A Hungry Student Thanksgiving, on a Hungry Student budget

All the Thanksgiving fuss has finally died down and that means I’ve (finally!) uploaded some photos.

In the last week I have not only eaten yet another turkey day meal that was lovingly cooked by my mother, but also prepared one of my own! That makes it two years in a row that I’ve roasted a big ol’ turkey breast and prepared assorted sides in a Townhouse kitchen. Rowan University students: It can be done!

But how?

• Momma Jones was kind enough buy me a 7 lb. turkey breast and share some of her spare sweet potatoes when I was home for the Jones Thanksgiving a few weeks ago.
• A friend of mine surprised me by completing our “Help! I have to cook today and need things! Give me a ride!?” shopping trip by paying for the cheeses for the mac and cheese and dessert fixins’.
• And my roommate Maggie and her friend Dandy were kind enough to pick up some sparkling pomegranate apple cider to whet our whistles and cranberry sauce.

The lesson here? Make time to cook for your family and friends, and you shall be rewarded time and again.

Thanksgiving tips from my Bee

After the festivities at the dinner table at last weekend’s Jones Thanksgiving, delectable pies and all, my grandmother and I wound up at the kitchen table sipping tea and talking about her Thanksgiving tips. We were both weary from the meal and trying to soothe our stomachs with some peppermint tea.

All of her tips are good ‘uns, and I figured I’d share as everyone gears up for their big dinners. Especially since I’m still having difficulties getting recipes out of Momma. Don’t worry. I’ll break her down soon.

Anyway, what follows is a transcript from our chat. A heads up: I call my grandmother Bee. Always have, always will.

Red Velvet Cupcakes (from scratch!) with Cream Cheese Frosting

Two weekends ago The Whit’s office got a new coat of paint… or paints. We painted most of the room a beige called “Westward Ho” and used “Red Velvet Cake” as our accent color for one and one-third or so of another wall. Needless to say, the rich velvety red inspired me to bake after I got over the shock of seeing it all over my shoes.

I meant to bake these cupcakes last week, to up the already tangible WOW factor in the office and treat the newspaper’s staff. The November slump has hit them too, and I’m hoping the baked goods will be a pick me up. Unfortunately, my work load was not conducive to a leisurely Tuesday afternoon in the kitchen last week. Luckily, this afternoon was. Photos aplenty, along with the recipe, await you after the jump!

Thanksgiving!

This weekend I traveled home for Jones Thanksgiving. I call it that because for the past few years, my mother has insisted that we have it a few weeks early to spare relatives the holiday traffic.

Read on for a photo gallery!

Pancake mix: coming to a dinner plate near you

Friday and Saturday mornings in the Townhouse Complex are filled with the smell of breakfast foods. Understandbly so, this happens in the late morning to early afternoon. But once all the weary partiers arise, nothing quells the pains of a hangover better than a stack of pancakes, scrambled eggs and some bacon.

And what better to aid in the preparation of said meal than a box of pancake mix.

Well, it may be a weeknight, but go grab that box. I’ve got two one delicious and quick recipes that can be prepared with that mix, sans maple syrup: cheesy garlic biscuits like the ones served at Red Lobster!

It’s About That Time

This hungry student has hit the usual mid-semester slump. The end still isn’t in sight. Projects and tests seem to be cropping up everywhere.

What’s that mean for my kitchen? Unfortunately, it’s meant some neglect. I had to perform one of these on the refrigerator yesterday. Ingredients I purchased with the best of intentions found their way to the back of shelves and weren’t looking to pretty.