Ratatouille Pasta

I know, I've been neglecting you.
Unfortunately, finals have hijacked whatever time I have, so the majority of my week has been spent studying, crying, daydreaming about winter break, and studying some more. It's a cycle.
Obviously, I've been eating during study breaks. And I find that this is the time of year where students grab whatever's quick without thinking about how it affects their bodies. And then they get the dreaded exam week plague that always hops around on campuses.
Fortunately, that's where this recipe comes in handy. Loaded with fresh veggies so you won't feel bad about spending the majority of your week sitting in one spot, carbs to give you energy, and garlic and onions to fight against viruses. It's the perfect exam week feast.

Ratatouille is traditionally cooked on a stove-top, but I find baking it cuts the time in half. 

To make this pasta, grab these ingredients:

1 eggplant
2 zucchini squash
1 yellow squash
1 red onion
2 cloves garlic
olive oil
1 48 oz can diced tomatoes
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary
salt
pepper
box of spaghetti noodles

Start by preheating your oven to 350 degrees F.

Chop your eggplant up into cubes. Sprinkle with salt and set aside.

Cube your zucchini and yellow squash and place in a 9x13 baking dish. Slice your onion in half, then into long slivers. Add to the dish. Mince your garlic and add to the dish. Pour the can of diced tomatoes over the mixture.

Rinse the salt off of your eggplant and add it to the dish. Sprinkle with oregano, rosemary, salt, pepper, and a dash of olive oil. Mix well.

Place your dish in the oven for 30 minutes, then stir it once. Put it back in for another 30 minutes.

While your veggies are cooking, prepare your pasta. When the timer goes off, grab a handful of the pasta and place it in a bowl. Top with a generous heap of ratatouille.

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TK WU

Yesterday, I was seriously craving some Chinese food. And not the gross kind, where the eggdrop soup is salty enough to kill you and the rice is dryer than cardboard.
I wanted good Chinese food.

Throwing caution to the wind, I decided to try out TK WU, a small Chinese joint that I've passed more times than I can count, but, for some reason, never ventured inside. Fortunately, Mallory was in the mood for some Chinese too, so she accompanied me on my quest.

The atmosphere inside was cozy and quaint, and the walls were adorned with the typical cultural artifacts that can be found in most Asian-themed restaurants. Since decor is no indication of food quality, there was no better litmus test than ordering our favorite dishes and trying them.

We each started off with a cup of soup. I grabbed my favorite, wonton.

And Mallory opted for sweet and sour soup.

Now, I can't speak for Mallory, but my wonton was delicious. I'm all too accustomed to ordering wonton soup from various takeout restaurants, only to be disappointed by a watered-down bowl with limp noodles that have cooked in the same broth for hours. The noodles in this soup still had their shape, meaning it was very freshly made, and the broth was spicy and delicious.

For the main course, Mallory and I decided to split an order of chicken lo mein. Good thing we did, because we were served Mount Everest of noodles.

Can you believe this enormous bowl was only $8.95?

The food came exceptionally quickly, which was fortunate since we only had an hour to scarf down our food. And it was absolutely delicious! Crispy chicken, well-seasoned noodles that weren't too oily, and, above all, fresh.

I think we liked it, don't you?

Of course, before we made our exit, we had to check out our fortunes...

I think I've found my new spot for Chinese takeout!

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Frita Batidos

After much poking and prodding from my friends (and a healthy dose of curiosity from myself), I finally caved in and went to review Frita Batidos.
Nestled on Washington right past Main St., this casual Cuban restaurant is a bit of a walk for students, but incredibly worth it. After all, when a Top Chef runs a restaurant of affordable burgers, fries, shakes and snacks, you've just gotta give it a chance!
Speaking of affordability, Frita's cuisine and atmosphere mimic that of an outdoor market or food cart. Between the low-priced handhelds and bleached picnic tables, eating here makes you feel like you're basking on the beach in the Cuban sun. I can imagine myself coming here often to escape the harsh Michigan winter.

I met Matt for a late lunch on Saturday afternoon. Since it was game day, Matt was reppin his U of M pride.

 
After a few confusing moments of reading the menu (here's a hint: Fritas are the cuban-style burgers topped with fries on a brioche bun, and Batidos are creamy tropical milkshake/smoothies), we settled on two Fritas.

I ordered a fish frita topped with cilantro-lime salsa.

Matt ordered a yummy passion fruit batido...

..and an enormous chicken frita topped with muenster cheese and cilantro-lime salsa.

Since I didn't order a batido, I had to grab something sweet for dessert...
My choice? Churros with chocolate español.

I mistakenly ordered a full order of churros (3), thinking that each one would be pencil-thin and 5-6 inches long. In reality, these monsters are each about the size and width of my forearm.

For those of you who are wondering, the chocolate español is a thick cup of cinnamon-infused hot chocolate.

And yes, the objective with this dish is to dip your churros into the chocolate.

I don't recommend drinking the chocolate plain, but it makes a decadent dipping sauce for your churros! Given the sheer size of this dessert, I recommend coming here with a friend for a sweet afternoon snack.

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The Economics of Good Coffee

Some of you may be a bit confused by the title of this post. What are the "economics" of good coffee? Why not the "art" of good coffee?

Well, for one, I'm not a professionally trained barista with enough knowledge to tell you the art of good coffee, so I'm not going to pretend to do so and give you incorrect information (that would just be mean). And two, I am a business student, so I know a bit about math and money, which is what I'm going to focus on here.

Drinking coffee is a habit that numerous people all over the world have developed. While it's more prevalent in some nations than others, it's fairly safe to say that the whole world has a bit of a love affair with the tiny bitter beans.

I myself have a huge coffee addiction, which you probably figured out since my name is The Coffee Breaker!
My addiction is less about the caffeine, however, and more about the feeling that I get from drinking a huge mug of smooth and delicious coffee. Whenever I'm settling down to get some work done, starting a new novel or relaxing with friends, nothing fits better than a cup of coffee. What can I say, it's my comfort food!

If you suffer from a coffee addiction like me, caffeine or comfort-food induced, you may just grab one of these every day.

But that gets expensive after awhile. Which is why most people I know have taken to purchasing their own coffee and roasting it at home. Unfortunately, to save money, many people have settled for buying less-than-excellent canned coffees over fresh-roasted beans from their local cafe. And while the canned brands may give you more coffee grounds for your $$, you end up using twice as much coffee to get the same amount of flavor from fresh beans.

For example, let's take a bag of Starbucks Coffee.

You can get this 1 lb bag of beans for $11.95

1 lb / 2 tablespoons per 6 oz of Starbucks blend = 16 cups of delicious coffee

Now I'm going to pick on Maxwell House brand, because I've had some thoroughly horrifying experiences with this coffee. In my opinion, it produces a thoroughly stale and unnatural cup of java.

You can grab this 31.5 oz can of Maxwell House coffee (1.97 lbs) for $11.84 and think that you just got a great bargain. After all, you just got twice as much coffee as the Starbucks blend for the same price, right?Unfortunately, with canned coffees, you often have to use twice as much of the grounds to produce the same flavor as freshly ground beans.

So, 1.97 lbs / 4 tablespoons of Maxwell House = 15.76 cups of "somewhat okay" coffee.
Therefore, buying the fresher beans gives you better coffee and more of it when you get down to the math. 

Okay, sorry about that little economical rant I just did. I promise, I'll control myself better for the rest of this post.
Anyways, besides purchasing your own beans and roasting them at home, there's numerous other ways to make your own little cafe in your kitchen. One option is grinding your own beans.

Freshly ground coffee provides a lot more flavor. If you want a simple grinder, go for this Krups model.

Reliable and economical (around $20 at your local Bed Bath and Beyond, or available here).

If your find yourself purchasing a lot of lattes and cappuccinos, pick yourself up a simple milk frother. I got this model from Sur La Table for $12.

If you want to make truly professional cappuccinos and lattes, this Nespresso frother really can't be beat.

This frother (and a steady hand) allows your to make cappuccinos like this:

You can order one online here.

And if you really want to make your own Starbucks-style caramel macchiatos, cinnamon dolce lattes, etc., spring for a few bottles of Torani flavored syrup.

Play with flavor combinations to make your own specialty coffees. I like sprinkling a dash of the caramel syrup into my black coffee every now and then. It's my own lighter version of a caramel latte. The full six-pack is available here.

Like I said, the love affair between coffee and us humans isn't going to end anytime soon. So if you want to feed your addiction without dropping hundreds of dollars on frappuccinos and lattes every week, invest in some simple home goods to build up your very own mini-cafe.

Enjoy!
xx

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A College Kitchen

As August rips through what's left of this measly little summer, parents and students alike are scouring through Staples, Miejer, and Forever 21 to gather up everything they need for the back-to-school season.

One of my friends who happens to be heading off for his first year of college tweeted me this the other day:

Not allowed to bring a coffeemaker to school so taking a tea kettle and aeropress. Thoughts/comments/recommendations?!

(Let me get past my incredulity over the fact that this friend happens to be going to an IVY LEAGUE school, and they're not allowing coffee makers... How is he going to live?!)
This tweet brought up an important topic that I thought I should cover: what type of cooking/kitchen equipment students should bring with them to college? 
Whether you're heading to your first apartment or dorming it up for a year, many students don't have experience cooking and are confused about what to bring for their first year. As a junior whose gone through the dorm stage and apartment stage, here's my (mostly) $25 or less shopping list for new student cooks on a budget.
First, the dorm essentials:

If your college housing department is cool with students bringing coffee makers to school, I recommend this one by Cuisinart. It's worked wonders, has a timer, and makes some great coffee. This model was around $50, but smaller 4-cup versions can be purchased for less. Don't forget to check out Home Goods, TJ Maxx, Sam's Club, and Costco for excellent deals on appliances like these. You can also order it here

If you're not allowed a full-on coffee maker, or if you like your cup of joe a little stronger than most, I recommend this electric Moka pot. Just fill the inside with water, add a scoop of coffee to the screen, and press the on switch for rich and decadent espresso. You can dilute it with more hot water to give you a nice strong cup of coffee without the hassle of a big maker. This model is on Amazon for around $50 here , but cheaper on Ebay.

For tea fans, or people who only drink coffee occasionally, go to the grocery store and grab a sunbeam water boiler for around $18-$20, or order one here. These things boil up hot water in a flash for cups of tea, instant coffee, or, my personal favorite usage, to add water to your cup of instant Ramen noodles. These are an excellent investment for students living in cramped spaces, because a lot of college food (instant oatmeal, cups of noodles, easy mac, etc.) just require some hot water and a spoon to make a quick meal. Trust me, when it's 8 am and you have 10 minutes to get to class, grabbing a cup of oatmeal is much easier than hiking down to the dining hall.

If you're moving into an apartment and you're on a budget:

If you're a first-time cook and need a do-all cook-all cheap option, go with a cast iron skillet. These things are more durable than you could imagine, work on the top of a stove or in the oven, and actually get better as they load up with grease and seasonings. Perfect for frying up some chicken, vegetable stir-frys, and eggs. The best part about cast-iron skillet? It's CHEAP. You can grab one by Lodge for just $10 online here. Just be careful not to wash it with soap and water! Excellent cleaning instructions can be found here.

Once you've got your pan, you'll need something to move the food with as you cook. Invest in a nice pair of tongs as your all-purpose flipping, stirring, tossing and grabbing utensil. I recommend grabbing one like this that comes with the no-heat rubber grips on the sides so you don't accidentally burn your hands. Find one for cheap here.

Despite how much I love tongs, there are a few small things that they can't do, one of which is flip an egg over easy. For that, you'll need a more traditional spatula, like these. This batch of colorful spatulas can be picked up at Target for $18.59 (you can also buy them separately if you don't want all four). Find an even cheaper version online here.

If you're going to be cooking, you're going to be chopping, so invest in one or two nice knives. I got by my first year in an apartment with these two paring knives by Rada. For just $5-$6 each, these knives are durable and reliant, meaning they actually cut well, unlike most bargain knives you pick up at Meijer or Kroger. You can order a few off of Amazon here.

Additionally, you'll want a small baking sheet for toasting pizza rolls, baking cookies and making Crispy Sweet Potato Fries. Fine one here.

Another essential item for the new college cook is a small saucepan for soups, boiling frozen vegetables, and heating up jars of pasta sauce (trust me, you'll be eating a lot of pasta). This little Cuisinart pot is fantastic, and comes with a lifetime guarantee, so you'll never have to worry about it breaking down on you. The company sells it for a slightly higher prices, but websites like Zappos and Amazon price it at $20 here. You can also find these at Home Goods and TJ Maxx for a bargain if you don't want to pay the shipping fees.

My last essential that I'll recommend is this set of Pyrex bowls and lids. I've used these as mixing bowls for cookie dough and as a storage place for leftovers. By far my favorite use for these, however, is pre-making meals for the week. Every Sunday, I'll go to the grocery store and grab ingredients to make a humongous salad and dressing. I'll pile the whole salad into the 4 qt bowl and stick it in the fridge, so that every morning I can scoop out some salad, put it in one of the smaller bowls, and take it on campus with me for lunch. It certainly makes your morning routine a lot less stressful! You can buy this pack at Target for just $20, or order it online here.

For the more adventurous shopper, I'll give you my list of non-essentials that are certainly worth the extra investment if you really want to get into cooking:

A toaster, while not essential to life, is certainly a nice thing to have in the morning. Most are pretty cheap, around $12-$20 at Target, Meijer, or Bed Bath and Beyond. If stores are getting cleared out, there's plenty to order online, like this one.

A small muffin tin is certainly helpful for several reasons: 1. I would always use mine to make banana bread muffins out of the leftover browning bananas I bought for the week but never ate.

Trust me, these come in handy as great snacks and are a great way to get some use out of your old bananas. My 2nd reason for getting this muffin tin speaks for itself:

Just bake some eggs in a muffin tin on a Sunday night, then pop one, two or three in the microwave every morning for a quick and filling breakfast. Grab one for cheap here.

A small George Foreman grill is also an excellent investment for the budding college cook. Hamburgers, turkey burgers, grilled chicken, paninis...the possibilities with this thing are endless and delicious. Super easy to use, and only $17.99 at Target or $18.99 online here.

Lastly, for the people who pack their schedules to the brim and barely have time to cook, I recommend buying a small Crock Pot. Just pop your food in before you leave for class, let it simmer for 4-8 hours, and when you come back from your exam starving and exhausted, a delicious meal will be waiting for you. This model and the one that I have are available at Target for just $16 (so long as the sale lasts!) and are well-worth the investment. If the sale runs out, you can find one online for cheap here.

Well, there you have it. That's my short and simple list of cookware for new college students that got me through two years of college and counting. If you have any suggestions to add to my list, leave them in the comment section below!

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