I love chipotles. They might not be everyone’s thing — they are spicier than your average jalapeno and have a heavy smoky flavor that some people just don’t enjoy. But I love them. Chipotles are just jalapenos that have ripened from green to red, and have been smoked over a fire. Chipotle is very rich in vitamins A and C, as well as thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, iron, magnesium, and potassium. What’s not to love about that?

As well, chipotle may help prevent blood clots, which can enhance protection from heart attack, strokes and other cardiovascular ailments. It may help prevent certain cancers and can possibly lower the risk of type-2 diabetes. Chipotle — as well as other spicy foods — helps clear congestion in the respiratory tract, which makes it a useful and yummy treat for cold season.

To be honest, that’s why I picked this recipe! Cold season is descending upon us like a black cloud and pretty soon, my mother will be marching me into a drug store nearby to get a flu shot (where, undoubtedly, the pharmacist will ask if I’m over 14 — just like he does every year). If you already have a cold, this is the perfect opportunity to get lots of vitamins in your diet…and to clear your sinuses. If you are still resisting those cold germs, this salad will still give you an extra dose of vitamins. Read More »

[Got something awesome everyone needs to know about? A really rad singer? A wicked new book? A beer pong table with YOUR FACE ON IT?! Email your “The Know” ideas to Jill@collegecandy.com or tweet me and I’ll pass them along to everyone right here, every week. Make your kindergarten teacher proud and share!]

Despite what some freaks people think, there are SO many great things about Halloween:

1. Candy corn.
2. Free candy (I don’t think there is a such thing as “too old to go trick-or-treating,” OK, mom?)
3. Pumpkin flavored EVERYTHING.
4. A legitimate excuse to dress like a whore. Yeah I said it. It’s the one night a year you can walk around exposing your Britney and no one gives you a second glance.
5. A hangover that lasts for days. Okay, so maybe that part isn’t so great, but earning that hangover is always majorly great.

And now there is one more thing to add to that “reasons to love Halloween” list.

Of the many things we college students love, the top three for most of us are burritos, cheap food and an excuse to dress up. Chipotle obviously got that memo because they’re offering all of the above… and for a good cause, no less!

This Sunday stumble in to your local Chipotle for a $2 (yes TWO DOLLAR) “Boo-Rito” (Ha! Get it?!). Lord knows you’ll be craving it in your hungover state from Saturday night’s festivities. Read More »

[Everyone’s got a vice, a bad habit, something they know they need to change. Unfortunately, everyone also has a million excuses why they just can’t do it. Not anymore. Every month we will be following a different CollegeCandy writer as she takes on a personal challenge. This month, Emmy's going 31 days without beef. Or chicken. Or turkey. Or....you get the idea.]

I can’t believe that I have made it through two weeks as a vegetarian! Honestly, I am a little surprised – I haven’t cheated at all! Not a single piece of meat. Not even chicken broth, because I was worried that would count.

Not that’s it’s been a total breeze…

By far the most difficult vegetarian moment for me this week was when one of the clubs I’m in had a group dinner… at Chipotle. Now, I know a lot of people like Chipotle, but I love Chipotle. LOVE. Their meat is one of my FAVORITE things in the whole wide world. I don’t even need a burrito; I could be totally content just eating their meat plain… straight out of those silver serving buckets.

So to say it was a wee bit challenging to go in there and not get my favorite Steak Burrito doesn’t really do my feelings justice. I thought about getting a vegetarian burrito, but I’m not a big fan of their beans and  thought it would be too empty without meat. So I went with a veggie quesadilla instead. Not exactly the world’s healthiest option, but it kept me perfectly satisfied while everyone else chowed down on their delicious and meaty burritos.

Point: Emmy.
And things only got better from there. Read More »

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Mmm. Only 480 calories of fast food goodness.

I can’t lie: I love fast food. So much so that I have mapped out all the fast-food restaurants near my campus and committed all of their locations to memory, as well as the fastest routes to get there. And I may have instructed a cab driver to swing by and grab me a large order of fries and honey for dipping them on the way home from the bar. Twice. Yeah, that’s a bit excessive, but don’t judge; we have all experienced that moment when the dining hall slop is simply too underwhelming and all we want is a Big Mac. And fries. And a milkshake to wash it all down.

It is my firmest belief that fast-food restaurants should be listed as one of America’s deadliest sins. But because I can’t say no to a good drive-thru (Editor’s Note: Don’t try the drunken walk-through-the-drive-thru…they don’t like that), I decided to figure out the healthiest options to order in hopes of keeping obesity at bay. And it’s surprisingly not that hard to find healthy options at grease pits these days.

If you’ve got a hankering for some good ol’ fast food but don’t want to undo that 90-minute Vinyasa class, these are the best options for you:

Wendy’s: I truly believe Wendy’s to be the 4-star restaurant of the fast-food nation. I wish they could all be a little more like Wendy. I would recommend the Mandarin Chicken Salad with Oriental Sesame Dressing and Roasted Almonds. It’s 480 calories and delectable to the last bite. If salad isn’t your bag, try the Ultimate Chicken Grill Sandwich. Only 320 calories and yet still a hearty sandwich. As the name states, it’s the ultimate.

Taco Bell: Taco Bell’s Fresco menu is basically the same items, minus the sour cream. You can get a crunchy taco for only 150 calories. That’s like a 100-calorie pack taco meal. I like the sound of that. But just a warning: You may be saving on calories, but it won’t save you any more time in the bathroom. It’s the curse of Taco Bell. Learn to live with it. Read More »

[College prepares you for a lot of things - like binge drinking competitions - but one thing it does not teach you is how to cook. At least how to cook things that require more than 30 seconds in the microwave.

But cooking your own meals means healthier eating, more money in your bank account, and the gratification that comes from making something with your hands. Everyone here at CollegeCandy loves to cook, so we're going to bring you our favorite (and easy) recipes every Sunday. Because it's a lazy day and you've got nothing better to than cook, right? Right.]

I like my chicken like I like my men: plucked super hot and very sweet. That’s why I love this recipe from biscuits and such. It’s the perfect combination of spicy and sweet. Plus, it’s boyfriend approved (and I’m sure anyone else will love it too), pretty simple to prepare, and the name makes me giggle.

Ingredients:

1 chicken breast
2 tbsp chipotle chili powder
1 tsp garlic powder
4 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp hot sauce
1/2 french bread loaf, cut in half both ways
1 tsp cinnamon
6 tbsp honey
6 tbsp fresh cilantro
4 slices havarti cheese
Salt & pepper Read More »

Chipotle has become one of those super hip ingredients you find in everything it seems, right up there with pomegranate, and for very good reason: it’s frickin delicious. Smoky and hot, it adds a killer flavor to anything it touches, and this spread is no exception. It’s magical.

I’ve made it for many a backyard/patio/rooftop bbq, and it is always a huuuuge hit. Throw it on a burger, use it as a French fry dippin’ sauce, anywhere you want a really excellent dollop of flavor. It’s so easy you can whip it up in no time, and keep a jar on hand in your fridge for that impromptu summertime grill-fest (like the 4th of July??)

Chipotle Mayonnise

1 16 oz. jar Mayonnaise (makes a lot, but I like to use the whole thing so I can just pour the whole recipe back into the jar for storage, and have it on hand at all times.)
2 chipotles in adobo sauce, plus 2 tsp adobo sauce
1 large clove garlic
Juice of half a lime
Salt to taste (start with about ½ tsp) Read More »