Banana Spinach Smoothies, by, Gina Meyers

Usually, the combination of bananas and spinach isn't the first thing that pops into one's head when preparing a smoothie. For me, it was out of necessity, that's what I had in the fridge so I went for it. Upon researching (yes, cookbook authors have a tendency to do this), I discovered that I was packing my smoothie with a punch. This is what I added, a handful of spinach, ice, almond, coconut milk, a little orange juice, a banana. Place in the blender for about thirty seconds on pulse and walla. You will be receiving vitamin k, vitamin c, and potassium with this easy to make smoothie. Vitamin K plays an essential role in early wound healing.

For other smoothie recipes check out: Dorm Room Essentials Cookbook, by, Gina Meyers

Easy Guacamole Recipe, excerpt from Dorm Room Essentials Cookbook

Easy Guacamole Recipe

Level of Expertise

Bachelor’s Degree

2 Ripe Avocados, mashed

1 Small Onion, diced (purple, white, or yellow onion)

1 ripe tomato, chopped (Campari, Roma, or garden variety tomatoes)

1 garlic clove, minced

1 lime, squeezed and juiced

Salt and pepper to taste

Directions: Peel and mash avocados in a medium serving bowl. Stir in diced onion, minced garlic, chopped tomato, lime juice, and salt and pepper. Season with remaining lime juice and salt and pepper to taste. Chill for half an hour in the refrigerator to blend flavors.

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Summertime Eats To Beat The Heat, Tomato Caprese Salad with Italian Basil

Summertime Eats To Beat The Heat

Tomato Caprese Salad

Me and my daughter Lauren went to our local Farmer's Market and picked out wonderful tomatoes, as well as basil. This is an easy, healthy and flavorful dish that is perfect for those warm summer days. The balsamic vinegar gives it some acidity while you bite into the juicy tomatoes.

1/2 pound of fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced 1/4 inch thick
2 large vine-ripened tomatoes (heirloom and beefsteak, found at Farmer's Market(s)
1 cup of fresh Italian Basil leaves (found at Farmer's Market(s)
Drizzle avocado oil
Drizzle balsamic oil

Directions: In a circular design around the side of a serving plate, alternate fresh mozzarella, slices on a large platter or on an individual plate if you are doing individual portions with sliced tomatoes, overlapping for effect. Wash and tear fresh basil leaves and place liberally over the slices. Drizzle avocado oil as well as balsamic vinegar to taste.

For these and Uni(versity) Tips check out: Dorm Room Essentials Cookbook, by, Gina Meyers

Photo courtesy of KP Phagnasay

Photo courtesy of KP Phagnasay

Kp1studios/Mad Productions

Corn Confetti Salad, excerpt from Dorm Room Essentials Cookbook, by Gina Meyers

CORN CONFETTI SALAD

 4 ears of cooked corn
1/3 cup of balsamic vinegar
1/3 cup of avocado oil
1 cup of cherry tomatoes
1/4 cup of white or red onion, chopped finely
2 stalks of celery
1/4 cup of red or green pepper

Directions: 
Slice the corn off the cob, getting as much of each kernel as you can. If corn isn't in season, you may use canned corn. Wash all produce, except the onion. Thinly slice the celery, finely chop the onion. Put all ingredients in a bowl and toss to ensure it is evenly dressed. Place in the fridge for one hour to chill and serve as a refreshing summertime side dish.

Alternate Recipe:
4 ears of cooked corn
1/3 cup of balsamic vinegar
1/3 cup of avocado oil
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1 small jalapeno pepper, diced
2 cups of cherry tomatoes
2 stalks of celery
1/4 cup of white or red onion, finely chopeed
3 ounces of shredded Monterey Jack Cheese

Notes Summertime is the perfect time to find creative and refreshing ways to use the extra corn on the cob that is so plentiful this time of year.  Ask a Fresno native and they will tell you the Fresno State store has the best corn on the cob around! Dorm Room Delicacy Level of expertise Bachelors Degree

With The Dorm Room Dining Cookbook, you can make more than just a dang quesadilla. Buy it today, you'll be glad you did!

You are getting ready to go to college. Congratulations! We've got your back when it comes to cooking, yummy recipes and food. You are venturing off into the exciting world of college. No more mom or dad making you dinner. You might have a meal plan and that's great, but, what about your famous guacamole recipe that you forgot at home or your hankering for a cheesy quesadilla. "Make your own dang quesidillo!" Well, don't put it on the back burner any longer, be the gourmet chef of your dorm, or apartment. For sure you're going to be rushing from one class to another and add in a sport, make your life a little easier with The Dorm Room Dining Cookbook. Buy Dorm Room Dining Cookbook today!

College Bound Recipes from Dorm Room Essentials Cookbook, by, Gina Meyers (Tomato Caprese Salad, Hot Dogs, Peanut Butter Pie)

College bound recipes

 

 

 

You are getting ready to go off to college, congratulations!  With Dorm Room Essentials Cookbook as your guide, you will find great resources that will help the beginning cook understand cooking abbreviations and terms, make substitutions in recipes, and convert to and from the metric system. There is even a Cooking Essentials Guide to the best products on the market as well as The Well-Stocked Dorm Room Pantry Checklist. To assist the budding dorm room chef in determining the level of skill involved in preparing each dish, the recipes are labeled “easy”, “medium”, or “hard”. Bachelor’s Degree means “easy”, Master’s Degree, “medium”, and Doctorate Degree, “hard”. Most recipes found in Dorm Room Essentials Cookbook are Bachelor’s Degree Level, or “easy”. With Dorm Room Essentials Cookbook, you not only get well balanced meals that are easy to prepare in your dorm room, but you also get a bonus:  there are Holistic Healing Exercises, and a section on How to Make a Dreamboard. These are perfect for the dorm room resident who wants to be able to create a well-rounded lifestyle.

 

 

Tomato Caprese Salad

Dorm Room Delicacy

Level of expertise: Bachelors

 

2 large ripe tomatoes, sliced ¼ inch thick

1/3 cup fresh basil leaves, washed and dried (can substitute dried basil)

Salt and pepper to taste

1 pound of fresh mozzarella, sliced ¼ inch thick (can purchase mozzarella balls in snack size, easy to use if you are making a salad for one)

6 Tablespoons of Extra Virgin Olive Oil

3 Tablespoons of Balsamic

 

Directions: In a small bowl or durable paper plate, alternate and overlap tomato slices, mozzarella cheese slices, and basil leaves. Drizzle olive oil and balsamic vinegar and season with salt and pepper. May place in the fridge to chill for ½ hour and may eliminate vinegar and add more olive oil if desired.

hot dogs

 

Notes       *May use condiments to add flavor to your hot dog. Ketchup, relish, mayonnaise, mustard, horseradish, or even try sauerkraut.   Try a turkey dog instead of a beef hot dog if you prefer.   Level of Expertise Bachelor’s  Degree

Directions   Place the hot dog at the end of the paper towel.   Roll it up to the other end of the paper towel. Tuck in the ends and put in the microwave. Heat for twenty to twenty-five seconds on 100% power. Unwrap and cut it in slices or enjoy it in a hot dog bun. You may heat your hot dog bun in the microwave as well with a damp paper towel for ten to fifteen seconds on 100% power.   Serve with potato chips or pasta salad.  Or, make hot dog sandwiches with toasted French rolls and a little sauerkraut.           Peanut Butter Pie   Notes   If you have a peanut allergy, this pie can be made with almond butter. Concerned about calories, use lite whipped topping instead of regular whipped topping. Milk allergies, no problem, substitute milk for almond milk, coconut, or even goat’s milk. Serves 6-8   Level of Expertise Bachelor’s Degree   No-cook Dorm Room Delicacy   Directions   Spread 1 cup of the whipped topping over the bottom of the crust.   Drop jelly by the tablespoonful’s onto whipped topping.   In a bowl, whisk milk and pudding mix until thickened. Add peanut butter; mix well. Then, fold in the leftover whipped topping, spread over the jelly.   Allow to harden in the freezer for at least 2 hours.     Ingredients   1 carton frozen whipped topping (8 ounces)   1 ready made graham cracker crust   ½ cup strawberry jelly   1 cup cold milk   1 package instant vanilla pudding mix   ½ cup of creamy peanut butter

Ingredients       1 Angus Beef hot dog