Time to face the change...

I haven't really posted recipes because so much has been happening with school. But now it's the summer time and that means more time on my hands!!! Recent changes in my life have led me to eating much differently since I'm already lactose intolerant (dairy free), but i have been dabbling in gluten free and vegan as well...I'm going to dedicate this summer to clean healthy eating with still great flavor! My first recipe will be posted Monday night be on the look out!

Basic Cooking Essentials

Sharing a kitchen with roommates can be tricky, whats worse is having a kitchen with nothing in it. My dorm, gives you a fridge,stove and dishwasher aka the basics. So we all had to provide our own EVERYTHING! I've come up with a list of cooking essentials every college cooker should have this will include cookware, bakeware, cooking utensils, and appliances.

Cookware
Pot set (skillet or pan, sauce pan,dutch oven)

Bakeware
sheet pan or deeper pan
cupcake pan

Cooking utensils
spatula
slotted spoon
regular spoon
strainer
measuring cup or measuring spoons
knives
can opener
peeler
cutting board

Appliances
Microwave
George Foreman grill
blender

Optional
food processor
hand mixer
loaf pan

These items are essential to cooking, you can purchase your own or everyone can pitch on and buy everything.  As a student Dollar Tree is your friend, many utensils and bakeware can definitely be found for a dollar as well and cutlery,plates and bowls. I will post links below to some great deals under $100 bucks!

84-Piece Dinnerware Combo Set (comes with bowls, plates,cups,cutlery)
6pc Bakeware Set
900-Watt Microwave
George Foreman with Removable Plates
Oster 14-speed Blender (doubles as food processor and ice crusher)

Any comments, questions or concerns leave below see you next time!

Grocery Shopping on a College Budget!

       Saving money while going to college can be tough. Tuition,books,living costs and so much more can be a burden on your pockets. I have lived on campus twice in my life one had only a microwave and the other a full kitchen! Some dorms dont have kitchens so you have a meal plan and sometimes that gets boring eating the monthly regulars. If you're fortunate enough to have a kitchen in your dorm then by all means this is the post for you. Now when it comes to making groceries (I'm from New Orleans and we make groceries don't judge!), you can go two different routes either buy groceries for yourself or make it a group effort and everyone puts in for groceries. I have never been a fan of buying for the group because it can be hassle, everyone has different tastes, some people make several trips which can get annoying plus sometimes some roommates think every is up for grabs. If you are a solo shopper like myself then lean in closer for my secret. I live off of 60-80 dollars worth of groceries for up to 4-6 weeks! Yes you read that right sixty to eighty dollars. How you might ask? Keyword:BULK. I dont use coupons and I dont skimp out on what I love and I buy as many fresh ingredients as possible.  If you are a solo shopper, then you can make your money last. .My local store is Wal-Mart so prices may vary depending on where you are.Here is a typical grocery list for me

GROCERY LIST

chicken breast                      $10.78

pork chops                             $9.60

frozen tilapia                           $6.98

  (fresh fish is really 

   expensive where I 

    live.)

Rice                                       $1.98

Rice-a-roni                             $6.00

 (each box is a dollar)

Pasta                                      $4.00

    (ea. box a dollar)

Frozen veggies                       $6.00

    (price and type varies)

Silk Soy                                $2.98

Cap N Crunch                      $3.49

Salt and Pepper                    $3.00

Oreos                                   $2.50

Strawberry Fanta                  $1.50

TOTAL:                            $58.81 (without taxes)

As you can see this grocery list is very basic, very simple so satisfy everyday basic meals. Never buy by the meal unless you can afford to, those dishes go very quickly and you end buying something else to cook a day or a few days later which can add up pretty quickly. I always try to make sure my ballpark range is 60 dollars but I allow myself wiggle room for extras. Once I get back to my dorm, I wash each piece of meat and place them in individual Ziploc bags and freeze them ALL. This way, you always have something ready to defrost!This is fail proof and has always lasted me 1-2 months sometimes 3! 

Any questions, comments or concerns leave a comment below see you next time!

Easy Italian Chicken

     I figured I would start off with the easiest poultry: chicken! Chicken is the most versatile food in my opinion in the world, you can bake it, fry it, grill it, roast it and more. I chose to pan fry because its quick and easy. The best thing about my easy Italian chicken is that it requires only two ingredients. Let get to it!

What you'll need:
Boneless, skinless chicken breast
Italian breadcrumbs (I use Progresso)
Cooking spray

What you'll need to do:

1. Make sure your chicken is washed, pounded flat, and at room temperature, this is VERY important. If you're starting with frozen or refrigerated, it's imperative you bring the meat to room temperature. Defrosting starts from the outside in, so if you put a partially cold chicken breast in a hot skillet, the outside would cook faster than the inside which will lead to a dry and under cooked chicken breast.

2. Preheat your skillet. Turn your stove on medium low(4). You want to move fast from coating to the pan.





3. Next in a bowl, coat your chicken with the breadcrumbs on both sides. DON'T put any else.

4. Once you are finished, spray your skillet and place your chicken flat on onto the surface. You will cook your chicken 2-3 minutes on each side. If you are cooking multiple pieces, once you are done with one move to a plate and continue making sure you spray in between. QUICK TIP: To check if your skillet is hot enough sprinkle some breadcrumbs, if they bubble then its ready.






5. SET IT AND FORGET IT! Once you have cooked your chicken on both sides, put a lid on, take it off the heat and leave it for 30 minutes. Trust me, the juiciest chicken you've ever had.





That's it! Easy prep, little cooking with great results. I hope you enjoy. any questions, comments or concerns please feel free to leave comment below. Don't forget to subscribe and share!

Chicken is placed on linguine with a garlic pepper sauce!

Tips:
If you cut your chicken open and it still look pink simply place it back on the stove with the lid on low for 10-15 minutes. Slow cooking with a closed lid will finish cooking the chicken while still trapping moisture.

Missing a cooking tool?

Meat Tenderizer http://goo.gl/mJSRnS
Pot Set http://goo.gl/xWAcNS

Hiiiiii!

         Hi everyone, my name is Ashtyn most people call me Ash or AshPie. I hope you enjoy this blog just as much as I will. Since I've been in college I have learned a few things about cooking, it should be easy, it should be fun and it should be good. Also, on a student budget you have to make your money stretch so I'm all about finding the best cheap but healthy ingredients there is to find. Not only will I bring you my favorite dishes, I'll also share great tips and tricks in the kitchen as well as ways to save money and how to budget for food and other things around the home. I enjoy baking, making great smoothies and drinks! So don't worry, there will be desserts, healthy dishes and alcohol (for my of age viewers) on this blog I promise! I suppose that's all I have to say, be on the look out tomorrow for my first recipe I'm so excited I hope you are!!!