Right before I left for Spring Break, I met my friends for dinner at Hinman. It was my first time eating in a dining hall all year, and so I nearly fell over when the woman at the counter asked me to fork over $9 in cash for what would turn out to be a measly “meal” of salad and half a cup of lemon sherbet.
I was still pissed about being royally ripped off, but it got me thinking. With the foresight to bring some storage containers and a little ingenuity, I probably could have turned my trip to the dining hall into a mini-supermarket trip and really made use of that $9. Here’s how:
Monte Cristo madness
A monte cristo is a sinfully delicious and unhealthy sandwich that is basically a cross between a grilled ham and cheese sandwich and French toast. It’s simple to make and most of the ingredients can be stolen from the dining hall.
Plan of Attack
Steal:
- A few slices of ham and a few slices of cheese (preferably swiss or provolone) from the deli section (note: this will only work better in dining halls where the deli section is self-serve)
- 4 slices of bread from the bread bin
- A few butter packets
- A half cup of milk (you can approximate)
- Salt and pepper
Supply:
- 2 eggs
- A skillet
- Large bowl
Directions
- Assemble your ham and cheese sandwich and set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk about a half a cup of milk with 2 eggs, some salt, and some pepper.
- Dip your ham and cheese sandwich in the batter like you would French toast, then place your dipped sandwich in a medium-high heat skillet that has been coated with butter.
- Cook for about 3-4 minutes on each side or until both sides are golden brown and crispy. Voila!
Perfectly-Lunchable Pasta Salad
This pasta salad is a super easy to make, grab-and-go lunch and can easily last you a few meals. Take full advantage of the salad bar for this one.
Plan of Attack
Steal:
- About two platefuls of pasta from the hot foods area (anything but spaghetti will work)
- A half cup of cherry tomatoes
- A half cup of broccoli
- A half cup of artichoke hearts (if available)
- A half to a full cup of Italian salad dressing
Supply:
- 1 tsp. water
- A large bowl
Directions:
- Place your broccoli in a bowl with a tsp. of water and heat in the microwave for three minutes.
- Remove, drain and place in a large bowl with the pasta, tomatoes and artichoke hearts.
- Sprinkle your ingredients with salt and pepper and pour in your Italian dressing.
- Toss to combine and you’re good to go!
Say Yes to Sangria
Sangria is essentially Spain’s answer to wine punch. It can be found in many Spanish and Latin restaurants and is really simple and delicious to make. And there’s good news: your dining hall can really come in handy when making this delicious drink.
Plan of Attack
Steal:
- 1 apple
- 1 orange
- A few lemon slices from the tea area
- A large handful of sugar packets from the tea area
- Half cup each of orange juice and seltzer
Supply:
- 1 large bottle of red wine
Directions:
- First, slice your orange into approximately quarter-inch slices.
- Core your apple and cut it into cubes.
- Place the apples, oranges and lemon wedges in a large pitcher and top with an entire bottle of red wine, the seltzer and the orange juice.
- Stir in about five packets of sugar and taste. Add more sugar if desired. Drink up and enjoy!