Getting Started

Ok my hungry friends, lets get started! Now, if you have access to a kitchen in a dorm you are extremely lucky and you can disregard all of the following information. If, however, you are like me and you have no access to a kitchen, then we have to fix that as soon as possible. First, the most important item of dorm cooking (personal opinion) is the electric heating griddle. The Presto Tilt'n Drain Griddle is a perfect item, you can use it to sear, sauté and even boil things.
It is also fairly cheap, I bought mine for $34 at Walmart, but there is also a smaller version for $20. You can see a picture of this griddle in the picture to the right. Other essentials are a big pot, some wooden spoons, a spatula, a vegetable knife, a cutting board, a measuring cup, basic seasonings such as salt and pepper, and some cooking oil. It would be good to have some more advanced spices such as powdered garlic, dried cilantro, cumin, and basil, but those are not absolutely necessary if you are running on a tight budget.

All of this stuff is a little expensive, but Walmart can sell you pots and pans for about 10 bucks each, 4 wooden spoons for a dollar, ect. So all told, making your own kitchen may cost from 50-60 dollars. This may seem pretty expensive for the average college student, but it is totally worth it. On the picture to the right, I put up my own kitchen set up. In all honesty, I think it was the best investment I have ever made. People are lured to my room by the aromas that spread into the hallways, and I get to feel like a wicked cool chef. Also, the cheap and delicious meals are another bonus that I frequently enjoy. Now I cook almost half my meals in my own room.