[There are over 100 million sites on the Internet. 100 million! You might think you know about all the important ones (CollegeCandy, Gmail, Google, Facebook…), but there are thousands of other sweet sites out there (like Fellow Up, Swap.com and LiveProfile) and more showing up every day! We get it – it’s not easy or fun sifting through the crap and porn to find those gems, so we’re gonna bring the gems to you. Just sit back, kick up those feet and allow us to introduce you to the diamonds in the internet rough.]

I’ve always been a food lover, but it wasn’t until I moved out on my own that I really developed a fondness for cooking. I’m still only a beginner, so I love trying out new recipes to practice my technique. Lucky for be, the internet is a wealth of information and I’ve discovered tons of great recipe sites on the web — but recently, I discovered one that puts all the others to shame: Foodily.

Foodily (the “-ily” stands for “I love you”) is, according to the site, the largest recipe network on the web. You can access all these recipes by searching for recipes themselves or simply by typing in certain ingredients you like (and/or excluding ingredients you don’t like). From there, Foodily will pull recipes from food blogs and food sites like FoodNetwork.com, FineCooking.com, and Martha Stewart and display them in a side-by-side gallery where you can compare recipes by  glancing at the ingredients and prep times. Read More »

Peanut butter. Who doesn’t love to eat it on a spoon in front of the TV the stuff? Ever since we were little kids we ate peanut butter cookies, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and if your mom really loved you, those peanut butter crackers that came in the plastic wrappers.

Peanut butter is one of the cheapest, healthiest foods out there. But by healthiest, I don’t mean low-calorie. Peanut butter is a great source of protein, vitamin E, niacin, folate, and manganese. The downside is that it is primarily fat (it isn’t called “butter” for nothing), so a tablespoon usually equals about a 100 calories, which is an awful lot. The secret is moderation.

For this week’s recipe, I decided to feature something very different and cool: peanut butter noodles. Asian inspired, totally tasty, and dorm friendly, it is a healthy, exciting snack you can whip up while cramming for that big exam the next morning. Ready to give something new a shot? Let’s go! 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. For April, Jill gave up restaurants. Things started off slow, then got tricky, and now she’s done. Insert life lesson here!

Well peeps, I did it.

30 days. 90 meals. Plenty of late night snacks. All cooked by yours truly.

And no fires, burnt dishes or kitchen snafus to speak of!

Mazel tov to me! Brava! A job well Done! Magnifico! 5 stars! Watch out, Food Network – we’ve got your newest star!

If you’re reading this wondering why I’m patting myself so hard on the back that there’s a permanent hand-print back there, thinking BFD (big freakin deal) that I cooked for 30 days… you haven’t seen my addiction to weekend brunches or my lack of knowledge when it comes to various kitchen utensils and appliances. (I had to Google what a saucepan was this month….it was that bad.) So yeah, I deserve some major praise.

I’m so proud of my will power that I’m actually considering making (and presenting) myself with my own bedazzled paper plate award. Lord knows I deserve it. That, and a large and in charge meal cooked by anyone other than me. Preferably a cute, tall and witty man with fabu cooking skills. But let’s be real here – after 30 days, I’m really not going to be that picky. At this point, in the realm of who’s cooking my grub, I’ve got my cooking beer goggles on so securely that everyone with a frying pan in hand is pretty much a Jake Gyllenhaal/Bobby Flay hybrid in my eyes. Read More »

Oysters, chocolate, and green M&Ms chili. No, I’m not listing off ingredients for a (seemingly disgusting) recipe; I’m listing off well-known aphrodisiacs, AKA foods that allegedly get you in the mood to get freaky with yo bad self (and your partner).

Well, get excited peeps, because there are a few new frisky foods to add to that list.

The Food Research International journal has recently published research saying that saffron and ginseng also boost sexual performance.

The professor behind the research said these natural aphrodisiacs theoretically enhance performance and libido and, because they are simply common spices, are safe to experiment with. Unlike alcohol, another aphrodisiac (the effects of which we’ve all experienced, am I right?), saffron and ginseng will not cause judgment impairment (the effects of which we’ve all unfortunately experienced, am I right?), meaning this is a fun and safe way to literally spice up your love life. 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. For April, Jill is going to give up restaurants. Things weren't lookin' good last week; how did she fare for week 3?]

They say it takes three weeks to solidify a habit or a routine. In three weeks time, it will become second nature, your normal thang, and you’ll stick with it forever! No problem, amigo.

Well, I don’t know who “they” are but “they” haven’t given up eating out for three. straight. weeks. Let me tell you, we’ve got ourselves some problems, amigos. Problems indeedy.

I’m generally a pretty positive person; not one to harp on the small potatoes problems in my life (like how sick I am of eating – and cooking – said small potatoes). And while I still stand by a lot of the fabulous benefits that led me to take on this challenge in the first place – I really am becoming a domesticated w-o-m-a-n (roar!) and I’m saving lots of cashola – this week brought up some obstacles in this “genius” idea of a four-week challenge (facing an actual challenge during a challenge?! Fancy that!)

First of all, my excitement of becoming adventurous in the kitchen sort of dwindled and I was back to making the things that were easiest and fastest. I mean, really, “Kosher By Design, Short On Time” cookbook (which, FYI, is one of the very few cookbooks I own, given to me by someone’s Bubbie at some point in time) Since when is 45 minutes considered a time saver?! Read More »

[I love food. I knew when I started writing for CollegeCandy, I would inevitably write about yummy, delicious food. So when I heard CC was on the lookout for a new cooking columnist, I was all "ME ME ME!" I'll be bringing you latest and greatest college-friendly recipes every Sunday. Now let's nom nom.]

Eating food is an important part of everyone’s life. But for college students, it can really be a challenge considering we are working with some serious restrictions: time, money, and materials. This week, I’m going to introduce you to one of my staples of college life: canned white beans. I first discovered them about two years ago when I was looking for an easy way to get more protein in my diet. Since then, I have found a million and one ways to use them. Really, you can add these guys to anything. My favorites? Leftover spaghetti and salads. Mmm.

White beans are high in calcium and iron, as well as a great source of protein. They are also super cheap (score!); a can of white beans costs about 85 cents.

The recipe I’ve decided to feature is one that you can really change to include whatever you like. It provides a great stand in when you are craving bean dip… or if you just feel like dipping a salty, delicious tortilla chip in something. It is also super easy to mix up in a dorm room.

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. For April, Jill is going to give up restaurants. And it's not lookin' good.]

It’s a brand spankin new me, people.
A domesticated me.
A Martha Stewart – but with more inflection in my voice while speaking – me!

I started this week off excited! I wrote a list of things I would need and checked it twice (much like I would imagine Santa does on Christmas, but, really, what do I know? I’m Jewish) and headed off to Whole Foods. Instead of heading for the prepared foods aisle or straight for my clutch of frozen Amy’s Organics (seriously have you ever had the Mexican tamale pie? Delish. But I digress. We’re focusing on cooking here), I made my way through the produce and on to the fish and meat.

And let me tell you, those Whole Foods people, they are friendly bunch of peeps. I felt like a “real person” asking about which cut of meat was the leanest, how long I should cook my sea bass for, should I leave the skin on or off? These are things I would never even THINK about when ordering out at a restaurant, yet I suddenly became determined to make everything correctly and deliciously and full of taste that would make my grandma kvell (that’s Jewish speak for beam with pride.

Cooking during the week was easier than I thought. Save for the piece of fish I slightly undercooked and didn’t realize it until a few bites in. Oopsie. 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. Last month Lauren (sorta) gave up chocolate. For April, Jill is going to give up restaurants. And it's not lookin' good.]

I love eating out.

I love the socializing. I love the food. I love the people watching. (Like the hottie-with-a-body manager at my favorite resto. Why, yes, I WILL have some of your famous carrot cake, thank you!) I love the excuse to get dessert because you have friends to share it with. I love the convenience and I love the opportunity to try new things that I would never make myself at home.

And by “never make myself at home” I mean, things that take more preparation than pouring milk on my cereal or tomato sauce on my veggies. Yeah, I’m so gourmet like that.

Truth be told, after living in my apartment for over two years, a friend had to teach me how to use my dishwasher after a party I had. Yes, you just read that correctly. Two years. Never used my dishwasher. If only my mom (and world’s best cook) could see me now; she’d be BEAMING with pride.

But after shelling out big bucks for a last minute travel adventure in the land of Oz, I took one look at my very depressing bank account and it became more and more clear how much I spend on dining out (or carrying in). I promised myself I would reel it in, venture into cooking, and dine out less. Because as it turns out, in the world where food meets saving cash – there really is no place like home. Read More »

It’s SAT season and you know what that means: high school juniors are buckling down and getting ready to take “the most important test of their lives,” the test that will determine whether or not they get into college, the test that will supposedly predict how well they will do there. Now, I don’t know about you ladies, but as a seasoned college student I have to say I think that is a load of ridiculous. I mean vocabulary and problem solving and knowing who the Kardashians are is all well and good, but is it really an accurate portrayal of how a student will do in college?

No. It’s most definitely not.

So we thought we’d help College Board and all those other important SAT people out by offering them a few alternative SAT questions. Real life questions, the kind of questions that college students may encounter on any give college day…

1. One tequila, two tequila, three tequila…

(A) Four (B) Floor (C) Bed (D) Death

2. Beer goggles is a commonly used college expression. Explain the meaning of this phrase and then use it in a sentence.

3. A walk of shame is:

(A) Walking into class after said class has started (B) Walking home during the early hours of the morning in last night’s clothes after spending said night in with a guy (C) Tripping while walking in high heels

4. A steak dinner is to real life as ____ is to college life.

(A) cafeteria food (B) Ramen noodles (C) Chef Boyardee

Read More »