Popcorn
For a traditional snack without the unhealthy ingredients of packaged microwavable popcorn, buy plain popcorn kernels to pop with an air popper or on the stove. If popping using a stove, simply add a fourth cup of popcorn kernels and two tablespoons of oil or butter to a pot. Cover with a lid and keep at a medium heat until the kernels begin to pop. Once your popcorn is ready, add flavor with your choice of seasoning or mix in chocolate, candy or any sweets.

Crunchy Homemade Trail Mix
Go back to the basics with a quick and easy trail mix fix-up snack by combining your favorite ingredients. Things to include are nuts, seeds, dried fruit, grains like cereal or pretzels, sweets like M&Ms and chocolate or yogurt chips for a kick, and any spices like cinnamon for extra flavor.

Yogurt Popsicles
Add one cup of fruit and ¼ cup of sugar into a food processor. In a bowl, mix a cup of yogurt, ¼ cup of milk and ¾ cups of granola. Then add the fruit blend. Once mixed, pour into popsicle molds. Insert popsicle sticks into each mold and place in freezer for about six hours. Once frozen, you have a refreshing and delicious treat to help keep you energized and awake.

By: Emily Dabau | Image: Source, Source 2

As students, we don't always have a lot of time to cook, nor do we usually have chef-worthy kitchens. Luckily, we can always put together a sandwich or two without lots of fancy equipment. Although these sandwiches may take a little more time and effort than your typical ham and cheese, they are definitely worth it:

Bacon Guacamole Grilled Cheese Sandwich


Nothing says gooey-cheesy goodness with a side of guac better. Recipe here.

Avocado BLT with Fried Egg And Chipotle Mayo

College is full of busy days with a mix of deadlines, meetings and responsibilities. It's easy to let breakfast become something that you only make when you have time, which usually ends up being pushed off and never happens because you're too busy running out the door to make it to class on time.

Don't leave breakfast on the back-burner; it can be easier than you think with these quick and easy recipes that don't require a microwave or stove, so they can be made right in your dorm room with just a few ingredients.

1. Oatmeal
If you’re looking to step up traditional instant oatmeal, try overnight oats, which are even easier because they don’t require any microwaving. Just add water or milk to rolled oats and store it in a glass jar or container for a few hours or overnight. In the morning, all you have to do is add the toppings – anything from nuts to dried or fresh fruit, and your breakfast is ready.

2. Smoothie
Making a smoothie can be made easier than you think with a single-serve blender, which is portable for your convenience. Add frozen fruit, veggies and yogurt or protein powder to some water or milk for a quick and delicious drink to take with you as you head on your way.




3. Yogurt parfait
It may sound fancy, but making a yogurt parfait is a simple and tasty breakfast that won't make you feel guilty because of its healthy ingredients. Pair up your favorite plain or flavored yogurt with dried or fresh fruit, nuts and granola. For an extra sweet touch, drizzle a little honey over the top.

4. Toast with peanut butter and bananas
To fix up a breakfast that only requires a few basic ingredients, fix up some toast. To make a sophisticated version of the toast you ate as a child, cover a slice of your preferred bread with peanut butter and then add slices of banana to top it off. This sweet treat is the right way to kick off your busy day. 

5. Avocado and egg toast
For a breakfast packed with nutrients, eating hard-boiled eggs and avocado as your first meal can help you start your day off right. Spice up a regular piece of toast with slices of hard-boiled eggs and avocado. For additional convenience, buy ready-to-eat hard-boiled eggs or have them peeled and ready to slice onto your toast. For extra taste, add a light drizzle of olive oil and some salt and pepper for a wholesome meal.

By: Emily Dabau | Image: Source, Source 2

Embrace the fall season with a little help from your pantry. With these essential spices, you’ll have all the ingredients you need for a quick and savory bite. Whether you’re looking forward to a cozy night in or rushing in between classes, there are plenty of ways to bring fall into your pallet. You’d be surprised how a pinch of fall spices can transform everything from your morning coffee to your snack on the go to your chicken dinner. Disclaimer: With all the enticing aromas protruding from your kitchen, don’t be surprised if your roommates want a little taste.

Spice up your pantry with these fall ingredients:

1. Sage
2. Pumpkin pie spice
3. All spice
4. Cinnamon sticks
5. Ground cinnamon
6. Ground Mustard 
7. Nutmeg
8. Turmeric
9. Tarragon
10. Cumin

Ingredients:

1 bag of plain granola

-1 cup dried cranberries

-1 cup sliced almonds

-1 tbs. of cinnamon

-1 tbs. of nutmeg

-1/4 cup of brown sugar

-3/4 tsp. of salt

-1/4 cup of vegetable oil

-1 cup of dark chocolate chips


Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.

2. In a large bowl, mix the granola, almonds, cinnamon, nutmeg, brown sugar, oil and salt.

3. Pour onto sheet pan. Place pan in the oven and let cook for 35-40 minutes.

4. Remove from oven and place into large bowl. Let it cool.

5. Add and mix cranberries and dark chocolate chips.


Afternoon or midnight snack while studying:

Sage and Butter Popcorn

Dining on a budget need not be dull. Some of the world’s classic dishes depend on basic, inexpensive ingredients. Many food favorites originated in the peasant and working class cuisines of the world. The key to great food on a budget is flavor, intelligent ingredient combinations and imaginative ways of putting dishes together.

Mediterranean

Mediterranean cuisine is justly famous for its great flavors. Pasta is a prime example of a basic, staple foodstuff transformed by flavorsome – and wholesome – sauces. The chief ingredients of pesto, namely basil and pine nuts, would have been collected for free from the garden and woodlands. Pasta with pesto and a side salad remains a classic budget dish. Growing your own basil is easy and fresh pesto is cheap to make at home. Cashew nuts may be a cheaper alternative to pine nuts; spinach (or swiss chard) is also easy to grow and can be substituted for basil. Pesto freezes well, so you can enjoy a regular fresh supply. Check out the Instawares Food Blog to read about the latest dishes and recipes you can make at home. They also cover the restaurant and kitchen industry.

Pasta Puttanesca

Pasta puttanesca is another economical Italian dish that relies on simple ingredients and inspired flavour combinations for its deliciousness. The sauce is made from tomato, olives, garlic and onion, with anchovies and chillis providing piquancy. It is a very versatile sauce and a variety of other ingredients, such as chopped spinach and mushrooms, can be added to add both flavour and bulk. Only a tablespoon or so of sauce per portion, plus a sprinkling of parmesan, turns a bowl of pasta into a taste treat.

Gnocchi

Also from Italian cooking, gnocchi are an imaginative way to transform potatoes into a culinary feast. No more than little dumplings of potato and ricotta, they are proof that simple ingredients can be turned into taste sensations. Spinach added to the mix gives them a bit of extra zing, and sprinkled with cheese they are a light meal in themselves, or a filling and yummy side dish.

Humble Onion

The humble onion is the budget cook’s best friend. Added liberally to stew and casseroles, it increases quantity and enhances flavor without being overpowering (sweeter and milder varieties are an option for some palates). Onion cooked slowly in butter so that it caramelizes is sweet and tangy. Cheese and onion is another classic flavor combination. Cheese and onion pie (no more than cheese, onions and potato in pastry) is a dish that is simple yet timeless.

Pastry

There is something about pastry that turns plain ingredients into something more. Home-made pastry is astonishingly cheap, and easy once you’ve got the hang of it. Quiches can be filled with a huge variety of fillings and are great for using up leftovers. Cauliflower and broccoli, mixed with 2 beaten eggs and ⅓ to ½ a cup of milk is a good basic filling, to which other ingredients – artichokes, cheese, tomato, mushroom and bacon – can be added to make another classic meal, that can be served hot or cold. With a little bit of imagination and clever ingredient choice, they can be also be made into something quite exotic.

Vegetarian Ingredients

Many budget dishes are economical because they rely on vegetarian ingredients. Substituting vegetables in classic cuisine dishes is one way to eat well while spending less. Mushroom stroganoff can be as good as beef stroganoff, for example. There are many economical meat dishes to experiment with. The traditional cuts of meat with vegetables are always more expensive. Think of meat as a flavour-enhancer, rather than the centerpiece of a meal. Dishes like moussaka or shepherd’s pie use perhaps half as much meat per portion as conventional cooking, such as chops with vegetables. Yet they can be just as flavorful and filling, and even more so. To shop for kitchen supplies visit Instawares.com where you can choose from a wide selection of the latest in dinnerware, flatware, and much more.

Eating classic budget dishes a couple of times a week, preferably making them yourself from scratch, can save you a great deal, without being boring. Many of these dishes are also healthy and few will take up much of your precious time. Experimenting with world cuisine is great fun and allows us take advantage of generations of cooking wisdom and wonder that doesn’t come from the kitchens of kings.

This post was sponsored.

If you think you’ve eaten just about every seasonal treat, think again. A delicious dessert, perfect for cool days, is apple cider doughnuts. These cake-like doughnuts topped with a cinnamon-sugar glaze are a heavenly combination. Baking homemade doughnuts for any event is a creative and original idea; they’ll also be sure to be a crowd-pleaser. Pay close attention to the directions because there are a lot of steps involved in the baking process. Don’t worry -- once their scent fills the kitchen, you’ll be thanking yourself for the hard work.

Ingredients:

• 2 red apples
• 2 1/2 cups apple cider
• 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
• 4 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 3 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
• 1 2/3 cups granulated sugar
• 3 tablespoons vegetable shortening
• 1 large egg plus 1 egg yolk
• 1/4 cup buttermilk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup confectioners sugar
• Vegetable oil, for frying

Directions:

1. Core and coarsely chop the apples (do not peel). Combine with 1 1/2 cups cider in a medium saucepan over medium heat; cover and cook until softened, about 8 minutes. Uncover and continue cooking until the apples are tender and the cider is almost completely reduced, about 5 minutes. Puree with an immersion blender or in a food processor until smooth. Measure the sauce; you should have 1 cup. (Boil to reduce further, if necessary.) Let cool slightly.

2. Whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon, salt and nutmeg in a medium bowl.

3. Beat 2/3 cup granulated sugar and the shortening in another bowl with a mixer on medium speed until sandy. Beat in the egg and yolk, then gradually mix in the applesauce, scraping the bowl. Beat in half of the flour mixture, then the buttermilk and vanilla, and then the remaining flour mixture. Mix to make a sticky dough; do not over mix.

4. Scrape the dough onto a lightly floured sheet of parchment paper and pat into a 7-by-11-inch rectangle, about 1/2 inch thick. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight.

5. Meanwhile, make the glaze: Simmer the remaining 1 cup cider in a small saucepan over medium heat until reduced to 1/4 cup. Whisk in the confectioners’ sugar until smooth and glossy, then set aside. Mix the remaining 1 cup granulated sugar and 2 teaspoons cinnamon in a shallow bowl; set aside for the topping.

6. Heat 2 inches of vegetable oil in a large heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat until a deep-fry thermometer registers 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with paper towels. Cut the chilled dough into 12 rounds, using a floured 2 1/2- or 3-inch biscuit cutter, then cut out the middles with a 1-inch cutter (or use a doughnut cutter). Slip 2 or 3 doughnuts at a time into the hot oil and fry until golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes per side, adjusting the heat as needed. Transfer to the paper towels to drain.

7. Dip one side of each doughnut in the cider glaze, letting the excess drip off; dip just the glazed side in the cinnamon-sugar or roll all over in cinnamon-sugar, if desired.

Be sure to serve these delightful, sugary doughnuts warm. Your friends will be begging you for more.

By: Chrissy Tansey | Images: 1, 2 | Source

If you think you’ve eaten just about every seasonal treat that autumn has to offer, think again. One of the most delicious desserts that is perfect for fall time is apple cider doughnuts. These cake-like doughnuts topped with a cinnamon-sugar glaze is a heavenly combination. Baking homemade doughnuts for any event is a creative and original idea; they’ll also be sure to be a crowd pleaser. Pay close attention to the directions because there are a lot of steps involved in the baking process. Don’t worry — once their scent comes wafting off the stovetop, you’ll be thanking yourself.

Ingredients:

• 2 red apples
• 2 1/2 cups apple cider
• 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
• 4 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 3 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
• 1 2/3 cups granulated sugar
• 3 tablespoons vegetable shortening
• 1 large egg, plus 1 egg yolk
• 1/4 cup buttermilk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup confectioners' sugar
• Vegetable oil for frying

Coffee fanatics, rejoice! Now that hot summer temperatures are dwindling and fall is upon us, coffee shops everywhere are bringing back the much-loved pumpkin spice flavor. Although this seasonal treat may be hard to pass up on the way to class, long lines and high prices may stop you from indulging. Skip the lines and save cash by creating your own pumpkin spice latte. You may have to invest in a couple ingredients, but trust me—it will be worth it! After all, pumpkin spice lattes are only available in coffee houses for a limited time, so why not learn to make them for whenever your taste buds desire a cup?

Ingredients (recipe makes one for you and one for a friend)

• 2 cups milk
• 2 tablespoons canned pumpkin
• 1 to 2 tablespoons sugar (to taste)
• ½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice (If you don’t have this, combine 1 tablespoon of ground cinnamon, 2 teaspoons of ground ginger and 1/2 teaspoon of ground nutmeg.)
• 1 tablespoon vanilla
• ½ cup hot brewed coffee

Garnish (optional)

• Whipped cream
• Dash of pumpkin pie spice
• 2 cinnamon sticks

1. In 2-quart saucepan, heat milk, pumpkin and sugar over medium heat until hot (do not boil). Remove from heat. Stir in 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice, the vanilla and coffee.

2. Pour into 2 large mugs. Garnish each with whipped cream, dash of pumpkin pie spice and a cinnamon stick.

For an iced version, allow the drink to cool and serve over ice. Curl up with your homemade pumpkin spice latte and enjoy!

By: Chrissy Tansey | Image: Source | Recipe: Source

Sometimes mealtime can become a tad bit redundant, especially when working on a budget. Here are the best Pinterest picks for buffalo chicken-inspired recipes that are packed with flavor and spice.

• 1 box Penne pasta (16 oz.), cooked and drained
• 3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts; cubed and cooked
• 1/2-1 cup Frank’s Hot Sauce
• 3/4 -1 cup ranch dressing
• 1-2 cup Shredded cheese (Colby Jack or Cheddar)

In society, women are constantly being judged for what they wear, how they look and what they eat. As women, we try to do everything we can to make sure that we look our best, from working out to buying the right clothes. But exercising does not help you if you do not eat the right foods, too.

Most people should not eat a large meal before they exercise. If you do, you will most likely feel uneasy during your workout and want to quit. Eating a small meal or snack before exercising will help keep blood sugars at the right levels to make sure that you make it through your workout.

Good options before an exercise are bananas, a whole grain bagel with peanut butter and/or yogurt. Eating a small snack before you exercise is especially important if you have not had a meal within the past two hours.

Just as important as eating before exercise is stating hydrated. It is necessary for you to not only drink during your workout but also before. It has been said that you should drink at least three cups of water within the two hours before you workout. Stay hydrated by continuing to drink throughout your workout.

After you workout, your body will have worn itself out a bit. It is important to eat something small immediately after you exercise to help your body recover. An apple or other piece of fruit, string cheese, yogurt, peanut butter sandwich and/or nuts are great examples of food to eat after you exercise.

It is important to treat your body properly. That does not mean to over exercise yourself to fit into a specific size. It means exercising to keep your body in good shape but also eating to fuel that body. Eating properly and exercising will help make your body feel good.

By: Julia Morgan | Image: Source

As the temperatures rise, our drinks should cool off. This spring we have three great recipes for all of our tea drinkers. These will make you never want to drink tea regularly again.

Lemonade Tea Punch

What you will need:

• 4 cups water
• 3 inches fresh ginger, thinly sliced
• ¼ cup loose-leaf darjeeling tea or other loose-leaf black tea
• ½ of a 12-ounce can (¾ cup) frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed
• 1/3 cup honey
• Ice cubes or crushed ice
• Lemon slices or thin lemon wedges
• Vodka, gin or bourbon (optional)

Bring the water and ginger to a boil in a medium saucepan. Remove from heat and add the tea. Let stand for 10 minutes, covered. Pour the mixture through a fine strainer, collecting the ginger and tea leaves separately.

Put the tea into a pitcher. Stir in the lemonade then the honey. Cool for 30 minutes then put in the refrigerator and chill for at least four minutes. Stir the mixture before serving.

(If adding liquor, only pour in one-tablespoon per serving.)

Green Tea Soda

What you will need:

• 8 bags green, gingko or ginseng tea
• ½ cup honey
• 4 cups boiling water
• 1 cup orange or tangerine juice
• ½ cup lemon or lime juice
• 4 cups assorted fresh fruit, such as lemon slices, orange slices, white or regular nectarine wedges, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries and/or pitted dark sweet cherries
• ½ one-liter bottle of plain or flavored sparkling water, such as raspberry, strawberry or peace, chilled (2 cups)

In a heat-proof medium glass bowl, add tea bags and honey to boiling water. Stir in honey until completely dissolved. Steep for 10 minutes covered at room temperature. Remove tea bags and let it cool to room temperature.

Add the orange and lemon juices to the pitcher of tea. Cover and chill for 24 hours. To serve, add the fruit and sparkling water. This should be 8-10 servings worth.

Florida Iced Tea

What you will need:

• 4 tea bags
• 2 cups boiling water
• 3 Florida oranges
• 2 medium lemons
• 2 cups Florida orange juice
• ¼ cup lemon juice
• 3 tablespoons Florida honey
• 1 liter ginger ale, chilled
• Add 1 ½ oz of vodka per serving for adult beverages

Cook the tea bags in boiling water in a pan. Steep for seven minutes then toss the tea bags. Pour the tea into a pitcher. After peeling and sectioning two oranges and one lemon, add them to the tea. Stir in the orange and lemon juices and honey. Refrigerate over night.

Cut one orange and lemon into slices then freeze. Discard the fruit from the tea. Add the ginger ale. Serve with frozen fruit.

These three drinks are sure to make you never drink tea plain again. Enjoy!

By: Julia Morgan | Image: Source