If you haven’t been reading our Intro To Cooking series, you’ve seriously been missing out. Every Sunday, Intro To Cooking talks you through simple and delicious recipes that even the worst cook can master. You don’t need to resort to Easy Mac or Ramen anymore. Most of the recipes are healthy, and they’re all affordable. Why settle for subpar dining hall food when you can make something yummy and filling?

We’ve sifted through all of these recipes and picked our favorites for you to try out! Read More »

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 »

Salmon. Cooking this delicious fish is a little bit terrifying at first. What do you do with it? How do you know when it’s done? Do I need a non stick pan?

I will admit: it took me a long time to conquer my fear of cooking salmon. But once I did, I realized it is basically the easiest, quickest way to a healthy, tasty dinner. This recipe is one of my absolute favorites. I use frozen salmon fillets — available at most bulk stores — in very good brands, which are easy to defrost in about 15-20 minutes when held under warm, running water.

Salmon is packed with nutrients, especially omega 3s, which are a necessary fat that the human body doesn’t produce on its own. Omega 3s reduce inflammation and help to reduce the risk for chronic diseases, like heart disease.

Salmon is good with pretty much anything, but I love to serve this recipe with brown rice.

Lemon and Parmesan Salmon

You’ll need…

• 1-2 salmon fillets (2 salmon fillets serves about 2-3 people)
• 1 tablespoons of Italian seasoned breadcrumbs
• 3 tablespoons of Parmesan cheese
• 3-4 tablespoons of lemon juice (about the juice of one lemon)
• 1 teaspoon of garlic salt Read More »

There is something about Fall that makes me crave pasta. Maybe it’s the fact that temperatures are cooling down, I’m wearing more clothes that in the summer, and the holidays are coming up. Or maybe I just really love pasta. Either way, I’m always looking for ways to make pasta dishes healthier, and this is one I dreamed up after enjoying a delicious (but calorie-heavy) Chicken Florentine at a restaurant.

Spinach is one of the “superfoods” out there that is all benefit and no consequence. However, I’ll be the first to admit that spinach is also not the tastiest food I can think of! Sometimes, it can taste a little bit like dirt. To jazz it up, I like to wilt it down and add it to things – jarred spaghetti sauce, taco meat, pizza pockets… you name it, I can probably find a way to hide spinach in it. It instantly ups the healthiness factor without affecting calories and without having to choke down a bag of spinach.

The best part about this quick Chicken Florentine Pasta is that the cream sauce is not full of empty calories – there is no butter used here. By using the already flavorful Philadelphia Cooking Crème (a new product that I’m obsessed with), you save several steps of making your own sauce and calories by avoiding using half-and-half or heavy cream and lots of cheese. Read More »

Healthy macaroni and cheese. I’m really not playing a mean trick on you. Macaroni and cheese is one of the perfect comfort foods: cheese, carbs, creamy-yet-crunchy. I grew up eating the Kraft out-of-the-box kind, only to realize one day last summer that I was basically eating plastic and carbs. Not super appetizing.

It’s just as easy to make homemade macaroni and cheese with tons of veggies and great protein that tastes as decadently cheesy as the out-of-the-box variety. I promise. Really.

A serving of this healthy mac and cheese can be enjoyed with a piece of fruit and a salad. Or if you’re really in need of some comfort, a BLT with turkey bacon and avocado or something equally delicious, but not too unhealthy.

The veggies I picked for this version of the recipe are packed with vitamins and fiber. It will keep you full and focused for those long study sessions in the library. And your friends will all love you if you let them eat a little bit (they might actually do your homework for you…)

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This is another recipe adapted from the I Love Trader Joe’s College Cookbook. I love focaccia bread… I mean, who doesn’t? If I have the opportunity to make focaccia a little healthier to snack on, I go for it.

The original recipe from the I Love Trader Joe’s College Cookbook only had tomatoes and olive tapenade. it’s a delicious recipe, which I highly recommend, but after I made it, I wondered what other items I could add to make it healthier, but also more delicious. I settled on the idea that if you pile a salad on top of something, you are allowed to call it healthy. Even if that thing is a deep-fried hamburger or something.

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What’s more relaxing than spending a cozy evening with your boyfriend (or your best girlfriends) enjoying homemade Mexican food and your favorite movies? After a long week, sometimes it’s nice to spend a Friday night in. And you can enjoy tasty, comforting food without completely sabotaging your mission to eat healthy.

Having a Mexican Food Friday is one of the best ways to through a party for friends. Rent a few Redbox movies, pick up a few basic supplies, invite that gorgeous boyfriend (or new fling) of yours over, and you have all the ingredients for a great night.

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Hot Pockets. Tiny capsules of molten hot cheese and questionable meat products and even more questionable vegetables. For a quick lunch, they aren’t terribly satisfying. They’re also packed with fat… even the low calorie varieties are packed with salt and MSG flavorings that aren’t too good for you.

You know what’s an easy, healthy solution? Making your own at home. Don’t panic. It’s easier than it sounds. Plus, these guys are delicious.

The main vegetables I use are broccoli, carrots, tomatoes and spinach. Broccoli is a great source of vitamin E, protein, and calcium. Carrots are great sources of vitamin C and iron. Tomatoes are known for being excellent sources of lycopene, which is believed to prevent certain types of cancer. Spinach is one of the most nutrient rich foods out there – it’s a great source of fiber, iron, protein and a slew of vitamins Read More »

This is another recipe from Andrea Lynn’s the I Love Trader Joe’s College Cookbook, which I still absolutely love. Ravioli is one of my favorite dishes, because it is comforting and warm. However, I’m not even going to pretend that this is a healthy recipe: several tablespoons of butter per serving, cheese stuffed inside delicious carbohydrates. That being said, this is a comforting, easy to make dish, so don’t discount it just because of the butter.

Not only that, this can be easily made while living in dorms or with limited cookware. All you need is a small soup pot (for the ravioli) and a small saucepan, plus a small strainer, and freezer space. I love frozen ravioli because you can take them out as you need them and they won’t go bad. (You will have to boil them a little longer than usual!)

Instead of ravioli from Trader Joe’s, I used a standard pre-made ravioli that you can purchase anywhere, usually in the fresh pasta or deli section of the grocery store. Prepackaged gnocchi would also be delicious with this.

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Some days, nothing tastes better than a slice of watermelon, a big salad and a cheese biscuit.

This recipe is one of my favorites. I like to make these biscuits for family gatherings or to give as gifts. They are flaky and completely decadent, the perfect addition to a family meal or even your favorite salad.

Cheddar cheese has a bad rap out there in the world. It gets knocked down as high-fat, high-calorie, and unnecessary. But ladies, there is nothing wrong with enjoying a little bit of cheddar every once in a while, you know? Okay, maybe not everyday. And maybe you shouldn’t eat four of these biscuits a day (I totally do, but it’s up to you). But don’t let the naysayers persuade you to turn your back on cheddar. Even though cheddar cheese is high in fat and calories, it is also high in calcium and can be very low in preservatives and additives if you buy from the right companies (I’m a big fan of Tillamook cheese).

If you’re ready to give cheddar one more chance, try out these biscuits.

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