and you’ve got yourself a delectable, mouth-watering, saliva-inducing, cheese-filled sandwich. DISCLAIMER: You should watch your sandwich under the iron to make sure it doesn’t burn as well as keep the tin foiled sandwich on an iron-safe board while heating.

Microwave Pasta So Easy, Anyone Can Make It!

Sometimes we all just want a huge bowl of North End pasta. Most of the time, however, we don’t want to change out of our sweats, leave the dorm, and take that long trek into Boston. Instead, grab a microwave and the following ingredients to make a Maggiano’s worthy bowl of pasta. Make sure you have a microwave-safe bowl and add ½-1 cup of pasta, along with enough water so that the pasta covered by a few centimeters. Add 3 minutes to the suggested cooking time for the pasta found on the box. If you’re a red sauce type of person, just heat the sauce using the microwave for around 30 seconds before topping your pasta with it. P.S: For the best tasting pasta results, don’t forget to strain the noodles when they finish cooking!

Photo Sources

Getting Cooked In Freshman Dorms