Dorm gourmet

If it’s a steam iron, empty out the water and turn off the steam option. Set the iron to a high setting – cotton or linen – and iron just like you’d iron a shirt. Don’t just set the iron down on the foil – not only is that stupidly unsafe, it will probably shut itself off. Keep it moving for about two minutes, then unfold the edges and check to see how melted the cheese is (this is why you folded the foil neatly), fold it back up, and turn it over to iron the other side for another minute or two.

Unwrap carefully, cut into two or four pieces, and chow down.

 

Quesadilla filling ideas:

Sharp cheddar, refried black beans, black olives, cilantro, cumin-lime sour cream

Pesto, cannellini beans, feta, mozzarella, kalamata olives

Swiss cheese, thin-sliced apple, chopped red onion, dijon sour cream

Monterey jack, sweet potato (bake in the microwave, then scoop out and mash), green onions, crumbled bacon

Cheddar-jack, cotija, cilantro, sprinkle of dried red chili

Nutella, sliced strawberries, sprinkle of powdered sugar

Grilled cheese filling ideas:

Brie and redcurrant jelly on sourdough

Sharp cheddar, bacon and tomato on whole wheat

Peanut butter, sliced banana and powdered sugar in a pita

Mozzarella, basil leaves, sun-dried tomato, drizzle of balsamic vinegar

Roast beef, Monterey jack, blue cheese crumbles and spinach on ciabatta

Swiss, red onion and Dijon mustard on rye

HEALTHY OPTIONS: Spaghetti Squash & Couscous

Whether you’re trying to control your weight or just add some vitamins and fiber to balance out all the pizza, eating vegetables doesn’t have to be a drag.

Spaghetti squash with lemon-tahini sauce

Spaghetti squash is the holy grail for carb-avoiders: pale yellow, oval-shaped and thin-skinned, it can save you from pasta overload. After you cook it, the flesh separates into strands that can be topped with anything you like – tomato sauce, butter and garlic, olive oil and Parmesan, or almost anything you’d put on pasta. This Middle Eastern sauce is a bit different than the usual Italian-inspired treatment.

> Email Jessica Bryce Young

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