Quick, easy recipes that a college student can make?

Buy a Crock-Pot. Probably the most practical size for your needs would be the 4-quart oval for $15 at Target. With the slow cooker, you can use your time wisely and let the appliance take care of the cooking while you are out and about.

Lay in a pantry of supplies, including the seasonings you like and use, sugar (2 pounds in a plastic container), flour (2 pounds, you supply the container), canola oil, vinegar, and cans that you can use to get your meals going quickly.

Here are some recipe ideas:

Black Bean & Corn Salad

1 can black beans, rinsed & drained

1 can whole-kernel corn, rinsed & drained

1 small onion, chopped

1 bell pepper (green, red, or yellow), chopped

1/3 cup sugar

1/3 cup canola or olive oil

1/3 cup cider vinegar

Combine beans, corn, onion, and pepper. Combine sugar, oil, and vinegar for dressing. Pour the dressing over the vegetables. Marinate for an hour. Chill leftovers.

Macaroni & Cheese

1 cup macaroni - cook by package directions and drain.

2 cups shredded Colby-Jack cheese - add to the drained macaroni & set on "off" burner until it melts.

Baked Beans

1 pound navy beans (soak overnight, drain, put in slow cooker with fresh water to cover 1", cook on High 4 hours-ish until done, drain reserving 1 cup of liquid)

1 small onion chopped

salt & pepper to taste

1/4 cup oil

1/2 cup molasses

Stir the onion into the beans. Combine the salt & pepper, oil, molasses, and reserved liquid. Pour over beans in the pot. Cook on Low 4-8 hours, until the beans are dark and soft.

Baked Ziti

2 ounces ziti pasta (or really, any macaroni pasta) cooked by package directions

1 cup ricotta cheese

1 egg

15-ounce can seasoned diced tomatoes

1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

1 teaspoon mixed Italian herbs

Mix it all together in a casserole dish and bake at 350°F until bubbly, approximately 30 minutes. Or bake in Crock-Pot on high for 30 minutes.

Hummus

1 can beans, rinsed & drained (traditionally chick peas, but try black beans or blackeyed peas)

1/4 cup lemon juice (2 lemons or from a bottle)

1 large clove garlic, finely minced

3 tablespoons tahini (sesame paste)

1/2 teaspoon cumin (optional)

1/4 teaspoon paprika (optional)

Mash the beans or whirl with a hand blender (immersion blender). Add the rest of the ingredients and mix or blend. Serve with pita chips or on pita bread as a sandwich filling.

Chicken Tetrazzini

3 pounds chicken breasts without skin

1 1/2 cups red and green bell pepper

3/4 cup onion, chopped

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 tablespoons flour

1 1/2 cups half and half (or 12-oz can evaporated milk)

4 ounces Parmesan cheese, shredded

1/4 cup cooking sherry (or leftover wine)

1 pound spaghetti

1. Cook the chicken. Chop it into cubes or chunks.

2. Saute the pepper and onions in the olive oli until the onions are soft.

3. Mix the flour with a little water to form a paste, and gradually stir into the pepper-onion mix. Add the half and half (or canned milk) and stir to combine. Add the chicken and stir in. Stir in half the cheese and the sherry (or wine). Set aside while cooking the spaghetti.

4. In a large pot of boiling water, cook the spaghetti al dente, about 9 or 10 minutes. Drain.

5. Combine the spaghetti and creamed chicken mixture. Put into one large or two medium casserole dishes. Evenly sprinkle the remaining Parmesan cheese on top. Bake at 350°F for 20-30 minutes or until bubbly and the cheese is melted.

This recipe makes 10 servings, so you might want to cut it in half.

Spaghetti is a great one. I also love making what is called cavatini. Use use 3 different kinds of pasta and put in 1-2 cups each depending on how many are going to be eating it. Once pasta is done drain it, add in 1 12 oz. can tomato sauce and a small can or 1 cup of tomato juice. Then add 1 can mushrooms, some pepperoni and hamburger mix together put in a casserole dish and cover the top with mozzarella cheese. Love it! Most any casseroles are cheap to make and very tasty. When my uncles were in college they lived most of the time off grilled cheese and sometimes they added in some tomato soup. I work at a local old folks home and they eat every last grilled cheese up that we make. Everyone loves them and you can use all types of cheese and it still taste great! Chili dogs and chips are a great easy thing to make. You can buy cans of chili dog sauce at most grocery stores. The sauces don't contain beans. I like to top mine off with a little chopped onion and some cheddar cheese. Hot dogs are and one of the cheapest things out there that you can buy. You can buy Cheap on'coor frozen meals and add some garlic bread or mashed potatoes on the sides and they still taste great.

You can buy some of those frozen foods at Costco or Safeway (I don`t really know what stores you have in the mainland). Like get some of those pizzas, french fries, chickens, veggies, fish and stuff. And add some garlic or french bread on the side plus a healthy salad :] You can also never go wrong with canned soup. You can choose from many different kinds like tomato, chicken noodle, chili, minestroni, corn chowder, cream of mushroom, clam chowder, beef vegetable ETC ETC. Plus, try this awesome thing to eat. Just heat up some tomato soup and add some cooked rice in the soup. Then serve. It`s pretty good :]

simple basil pasta:

i am assuming you know how to cook pasta,lol,, salted water andante.........

do that, starting w/ about a 1/4 pound dry weight,,

add extra virgin olive oil( a few splashes or 3 tbs),,

a tsp or 2 of dried basil(you'll see how much fresh is as time consumes you, later:)

1 tsp fresh garlic

about the same of fresh onion(red if you got it,any will do) green make nice looks an addition but do that asa presentation kinda thing

parmigiana cheese 1/4 cup'll do,,,,even the stuff in a can,,,but,better cheese can take thisfrom mac&cheese to new heights,,,,

too easyand all in the time it takes to boil pasta,,,,,,,1 hint

you should divide the oil and the rest inbetween the top and bottom of the bowl you would toss this mix

i like red pepperflakes in mine serve w/ a salad and toasty bread(buttered and garlic)

when i was at uni i always cooked up some plain pasta and stirred into a cuppa soup. sounds gross but actually tastes good. add some cheese on top and it looks ok too.

A lot of