NationStates Jolt Archive

All right, so, I'm off to college in a week and I need some food ideas that I can cook fairly quick and don't cost a lot of money. I'm not exactly interested in making big batches of one thing to eat the whole week, so if you do want to suggest recipes like that, try to give some advice on how to possibly "change it up" so I'm not tasting the same crap everyday.

Pasta. Buy a massive bag of pasta and spaghetti. Amazing how many types of meals you can get out of those two base ingredients. Got me through my first year at uni and it will get me through the next two years as well.

Ruffy... sober? o.0

Does not compute!

http://beerrecipes.org/

All right, so, I'm off to college in a week and I need some food ideas that I can cook fairly quick and don't cost a lot of money. I'm not exactly interested in making big batches of one thing to eat the whole week, so if you do want to suggest recipes like that, try to give some advice on how to possibly "change it up" so I'm not tasting the same crap everyday.

Uhh...

Hot pockets? Pizza...it can last for days just sitting, food from the cafeteria? Fast food?

Rice/noodles + any kind of meat/fish/vegetables + korma sauce/ thai curry/ one of them chinese sauces you get in a packet. 15-20 minutes, easy as hell, cheap, delicious.

get a george foreman grill and eat lots of steaks chops and burgers.

If you like Indian food, I suggest investing in a number of boxed foods from Kitchens of India. Inside the boxes are pouches of stuff--aloo matar, chick pea curry, etc--that you cut open and pour into microwave-safe bowls and heat for 90 seconds. Easy. If you're really lazy, you can get microwavable pouches of rice to pour it over.

are you having to cook all your meals yourself? no cafeteria food, no sharing with roommates?

1. Prepare a box of Rice-A-Roni, throw in a small can of peas and a can of tuna.

2. Spaghetti sauce

1 28 oz can of tomatoes (chopped, diced, pureed)
2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil (Bertolli, Barilla, Goya are all good -- you don't need a gourmet brand)
2-3 gloves of garlic (depending on how garlicy you like it) sliced
salt (to taste)
28 oz of water
oregano to taste
fresh basil leaves

(if it tastes too acidic, add: fennel seed, or more basil, or wine, or Sambuca Romana if you have it on hand)

Warm up the olive oil in the bottom of your pot. Drop in the sliced garlic and toss until it starts looking golden. Do NOT let garlic brown -- it gets bitter.

Throw in the can of tomatoes. I prefer tomato puree.
Throw in a can full of water.
Salt to taste -- I squeeze my little hand so it makes a tight cup, and mound what's probably about a half teaspoon of salt in the center of my palm. Remember -- you can always add more if you need it -- it's tough to correct too MUCH.

Throw 3-5 washed fresh basil leaves in the pot

Stir, and let cook for 15 minutes. Taste. If not salty enough, add more. If not sweet enough, add more basil, or fennel seed, or wine.

Let simmer 30-40 minutes, tasting occasionally and correcting the flavor if necessary. Remember -- it will taste better when reheated the next day.

Pour over pasta, and enjoy. And spring for a wedge of real Parmigiano-Reggiano, or Pecorino-Romano to grate over your plate just before eating. If you want good taste, spring for good ingredients. Cheese from a shaker jar or can-- please, don't.

3. These zesty lamb chops make the centerpiece of an easy meal. Serves two to four, depending on appetites (one or two chops per person).
Instructions
Difficulty: Easy
Things You'll Need
• Groceries
• Zesters
• Plastic Freezer Bags
• Broiler Pans
• 2 sprigs fresh rosemary (or 1/2 tsp. dried, crumbled)
• zest from 1 lemon
• 1 garlic clove - mashed to a paste
• 2 tbsp. olive (not virgin) oil
• 1 tsp. sugar
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. pepper
• 4 (1 1/4-inch thick) lamb chops
Steps
1
Step One
Prepare fresh rosemary by removing leaves from the stem; chop leaves. Discard stems.
2
Step Two
Combine fresh or dried rosemary with lemon zest, garlic paste, olive oil, sugar and salt and pepper to taste in a small bowl.
3
Step Three
Rub lamb chops with marinade.
4
Step Four
Marinate chops, covered, in refrigerator for 1 hour or overnight.
5
Step Five
Preheat broiler.
6
Step Six
Broil lamb chops on rack of broiler pan about 4 inches from heat for 3 to 4 minutes on each side for medium-rare meat, or 4 to 5 minutes on each side for well-done meat.
Tips & Warnings
• To zest a lemon, either grate the peel using a fine grater or take off strips of peel with a zester or vegetable peeler, then mince finely. Take care to remove only the yellow peel of the lemon and not the bitter white pith.
• To mash garlic, chop it roughly, then pound in a mortar with a pinch of salt until you have a paste. If you don't have a mortar, sprinkle salt on the coarsely chopped clove, then chop finely. Use the side of the knife to press down and smear the garlic every once in a while as you chop it. The paste will be rougher, but it will work.

Hope these help. :)

breakfast cereal.

Buy mozzarella cheese, tomatoes, fresh basil, olive oil and Italian bread.

Day one dinner - take several slices of bread, brush with olive oil. Slice tomato and place slices of tomato on bread. Chiffonade basil and sprinkle over tomatoes. Slice cheese and place on top of tomatoes and basil. Place under broil (or in toaster oven) for 1-2 minutes or until cheese is melted. Eat.

Day two dinner - cut tomato and cheese into chunks, chiffonade basil, mix together with olive oil. Brush bread with olive oil and put under broiler until bread is lightly toasted. Eat.

Buy frozen already shelled shrimp, salad greens and salad dressing of choice.

Dinner day one - thaw number of shrimp you want, saute in butter with dill weed until cooked through. Toss with salad greens, dressing and croutons made leftover Italian bread. Eat.

Dinner day two - thaw number of shrimp you want, boil in salted water (Old Bay Seasoning optional) until cooked through. Serve with salad and toasted Italian bread.

Buy fake crab (it doesn't taste like crab, but, if you get a good brand, it's pretty decent). Mix with chopped celery, chopped green onions, mayonaisse, dill weed, salt, pepper and seasonings of your choice and bread crumbs. Make patties. Dip patties first in beaten egg, then in flour. Fry in butter until heated through (fake crab is already cooked). Eat plain or serve on buns.

Step 1. Aquire Pizza Hut leaflet
Step 2. Dial number on leaflet
Step 3. Enjoy

Chicken>George Forman>Plate

Easy.

Buy mozzarella cheese, tomatoes, fresh basil, olive oil and Italian bread.

Day one dinner - take several slices of bread, brush with olive oil. Slice tomato and place slices of tomato on bread. Chiffonade basil and sprinkle over tomatoes. Slice cheese and place on top of tomatoes and basil. Place under broil (or in toaster oven) for 1-2 minutes or until cheese is melted. Eat.

Day two dinner - cut tomato and cheese into chunks, chiffonade basil, mix together with olive oil. Brush bread with olive oil and put under broiler until bread is lightly toasted. Eat.

Buy frozen already shelled shrimp, salad greens and salad dressing of choice.

Dinner day one - thaw number of shrimp you want, saute in butter with dill weed until cooked through. Toss with salad greens, dressing and croutons made leftover Italian bread. Eat.

Dinner day two - thaw number of shrimp you want, boil in salted water (Old Bay Seasoning optional) until cooked through. Serve with salad and toasted Italian bread.

Buy fake crab (it doesn't taste like crab, but, if you get a good brand, it's pretty decent). Mix with chopped celery, chopped green onions, mayonaisse, dill weed, salt, pepper and seasonings of your choice and bread crumbs. Make patties. Dip patties first in beaten egg, then in flour. Fry in butter until heated through (fake crab is already cooked). Eat plain or serve on buns.

You seem to be forgetting the meat...it isn't dinner if there is no meat.

You seem to be forgetting the meat...it isn't dinner if there is no meat.

I have heard a dirty rumor that people can, actually, live quite happily without meat.

are you having to cook all your meals yourself? no cafeteria food, no sharing with roommates?

No cafeteria/food plans, and I guess sharing will happen, but I should be prepared for the worst (ie: if they suck at cooking), no?

Everyone: *takes notes*

That spaghetti sauce is dead simple, and you can make pizza with it, spaghetti, lasagna, chicken parmagiana, et cetera using it.

Ramen noodles. Eat the container for additional nutrients, because you'll need them.

That spaghetti sauce is dead simple, and you can make pizza with it, spaghetti, lasagna, chicken parmagiana, et cetera using it.

I'll totally be making it, and the lamb chops too!

My go-to quick food is variations of the following:

- cut veggies of your choice into small pieces (zucchini, egg plant, bellpepper, mushrooms... mixed together or just one kind, whatever you have)
- dice onion, mince garlic, heat a little oil in non-stick frying pan, put in onion & garlic and fry till soft
- add veggies, fry for a bit while stirring, add salt and pepper and spices of your choice (I usually go either the paprika, the curry, or the Italian route), cover with lid and let cook for a minute or so
- add a handful of basmati* rice, stir, add some water (~ 2 cups or so), cover with lid again, cook on medium heat for about 10 mins (till rice is done; check a few times during if there's still enough water so it doesn't burn)

Done.

If you want to add meat, just cut it into small strips, put it in after the onions & garlic and fry it for a bit (just so it is a bit broiled on the outside), then add veggies and proceed as above.

Takes maybe 15 minutes all in all and you only dirty one cooking dish. Double win.


*needs to be basmati because it cooks really fast

Easy Frittata:

8 eggs
2 Tbsp milk
1 plum tomato, chopped
1 cup Mozzarella Cheese, shredded
2 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled
1/2 cup white mushrooms, sliced
1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
oil for pie pan

In a bowl beat the eggs and milk together. Mix in the tomato, 1/2 cup of Mozzarella cheese, bacon, mushrooms, and basil. Oil the pie pan. Pour the egg mixture into the pie plate. Bake at 350F for 20 minutes. Top the frittata with the remaining cheese and return to the over for 10 minutes, or until puffed and golden brown. Remove from the oven and allow to stand for 5 minutes before cutting.

Basic Inexpensive Enchiladas:

1 can cream of chicken soup
1 cup chopped green chilies
2 cup chopped, cooked chicken
1 can enchilada sauce
1 cup sour cream
10 tortillas
2 1/2 cup grated cheese
1/2cup onion, chopped

Mix soup, chilies, chicken, sour cream, onion, and 1/2 of the cheese, set aside. Spoon some of the mixture into the tortillas and roll them up. Place in the pan and spread remaining mixture on top. Cover with cheese. Bake 350 for 20 min.

Also, crockpot recipes are easy/cheap: http://www.a-crock-cook.com/

You seem to be forgetting the meat...it isn't dinner if there is no meat.

She has shrimp and fake crab in half the meals. Not that meat's even necessary, but it's there.

A few I picked up in my days at uni:

If you've got an oven, roast lamb is dead easy. Cut slices in it then smear crushed garlic, olive oil and rosemary into the cuts.
Boil some potatos (also pumpkin if you can be arsed) cut in half til they firm but not soft (around 10 minutes). drain and put around the leg of lamb.
Roast for about 45 minutes.
Boil some peas (only takes a couple of minutes straight into boiling water) and there you have a damn fine, easy meal!

Find an Asian foodmarket and get yourself a big jar of green curry mix + some coconut milk. Pot of coconut milk + tablespoon or two of green curry + diced fish fillet, heat until fish is cooked, on boiled rice = bloody awesome easy, <10 minutes-to-make, meal. Throw in some fresh coriander if you've got it for extra flavour.

Stirfry you can't go wrong with. Just boil the rice first, but not until it's really soft or it'll become a giant ball in the pan! Crack an egg or two on top right before it's ready then mix it into the rice.

Lasagne is actually pretty easy to make, just a bit time-consuming. If you buy fresh lasagne sheets it's a lot easier. Otherwise, with the hard sheets, boil them first - otherwise you need to bake the damn thing for well over an hour until they're soft.
For the sauce, tin of tomatos, tin of pasta sauce, onions, garlic, basil (lots of fresh is best), fresh spinach, mushrooms, pretty much anything. I also throw in boiled pumpkin, chopped up. Mince if you want meat. Otherwise just more veges.
If you're feeling adventurous make up a cheese white sauce. Otherwise just use grated cheese.
Alternate layers of pasta, tomato sauce, white sauce/cheese. End with the pasta and grated cheese (or fresh mozarella) on top.
Bake it for 30-45 minutes (unless you haven't cooked anything first, then it's longer).
If you make enough it can last you a couple of days - tastes better the next day too.
good thing about learning this is that the tomato sauce mixture can be used for any type of pasta. So learn this and you're set.

Mexican is also pretty easy to make. Into a pot a tin of tomatoes, coriander, mushrooms, onions, garlic, chopped boiled potatoes, lots of chilli - doesn't even need to be fresh: couple of (in my case 4 or 5) teaspoons from a jar is good enough, mince (or chicken strips). cook thoroughly then throw over nachos with grated cheese. Again, do lots and you're set for the following day.


If you notice, Mexican and Italian have pretty similar base. Only difference is Mexican uses coriander + chilli and Italian uses Basil. Though Italian can use chilli but I'm making this simple here. So once you learn one, it's easy to learn the other - and has the added effect of making you look like you're very knowledgeable in the kitchen.



These the ones I learnt my second two years at Uni, after spending my 1st getting heartily sick of boiled potato and mince.

I have heard a dirty rumor that people can, actually, live quite happily without meat.

clearly you need to be re-educated.

You seem to be forgetting the meat...it isn't dinner if there is no meat.

People in America eat way too much meat. Besides, doesn't shrimp count?

But if you really insist on meat - get butterflied pork chops or chicken breast (the butcher can do this for you). Lay them out flat and salt and pepper to taste. Make a mixture of breadcrumbs, olive oil, chicken stock and seasonings. Spread the mixture on the meat, roll it up and skewer with toothpicks. Dip in beaten egg then in a seasoned flour and parmesan cheese mixture. Bake at 375^F for 15-20 minutes. Serve with salad or vegetable of choice. Since it's stuffed, starchy foods are optional.

Take a quarter pound of hamburger and divide in half. Make two thin patties. On top of one patty place a mixture of diced onions, blue cheese and diced olives. Cover with the other patty and crimp the edges together. Broil or fry until done. Serve on a hamburger bun or kaiser roll with tomato and lettuce.

Chili is pretty easy to make and it can be frozen so you can make a large batch and then freeze it and thaw it when you need it (i.e. you can make enough food to last a week but don't have to eat it in a week). You just throw stuff in a pot and let it simmer for a while.

You should also invest in some staple foods. This includes pasta, rice and various beans. Dried lentils are very good to keep around. They're a cheap source of protein and they cook for the same amount of time as rice so you can throw some rice and lentils in a pot, wash them, add water to the pot, boil the water, add salt, add onions, garlic, peppers, tomato paste (1/3rd of those small cans is usually good... but this is also optional) whatever spices you like... let it cook until the water's absorbed and everything's soft and there you go. Less than 20 minutes.

Stir fry is good too, oil, onions, peppers, whatever veggies, some tofu or chicken or whatever, soy sauce, maybe some hoisin sauce, spices et c, cook some rice put the stir fry on the rice, there you go.

It's not really a recipe, but sausages are good. Hillshire Farms makes 6 packs of precooked kielbasa, just wrap it in a damp towel and microwave for 45 seconds. Not the best tasting food in the world, of course, but they keep really, really well in the fridge.

Also, please, for the love of the pork god, use your bacon grease. As someone who was raised in the South (for the most part) I want to cry whenever I see someone pouring one of the world's best cooking materials down the sink. Instead, just pour the left-over fat from the pan into a can and store it for the next time you want to fry something.

I have heard a dirty rumor that people can, actually, live quite happily without meat.

People can, I'm sure, but I know that I can't.

All right, so, I'm off to college in a week and I need some food ideas that I can cook fairly quick and don't cost a lot of money. I'm not exactly interested in making big batches of one thing to eat the whole week, so if you do want to suggest recipes like that, try to give some advice on how to possibly "change it up" so I'm not tasting the same crap everyday.

When I'm sober, I'll put up my basil pesto and chummus recipes for you. Though you'll need a food processor for both. If Smunkee's on, ask her. She might still have the pesto recipe from the last big Recipe thread we had.

I have heard a dirty rumor that people can, actually, live quite happily without meat.

They live a lie. They hide their misery, and hope to inflict their misery on the rest of us happy meat-eaters.

:p

Goofballian chili simple version (for my award winning chili(3rd annual Navy-wide Chili Cookoff), I use ground bison, fresh herbs and make the tomato sauce myself).

2 lbs ground meat(beef, turkey, bison or pork(no more than 1/2 pork)
1 8oz can tomato sauce
2 cups water
2 teaspoons paprika
2 teaspoons cumin
2 teaspoons oregano
1 small chopped onion( or one tablespoon onion powder or flakes)
1/4 teaspoon salt(to taste)
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 cup chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 or 2 habanero peppers chopped and seeded OR 6 red chili peppers chopped and seeded OR 1 to 2 teaspoons cayenne pepper(to taste)
1 can beans(I prefer pink beans but kidneys will work. Or both.) [optional]
2 tablespoons masa flour(a very fine ground corn flour. Regular flour will work).

Brown the meat and drain. Place the drained meat in a good sized pot and add all the ingredients except the masa flour. Simmer for 30 minutes.

In a separate bowl or cup, dissolve masa flour with 1/4 cup warm water until a thick but pourable consistency is reached. Add mixture to the chili and simmer 20 minutes more.

Enjoy with lots of bread. Suffer the consequences later. :)

All right, so, I'm off to college in a week and I need some food ideas that I can cook fairly quick and don't cost a lot of money. I'm not exactly interested in making big batches of one thing to eat the whole week, so if you do want to suggest recipes like that, try to give some advice on how to possibly "change it up" so I'm not tasting the same crap everyday.

here! (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Starving-Students-Cookbook-Dede-Hall/dp/0446679615)

and if you're feeling sadistic (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Spam-Cookbook-Marguerite-Patten/dp/0753715139/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1219475263&sr=1-1)...

I know you hate Rachel Ray, but she can do like 23Bazillion things with chicken breast. (not like that perv) She also has a cookbook of meals to cook in less than 30 minutes.

All right, so, I'm off to college in a week and I need some food ideas that I can cook fairly quick and don't cost a lot of money.

My son told me that Ramen Noodles are a college staple, cheap and easy to fix.
A lot of different flavors as well.

http://www2.bc.edu/~dvoskina/noodle.jpg

So, I googled this up just for you.

Ramen noodle recipes http://www.ramenlicious.com/

Chicken alfredo (makes either two regular servings or one big one, depending on how hungry you are):

2tbsp butter
1tbsp flour
1tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup milk
1 small chicken breast, chopped and cooked
2 cups of whatever noodles you want to eat it with (I normally use egg noodles)

1. Start water boiling for pasta
2. Melt the butter
3. Mix flour, Parmesan cheese, and salt together in a bowl
4. Stir cheese/flour mixture into melted butter until smooth, and stir over medium heat for about 3 minutes
5. Pour milk in slowly, stirring constantly (if you pour the milk in too fast, the sauce will end up being kind of chunky. If this happens, just grab a whisk and whisk the sauce really fast for a few minutes)
6. Keep heating over medium heat until sauce is thickened to however thick you want it to be, stirring every few minutes
7. While sauce is thickening, cook and cut up the chicken; also, if you used egg noodles (or a similar pasta), you should probably toss it into the boiling water about now
8. Toss the chicken in once the sauce is done, pour sauce over cooked pasta, and enjoy =]

This takes between twenty and thirty minutes to make, depending on how fast the sauce thickens and how long the pasta takes to cook.

Also: I'm not sure if it's really alfredo, since I kind of improvised the recipe based on what I remembered from somebody teaching me how to make alfredo years before, but it's still delicious and cheap =]



PS: If you omit the Parmesan cheese from the sauce, add another tablespoon of flour, some pepper, and a chopped boiled potato, you've got yourself a bowl of cheap homemade cream of potato soup ^__^

Cook the top ramen until it's barely soft (just come out of the brick), drain and pan fry it with chicken and a few veggies.

And isn't Chris Crocker your roommate?

Get a meal plan.

What do you have to cook with? We wern't allowed anything more than a microfridge...used a George Foreman every now and again, but almost got caught every time.

Get a meal plan.

What do you have to cook with? We wern't allowed anything more than a microfridge...used a George Foreman every now and again, but almost got caught every time.

No meal plan, and we'll be living in a fully furnished apartment.

Snaf: God, I hope.

Get bitten by a vampire, then become a vampire. Problem solved. *Nod*

1 packet dry ranch dressing.
12 oz can Cream of Mushroom Soup
~ 1/2 lbs chicken ( 4 boneless breast, 4 legs, or 4 thighs, or 2 legs and thighs) I recommend breast meat
Milk or Water (Optional)

Preheat oven to 300-350 degrees F and make sure your chicken is thawed.

In a bowl: Combine mushroom soup with with dry ranch added in increments and stir until desired flavor is achieved. The sauce will be very thick and can be made thinner by adding a small amount of milk or water but milk makes for a creamier sauce with better flavor.

Cook chicken for 10-15 minutes mid rack in deep pan.

Remove chicken from oven and cover in sauce. If your sauce is watery just dump it in the pan and make sure to cover each piece of meat with a little bit of sauce.

Bake until chicken is fully cooked, you can determine this by poking it with a fork, cooked chicken will not disgorge juices (or use a meat thermometer).

Serve, the extra sauce can be ladled over the chicken for flavor and is also good on rice or mashed potatoes.

Oh yeah.. serves 2 to 4 people optimally.

YOOTOPIA'S SUPER AMAZING STEAK SANDWICHES RECIPE OF 2K8!

Basically, this is my recipe for a super amazing steak sandwich. It's pretty super amazing.

Ingredients :

Och some steaks. Of beef.
Some garlic. Not much, mind. Unless you want.
Butter, or margarine. Whichever you like better. Again, don't need much.
Spinach, if you like it. Or not, if you don't.
Tomatoes, see above.
Horseradish sauce, see above.
Some bread and such. Put it in a pitta and pretend you're being posh and middle eastern if you want.

Recipe :

Bludgeon steaks for a bit. 95Db is the right volume you're looking for when you hit the bastards with a rolling pin. Stop when the whole steak feels nice and tender. Obviously.

Crush garlic with a big knife and peel it. Then cut it up, with about one of those small bits of garlic per steak that you're using, spread evenly over one side of the steak. Roll up like some kind of fleshy swiss roll and leave for a bit while you heat up some oil, cut up your bread, butter it and get salad ready for insertion, get sauces out etc.

To check if oil is hot enough, drop a crumb or two of bread in first - if it scoots about with bubbles and such, it's hot enough, so turn the temperature down a wee bit on your hob so that if any sprays out, it's not quite supernova in the face territory.

Now that your oil is hot enough, unfurl steak swiss roll thing. Then put it into your oil. If hot oil is going everywhere, there we go, it's a sad fact of frying things. Try not to let it burn your house down or anything, but it gets cold pretty quickly, so you oughtn't to get anything more than a third-degree burn, tops.

Leave steak in pan frying for a bit, flipping whenever you want, really. When it looks sort of ready to you, take out of pan and quickly stick in your sandwich, along with salad and sauces etc.

Serves :

As many as you like, the recipe is intended to not be too restrictive, and I hope it's easy enough to understand.

Best served with beer, on a warm day.

Chicken alfredo (makes either two regular servings or one big one, depending on how hungry you are):

Quick chicken alfredo.
1 jar or can of alfredo sauce
1 can cooked chicken

Pour sauce in pan. Drain water from chicken and add to sauce. Heat stirring from time to time.
Cook pasta according to directions. When done drain and put on plate or bowl. Pour sauce over and eat. :)

Quick chicken alfredo.
1 jar or can of alfredo sauce
1 can cooked chicken

Pour sauce in pan. Drain water from chicken and add to sauce. Heat stirring from time to time.
Cook pasta according to directions. When done drain and put on plate or bowl. Pour sauce over and eat. :)

Yeah, but mine's cheaper =]
See, the whole point of the thread is "cheap, easy college meals"


Although I have to admit, yours does have me on the "easy" part

I bet mine tastes better, though
=0

No meal plan, and we'll be living in a fully furnished apartment.

Snaf: God, I hope.
Oh...well then, I hate you.


um...lesse. I've found that it works nicely to cook with my roommates...one of us makes dinner for everyone. Saves from having the same thing forever. Any of these recipes can be modified for however many people you have.

steak tips:
get steak tips from grocery store. Marinate atleast over night. cut into pieces. cook.

steak tips are pretty cheap, taste good, and are insanely easy to cook.

hamburger:
ground beef
worcestershire sauce
montreal steak seasoning
salt
pepper

mix together to taste. cook.

Pasta is wonderfully easy, and can be made hundreds of ways.

get some premade pizza crusts. Again, cheap, easy, and can be made tons of ways.

chicken will become your best friend.
foodtv.com is your friend...tons of great recipes.

Yeah, but mine's cheaper =]
I bet mine tastes better, though
=0

Probably. Home made usually beats out store bought in the taste department.

Hmm, I just moved onto campus yesterday but we're required to have a meal plan. Mine is for 15 meals a week so I'm mostly just doing that with cereal in my apartment for breakfast (except for this week, since the meal plan started on Wednesday and I got here on Friday and the meals don't roll over week to week, so my parents want me to use as many as I can).

Boiled whole potatoes. Make sure you have at least 1 5 pound bags in the house so when you do run out of food, or when you absolutely don't want to cook, you don't have to starve. Cereal is also a good choice but there's a chance that you run out of milk/the milk rot. Instant noodle is pretty obvious but people do tend to get sick of those things after a while.

When it comes to meat, my guess is that if you know how to season your own mean and cook them from scratch, you won't be asking here. The biggest hassle isn't the cooking process, but the preparing process. So although pre-seasoned might not be the most healthy thing ever, but they do save a lot of time. And then of course there's the cleaning up, and although dishes can be pop into a dishwasher, cookwares still have to be washed. so you want to avoid using too many of those.

One of the easiest recipe is Italian sausages on a pan. No preparation necessary, just put them on a hot pan, add some beer, cover it. I am sure it's not hard to figure out. If you want to be really fancy you can add onions and green peppers. Put it in bread and you have a full meal. I use to have a good amount of those in the freezer just in case.

Burgers are also relatively quick. Burgers on a hot pan, flip, wait, put on bread.

If you do want to season your own meat, start out simple. Salt and Pepper is all you need. Learn to make that first before trying to go too fancy.

Certain canned food like salmon or tuna goes well with pasta. I like to use angel hair because they are quick. Just boil the pasta, drain, heat a pan for the canned food, and pop to pasta in at the end. Pretty simple stuff.

Chunky soup also go surprisingly well with angel hair, or instant rice.

Pizza rolls.