What are two words to describe the average college student? I choose busy and broke. I can say this because I am a veteran of the college experience and know what it means to bring my own beverage to a buffet to cut costs, or to use a sandwich maker to make breakfast.

For some reason it is customary to be absolutely poor with no time to do anything about it when in college. Which means students are forced to try to purchase a meal plan or live on the poor mans diet. For more details go to: www.cheese-cake-recipes.com If you are a college student or the parent of a college student, I know your struggles and want to help you to find a few easy solutions to help relieve the burden of having no resources or insight into cooking in college.

The first solution I want to offer is for students who are not cooking in college because they do not have a stove or microwave in their dorm room. I was in this position in school, which forced me and my roommate to get really creative when meal time rolled around. Remember that sandwich maker I mentioned earlier? Well it came in so handy for us that we ended up making meals for our friends on it. Traditionally created to put meat and cheese inside two slices of bread, the sandwich maker then seals the ingredients between the slices for a good-tasting hot sandwich. We of course saw limitless possibilities the unique product and used it to make square pancakes, fry bacon, and scramble eggs. While it seems a little over the top, it actually worked. We were able to eat well without needing a stove only an available plug.

But if you are one of those lucky college students who have pots, pans, eating utensils, and living quarters with a stove, you are in luck even if you do not know what to do with them. For more you can visit to: www.fair-recipes.com let us say for instance your Mom gave you several cans of vegetables and some frozen chicken? You have been eye-balling that chicken forever knowing that you do not know how to fry it. And the last time you tried to bake some it was still frozen in the middle. There is an easy and very healthy solution to this problem. It is called homemade chicken noodle soup. Sounds intimidating, huh? Well do not let the word homemade fool you, it is very simple.

To get started you simply fill one of those large pots halfway with water then toss in about four pieces of frozen chicken legs and thighs. Turn the fire up to high until the water boils then turn it to the low setting to simmer. Let the chicken simmer until you can poke a fork into easily it then throw in the vegetables you have, corn, carrots, and green beans are good, after draining the water out first. Season the soup with a good amount salt, some chicken-flavored bouillon cubes if you have them, and a little pepper for taste then throw in some egg noodles, Ramon Noodles can work too. When you are able to pull the meat off the bone with no trouble and the noodles are soft, you are good to go. This recipe makes cooking in college completely simple.

One last Cooking In College recipe that works really well for either the sandwich maker or a skillet is cheese quesadillas. They are incredible to eat and can be made in large quantities for a cheap price. All you need is a bag of flour tortilla shells, usually about USD 1, a bag of shredded cheddar cheese or a Mexican cheese blend, either one usually about USD 2-3, and 2 jalapeno peppers about USD 0.15 each. Butter either the bottom of the sandwich maker or skillet then warm both tortilla shells in the butter for a great flavor then set them on a plate. Next cut up some jalapeno peppers in small bits and spread them evenly on one shell then cover with a liberal handful of cheese. Place the second shell on top then put in the skillet on high heat or place in the sandwich maker, you may need the cut the shell to fit the size of the sandwich maker. If you are using a sandwich maker, you simply close the lid and let it heat the quesadilla up on both sides simultaneously. If you are using a skillet, wait until the cheese melts then carefully flip to brown the other side. Take out in about 1 minute and you are ready to eat. Cooking in college is pretty easy, would not you say?

There is an abundance of information on ways to successfully manage your time as a student while also cooking in college. And if your friends are anything like mine were, once they smell those great meals coming from your room or apartment , they will be trying to eat at your house every day. But just politely let them know they can do it on their own then point them to this article about cooking in college. Trust me - you will be able to hold on to your food easier that way.

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The Author is an expert writer on Cooking and Recipes. You can get his more views on http://www.cat-head-biscuit.com , His other blog site is http://www.cooking-groundbeef.com

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It  would appear that the dream of a chocolate that is truly potent with health enhancing properties, has finally been realised, and is set to arrive in the UK shortly. It has been scientifically tested and verified by a variety of highly credited bodies, to be genuine in all its claims.  The company behind this revolutionary product, have patented a system of cold extraction of the cocoa solids and fats (cocoa and cocoa butter) from the cacao bean (chocolate’s main ingredient).

This ingenious breakthrough allows the naturally high content of antioxidants to remain intact throughout the entire manufacturing process. Antioxidants serve to protect the body’s cells from damage and slow down the ageing process. Scientific research suggest a proportional link between the amount of antioxidants present and the length the body’s natural life.  The traditional method of chocolate making requires heat and heat is the main destroyer of naturally occurring nutrients in vegetation. The powerful punch of the unadulterated cacao is further enhanced by the addition of the acai berry.  Found in the South American rainforest, this super food also boast ultra high antioxidant levels.  Combined, this impressive partnership delivers a force of antioxidants that until now, has never been seen in any product of its kind.  These unprecedented antioxidant levels have been certified by Brunswick labs after confirming the ORAC score (oxygen radical absorbance capacity) of the final product.  Often, ORAC scores for products, are given, based on measurements taken at the beginning of, or during the manufacturing process and not at the end, by which time, much of the antioxidant content can be lost.  The chocolate is also said to be rich in epecatechins, Scientists believe epecatechins are the future force in combating four out of the five major diseases: stroke, heart failure, cancer and diabetes.

As if the prior wasn’t enough, It seems they haven’t compromised on standard as far as the remaining ingredients are concerned.  The turbo charged chocolate, doesn’t contain any waxy fillers, as is often found in regular chocolate products, there are no refined sugars present, no negative fats, no caffeine, it’s non dairy and gluten free.

And the claims go on:  It’s low in cholesterol, low glycemic, diabetic friendly, suitable for vegetarians and vegans and is also Kosher certified, and probably most importantly to chocolate lovers, is heralded as tasting absolutely delicious.

This seemingly formidable, super chocolate has been haled ‘Impressive’ by a commissioned medical advisory board and further validated by The Clinical University of Utah.

The Nevada based, family owned, company is just 3 years old, but in that time they have used there business and marketing expertise to develop a solid, debt-free business and a network marketing system that saw company growth of 300% in 2007. The company saw sales of 55 million last year and expect to reach 100 million this year.  Their president says their target is to reach a billion in the not to distant future.  This trend-setting product seems to have great marketability and its proven track record suggests it is set to take the UK market by storm. 

The fact that it will not be available in any shops, and will be sold exclusively through networks, presents a good marketing opportunity for home business seekers and seasoned marketers alike. The timing is strangely fortunate, as chocolate is known to sit comfortably in the exclusive group of “Recession Proof” industries; in fact chocolate sales have been shown to be up in such times.  Note; the company’s sales were up by 40% in 2008.
With more innovative healthy-chocolate product lines set for future release, it is believed that individuals/marketers involving themselves with the product at this early stage , could stand to reap substantial rewards.
It looks like this company is single-handedly putting healthy chocolate well and truly on the map.

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Despite of our hectic schedule nowadays, and by the time we arrive at home, everyone’s clamoring for dinner and don’t have the time for you to spend an hour for cooking. Maybe your tired and probably don’t want to spend time either, instead you want to eat soon. Whatever, the reason, whoever is the designated cook probably doesn’t have a lot of time to prepare meals. 

As a result of the obvious demand, There are many cook books which include the term ‘30 minute meals’ in the title. You might easily gain the impression that the cook who wrote the book must not have time to breathe to accomplish the meal in just the stated 30 minutes. Being a cook book addict and sometimes desirous of a quick meal.

In cooking, good organization in the kitchen is essential. Keep things clean and organized in the kitchen, so the time you spend is devoted exclusively to the preparation of the meal. And likewise you should know which dishes your family likes and you’ve probably got a number of favorites. Spaghetti, meatloaf, stew, chili, enchiladas and other such meals that can be made in large batches and frozen in dinner sized portions are the time saving gems that are the basis of a successful 30 minute cooking plan. Grouping dishes like spaghetti, meatloaf, tacos, enchiladas and burgers, you can save even more time. 

Menu planning is another key to success. Planning weekly menus allows you to take advantage of sales, saving you money and makes shopping quicker and easier. How many times have you come home and scanned the frig for dinner ideas? Chances are, you’ll end up wasting food in the end. You can also go out for pizza, but your budget is for the moment. You’ll pay for it next week. Or you can also buy ground beef is on sale, buy all that you need to make four batches of each. When you get home, divide the beef immediately. Make burger patties, sandwich them between sheets of waxed paper and freeze. While you’re doing that, fry the meat for the spaghetti, enchiladas or tacos in a large skillet, in batches as necessary in order to save money and time.

In fact, all of this preparation can be easily done in about an hour’s time. Now, get out a large crock pot. In the next 15 minutes, you can slice mushrooms, chop a couple of onions, pour in a couple large jars of spaghetti sauce and the meat. It cooks itself! Your 30 minute cooking plan has produced 4 nights of ready to eat meals, and 12 more requiring just minutes of effort to serve. Sixteen nights in all. Another example here, let say that an hour and 15 minutes is all you want to deal with today. Season the remaining ground beef reserved for the meatloaf with thyme and parsley (or whatever) and stick it in the frig. Cook and freeze. It’s as easy as that. Twenty nights of eating for under two hours effort, with maybe fifteen minutes work each night, getting it to the table.

Unfortunately, if you have kids to whom you can safely delegate part of the meal prep process, by all means, do! Less for you to do, and they get lessons in responsibility. Depending on their age, kids can set the table, chop veggies and grab items from the freezer. If you’re single, setting the table doesn’t take much!

The slow cooker is your best friend for making sumptuous, hearty, homemade meals.Spend ten or fifteen minutes in the morning getting the ingredients in the pot and be on your way. Making double or even triple batches of family favorites pays you handsomely in the future. Your average time spent quickly gets down to our 30 minute meal criteria, using this strategy.

Our last tip is quite useful for those bad hair days. Nothing’s going right and you’re beat. Try the single course approach to the 30 minute meal. First, get some rice going. While it’s cooking, fix and serve a dinner salad and some bread. Everyone’s immediately got something to eat. Next, slice a few mushrooms, some leftover meat from last night’s roast and add a red bell pepper, a couple of sliced green onions or snow peas. Saute this mixture briefly and serve over the rice. You’ve got a complete 30 minute meal. That’s all it takes!

As you can see, use this tips to prepare your favorite meals, ready to eat in just 30 minutes!  A workable 30 minute cooking plan is yours for the taking. Even side dishes, like rice pilaf , can be made in large do-ahead batches and frozen. Rice does just fine in the freezer. So many cook books say that rice is so quick and easy that there’s no point in freezing ahead. It’s your time we’re talking about!

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When a family member, coworker, or classmate gets sick, you probably do everything you can to avoid them so you don’t get sick too. ‘Washing your hands and staying away from all germs as much as possible’ is great advice, but you should also consider eating certain foods that are made for boosting your immune system and therefore fending off the flu.

Antioxidants do just that. Be it vitamins A, C, or E, foods that are rich in these immune system boosters will help you gear up to fight a cold before you even get one. The following foods are all rich in antioxidants or infection-fighting compounds that will help maintain a healthier you this winter.

1. Yogurt - The probiotics contained in yogurt help keep germs from invading our system by lining our intestines with its good bacteria. Yogurt also contains many vital nutrients such as protein, calcium, riboflavin, and vitamins B6 and B12. Incorporate yogurt into your regular diet with some of the recipes below or simply enjoy a carton of yogurt for breakfast or a healthy afternoon snack. If you need yogurt mix-in ideas, consult this list of Things to Do with Fage Yogurt.

Fat Free Strawberry Yogurt Smoothie
Yogurt Carrot Soup
Dilled Yogurt Dressing
Cucumber Yogurt Salad
Key Lime Yogurt Bars

2. Red Bell Pepper - We’ve always been told that vitamin C is the key to strengthening our immune systems, but did you know that red bell peppers have more vitamin C than oranges? Red peppers are also rich in vitamin A, a less-known antioxidant that will help keep the flu away! So slice up some red pepper to go along with your salad or just dip a few strips in hummus for a light and tasty snack! Or, you can always make these recipes too:

Slow Cooker Rosemary and Red Pepper Chicken
Roasted Red Pepper Spread
Peppers and Orange Spinach Salad
Yummy Red Pepper Sauce
Red Pepper Roasted Lamb Chops

3. Nuts - Particularly almonds and Brazil nuts, nuts contain vitamins that help strengthen the immune system. Almonds contain the antioxidant vitamin E while Brazil nuts contain Selenium which can protect us against not only colds and flus, but even cancer. Nuts have been found to have many cardiac benefits and can also lower cholesterol. Snack on almonds or Brazil nuts when you are hungry, add them to salads or incorporate them into dinner with the following recipes:

Barley Salad with Almonds and Apricots
Flavored Nuts
Delectable Almond Muffins
Roasted Nuts
Asparagus with Hazelnuts

4. Chicken Soup - I used to think chicken soup was just something we craved when we were sick until I found out it can actually heal and prevent sickness too. Chicken soup, especially when made with lots of nutrient rich vegetables, contains anti-inflammatory properties that inhibit mucus production. Not only will it make you feel better when you already have a cold, but if your symptoms haven’t occurred yet, they will be lessened by chicken soup. Try one of these recipes for your next flu fighting venture:

Healthy and Hearty Chicken Soup
Spicy Chicken Soup with Baby Corn and Bell Peppers
Lots of Chicken Soup
Homestyle Chicken Noodle Soup
Chicken N Dumpling Soup

5. Green Tea - The popular tea contains an immune boosting chemical called EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate) that not only staves away illness but can help you recover faster while you have an illness. Brew up a batch of plain green tea or add some extra ingredients for more flavor.

Stomach Soother
Hot Green Tea with Vodka
Spicy Green Tea
Autumn Tea
Hot Spiced Tea

In addition to green tea, it helps the immune system to drink hot liquids in general. Try these cold weather beverage recipes for even more flu fighting power.

Flu Buster
Cold Weather Cayenne Drink
Cold Tamer Tea
Easy Vitamin Soup
Soothing Winter Tea

6. Sweet Potatoes - The beta carotene in sweet potatoes converts itself to vitamin A, an antioxidant that helps strengthen your immune system. Sweet potatoes are actually rich in all sorts of vitamins and flavor so there’s really no reason not to eat them. Bake them plain or use them in the following immune system boosting recipes:

Sweet Potato Muffins
Sweet Potato Orange Casserole
Tzimmes
Sweet Potato Curry with Spinach and Chickpeas
African Sweet Potato Stew

7. Garlic - Consuming garlic helps fend off viruses because it is full of antioxidant vitamins and minerals like manganese, vitamin B6, selenium and vitamin C. Consider chopping fresh garlic for the best results in these tasty recipes:

Low-Carb Garlic Chicken
Hickory Smoked Roasted Garlic
Sauteed Spinach with Garlic
Pasta with Broccoli and Garlic
Garlic Cauliflower

8. Ginger - The natural plant compound gingerol found in ginger helps to fight off infections. Ginger is also very good for digestion and alleviating stomach pain. Consider topping your sushi with ginger when available or incorporating fresh ginger into your regular diet with these recipes:  

Gingered Chicken with Vegetables
Ginger Cucumber Salad with Scallops
Chilled Carrot Bisque with Ginger and Mixed Herbs
Ginger Cinnamon Tea
Ginger Vinaigrette

9. Oysters - If you’ve used Cold Eeze or other zinc supplements to fend off colds and flu, you’ll love this tastier zinc-rich recommendation. Oysters contain more zinc than any other food, and therefore are very good for our immune systems. 3 oysters is said to meet our daily zinc consumption recommendations. Oysters might not be everyday fare but when you get the chance, try one of these oyster recipes:

Oysters with Tangerine Salsa
Scalloped Oysters
Oysters Chesapeake
Grilled Oysters with Fennel Butter
Oysters with Chardonnay

Keep it Raw

While many of the recipes we recommended above involve cooking with these ingredients, we highly recommend eating these foods raw to reap the most health benefits. Cooking can sometimes deplete the nutritional content of the ingredient. Consider adding these ingredients toward the end of cooking so that they are still incorporated into the dish. Of course, tasty recipes still help us to incorporate healthy ingredients we otherwise may not have thought to eat into our diets so if you prefer these foods cooked , please don’t hesitate to do so. This is simply a suggestion for best results.

More Like This:
Fight the Fever: Staying Healthy This Winter
New Superfruit in Town: Acai
10 Super Foods That Kick Your Metabolism and Energy into High Gear

Source:
MyLifetime.com Best Bites: 10 Flu Fighting Foods

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