For many students, this year is the first time they’re cooking on their own. Here are some simple ways to spruce up an easy meal in your dorm room.

Baked macaroni and cheese

Ingredients

One 16 ounce package of elbow macaroni noodles
10 ounces of shredded cheddar cheese
Two tablespoons of flour
Two cups of milk
One stick of butter
Salt
A strainer
A pot
An oven-friendly container to bake in

Directions

1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees and boil your noodles in salted water.
2. When the noodles are finished, place them in an oven-friendly container and wait to pour the cheese sauce on top of it.
3. In a large pot, melt one stick of butter completely. After it is melted, add in two tablespoons of flour and continuously stir. While still stirring, add in two cups of milk and slowly begin to add in the shredded cheese. Remember to keep stirring through all of this.
4. When cheese sauce is smooth, pour over the noodles and place in the oven. Keep it cooking until the cheese has turned a light brown.

Nutella banana bread in a mug

Ingredients

A mug
Three tablespoons of flour
One tablespoon and one teaspoon of sugar
1/8 teaspoon of salt, baking powder and baking soda
One egg
1/4 teaspoon of vanilla extract
One tablespoon of milk
One ripe banana, mashed
However much Nutella you want

Directions

1. In the mug, mix all the dry ingredients together.
2. Crack in the egg, and pour in the mashed banana.
3. Mix in the rest of the wet ingredients.
4. Add in however much nutella you want (obviously, the more the better, but be reasonable).
5. Mix all of the ingredients together in the mug until there are no lumps left.
6. Place in microwave for three minutes.

[box]Culture Shock podcast: Dorm room delicacies and recipes, and Chicago’s version of the sushirito[/box]

Yogurt parfait

Ingredients

Any sort of container that will store your parfait and you wouldn’t mind eating out of
Fruit of your choice (strawberries, raspberries and blueberries work well)
Vanilla yogurt
Granola

Directions

1. Stir up your yogurt so it’s smooth and consistent.
2. Cut up whatever fruit you choose to use.
3. Take your container (to be extra Instagram-friendly it’s best to use a mason jar) and fill the bottom portion of it with yogurt.
4. Add a layer of fruit, then a layer of granola. Repeat the process until you’ve reached the top of your container.