what recipes would you include in a cookbook for a child going off to college.

[Laurieso]

I'm compiling a bunch of recipes for my daughter who is going off to college next fall and will eventually ,someday, move off campus. I have our favorites, but was wondering what recipes would you include.

[kasden]

What a great idea!!! I love to teach people to cook! Maybe in the beginning of the book you could dedicate a couple of pages on how to keep a well stocked kitchen so she can whip up a meal without having to go to the grocery store.

I cook a lot on the weekends and transform the leftovers during the week. For example you could add recipes for things like roast chicken, then follow it up with recipes that use the leftovers like chicken fajitas, chicken salad, chicken quesadillas. Make a large batch of meatballs for spaghetti and meatballs, and use the rest for meatball subs. Whenever I make spaghetti sauce, lasagna or soup, I freeze individual servings to heat up when I don’t have time to cook.

Some very simple dishes I always teach beginners: Chicken Parmesan, Fettuccine Alfredo (with chicken or shrimp), Curried Chicken (either Japanese or Thai Panang Curry), Stir fry with Black Bean sauce.

[mirage]

Also, basic instructions. I wasn't sure how much, really, my sons knew about cooking so I added basic instructions such as:

How to roast peppers.
How to roast garlic.
Dried thyme is vile.
How to measure peanut butter.
How to soften brown sugar.
Don't use margarine or other fake ingredients.
Which oils to use for what type(s) of cooking. And how to use them.
How to peel ginger.

And more things along those lines. In addition, I gave them my best "basic" recipes and quite a few easy "company" type things. Both of my boys have thrown dinner parties in college.

[Rasam]

In the same vein (i.e. basic "how to" skills), include Youtube links, or videotape yourself demonstrating the skills or making the dishes, and burn them a DVD or upload to a password protected part of youtube for your kids to access .....

[brooklynkoshereater]

anything that can be made in a crock pot -

[NomadHomebody]

I agree about roast chicken, bean soup, brownies.

Things I ate a lot of in college:
peanut sauce
egg drop soup
gussied up mac and cheese from a box (yogurt instead of milk, fresh pepper, arugula stirred in at the last minute, maybe nutritional yeast, parsley)
bean soup
brownies

things I'm incredibly glad I know how to make now:
spicy greens
pasta with greens
eggs with greens
pasta with mushroom cream sauce
roast chicken
simple spicy tomato sauce (a little oil in a pan, garlic and hot pepper, a can of tomatoes, herbs if you have them)
mashed potatoes
mashed potato pancakes
biscuits
roasted root vegetables
big pot o' beans
tacos from those beans
easy salsa
bread (I started with baguette, would now use the no-knead bread recipe)

desserts:
caramel sauce
butterscotch sauce
simple chocolate sauce (heavy cream; chocolate chips; heat, stir)
pie crust
chocolate cake and frosting
gingerbread
cookies for Christmas, because it's part of my family's tradition

[jenni49]

Most college kids have limited time for cooking complicated dishes. i sent 2 sons to college with a slow cooker & assorted recipes for chili, soups & stews, chicken cacciatore & even baby back ribs with barbeque sauce. They were very popular at dinner time. A basic roasted new potatoes with butter & parsley was always an inexpensive dish to take to a pot luck.

[todao]

Chicken in Beer (not to be confused with beer can chicken - it's much different)
Peppy Pork Soup
Chicken Cheese Pancakes (or crepes)
Lamb Stew (as well as beef stew and pork stew)
Pulled pork enchiladas
Stuffed french toast
Kreatopitta
A variety of pasta dishes (Stuffed manicotti, Al Pomodoro E Basilico pasta, penne pasta with spinach and pine nuts {Giada De Lorentz recipe}, etc.)
All of these are very easy for the novice cook but good enough to impress friends at dinner.

[Rasam]

What food does she like and would be likely to begin cooking? Start with those and build variations on themes?

Also, will she start off in a dorm (i.e. limited cooking facilities and space) and then move to an apartment (much more space and freedom).

You might give her dishes / recipes for both scenarios ....

[mcf]

The most fun part of moving out and cooking was sharing it with others. So maybe economical stuff that feeds a crowd? Back in the stone ages, that meant lasagna, eggplant parm, pasta and meatballs, etc. There was a lot of experimenting with stir fry, but it was the early 70s and my ex was vegetarian. I think our kids have grown up with so much more sophistication and exposure to varied ethnic cuisines, in metro areas and well developed suburbs, anyway.

[shaogo]

Simple:

How to roast a chicken.
Hearty bean soup.
Chili (don't all college kids love chili?).
Deviled eggs (cheap, delicious and good for you).
Meat loaf.
Brownies.
Pound Cake.

Advanced:

Coq Au Vin
Roast Beef with Yorkshire Pudding
Tomato sauce for pasta
Cassoulet
Pie Crusts
Cakes