Serving up a taste of home

For many students college is the first time they have had to cook for themselves. When Andy Ault, mathematics sophomore, went to college his mom gave him a recipe book full of simple yet delicious recipes. Ryan Phillips made some of these creative alternatives to the boring college dinner.

butter burgers

servings: 6

Use 80/20 (20% fat) hamburger. Make patties so thin that there are holes in them. Keep it simple and only use hamburger, maybe a little pepper if you must.

Fry the patties on a hot plate.

Serve on lightly toasted English muffins, lavishly buttered. add a slice of American cheese

Garnish with lettuce and maybe a sliver of red onion if you feel you should.

You can even go crazy and make double or triple burgers.

chocolate chip peanut butter squares

servings: 12

1 ½ cups powdered sugar

1 ½ cups creamy peanut butter

1 ½ teaspoon vanilla

18 oz. Package of refrigerated chocolate chip cookie dough

Preheat oven to 350˚F

With Pam-sprayed fingers, press half of the cookie dough in the bottom of ungreased 8-by-9 pan.

Press peanut butter mixture evenly over dough.

Crumble and sprinkle the remaining half of cookie dough over the peanut butter mixture. Carefully spread as evenly as possible.

Bake at 350˚F for 30 minutes or until golden brown and firm to the touch.

Let cool for 30 minutes.

Refrigerate 1 hour before cutting.

chicken burrito bake

servings: 8

4 cups shredded cooked chicken

1 cup tomatillo salsa or salsa verde

½ teaspoon cumin

1 ½ cup shredded Mexican cheese

8 8-inch flour tortillas

2 10-oz. containers refrigerated alfredo sauce

your favorite burrito fillings

Preheat oven to 375˚F

Place chicken, salsa, cumin and ½ cup of cheese in a large mixing bowl and stir to combine.

Spoon about ½ cup of chicken mixture down to the middle of a tortilla, as well as any desired ingredients for the burrito. Fold one edge over and roll it up. Place seam down in a 13-by-9 pan.

Repeat with remaining tortillas and chicken mixture

Combine the remaining sauce and cheese in mixing bowl and spread over burritos.

Bake until sauce is bubbling and browned in spots, 20-25 minutes.

Remove and let cool 10 minutes.