By Melissa Setterlund

Imagine this scenario: You finish your classes for the day and head over to the cafeteria to enjoy a falafel with local vegetables, Ana’s homemade papusas, or a mac n’ cheese dish with bread crumbs. You’re sure you can’t eat a single bite more so you head to your dorm room to study for your G Psych quiz, listen to music from the Baroque period for your Survey of Music class, or start your Great Books research paper. After hours of studying (maybe mixed with a little Netflix), you’re startled by the menacing growl of a grizzly bear before you realize it’s your stomach. The clock reads 10:58 PM and the cafeteria closes in two minutes. There’s no way you can make it and so you’re stuck in your room, ransacking boxes to find something to feed that hungry bear.

I’ve been there, and the only way I was able to make it through melodramatic nights like those was by having a creative outlook on the tools available to me. I’m here to give you five simple meals and snacks you can make in your room to satisfy the monster in your belly if you’re not able to make it to PUC’s Dining Commons.

First, I hope you have the following in your dorm room:

· Plates, bowls, cups and silverware
· Small microwave and refrigerator
· Hot Pot, Crock Pot or another slow-cooker or electric kettle

(Please be aware any objects with an open flame or an open grill are not allowed in the residence halls. This includes waffle irons and toasters.)

For a full list of recommended items to bring when you move to PUC, check out the “Your College Packing List” post!

Microwave Scrambled Eggs
You will need:
2-3 eggs
Tablespoon of milk
Salt and pepper to taste
Butter

Melt a tiny bit of butter in the bottom of a microwave-safe bowl to keep the eggs from sticking. Crack the eggs into the bowl, whisk with a fork until fluffy and add the tablespoon of milk. Add a little salt and pepper, though more can be added after the cooking is done. Place the bowl in the microwave for a minute and remove with a towel to keep from burning your hands. The eggs will still be runny and only partially formed, but mix it with a fork and cook them again in 30-second intervals until the eggs are formed the way you want. Voilà!

Baked Potato with Toppings
You will need:
1 potato
Toppings like Baco Bits, sour cream, butter, chives, chili, cottage cheese, salt and pepper

Wash the potato well and then stab holes with a fork to let it steam through. Microwave for five minutes, turn it over, and microwave for another three to five minutes. Check with a fork to see if the potato is soft enough to eat. Add your choice of toppings.

Brownie in a Mug
You will need:
¼ cup flour
¼ cup sugar
2 tbsp cocoa
Pinch of salt
¼ cup water
2 tbsp canola oil
1-2 drops vanilla extract
Scoop of ice cream

Mix flour, sugar, cocoa and salt in a microwave-safe mug. Stir with a fork or spoon to break up any clumps. Add oil, water and vanilla to the mixture and stir until smooth. Microwave for a minute and increase until it’s cooked through – it should still be a little moist. Let it cool and add a scoop of ice cream on top for a delicious dining experience!

Hot Pot Mac n’ Cheese
You will need:
Box of your choice mac n’ cheese
¼ cup butter
¼ cup milk

Fill a Hot Pot with water until it’s about half full and bring the water to a soft boil. Take out the cheese packet and add the pasta to the water. Set a timer for eight minutes while checking the water to make sure it doesn’t boil over. After eight minutes, pour out the extra water. Add the butter and milk and enjoy your pasta!

Hot Pot Ramen Noodles with Veggies
You will need:
Package of ramen noodles
Frozen peas, corn and carrot mix

Fill your Hot Pot with water until it’s about a third of the way full and bring the water to a boil. Add the noodles and frozen vegetables. The veggies will make the water stop boiling, but it will return to its normal boil so don’t turn up the temperature. Set a timer for three minutes and then enjoy your “healthy” noodles!