To steer away from dorm meals such as Ramen noodles you can opt for making quesadillas, which requires little time and only tortillas, shredded cheese and other optional additions.  Credit: Elizabeth Tzagournis / Lantern reporter

To steer away from dorm meals such as Ramen noodles you can opt for making quesadillas, which require little time and only tortillas, shredded cheese and other optional additions.
Credit: Elizabeth Tzagournis / Lantern reporter

Nearly a month has passed since students moved into residence halls and on-campus housing, and many students are venturing out to dining halls and restaurants for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Since each dorm room comes fully equipped with the Ohio State classic MicroFridge, there are endless opportunities to create culinary masterpieces that extend beyond Easy Mac and Ramen noodles.

Egg-In-A-Mug

Need: microwave-safe coffee mug, cooking spray, two eggs, two tablespoons of milk or water, two tablespoons of shredded cheddar cheese, salt and pepper and any vegetables or variations.

Achieve a quick and easy breakfast fix by making classic scrambled eggs with a small twist. For the resident early-risers, this dish is sure to please with a total prep and cook time of less than five minutes. To begin, spray the mug with cooking spray, then add in eggs and milk and beat until well mixed. Microwave for 45 seconds, then stir and microwave once more for 30-45 seconds. At this point the eggs should be ready. Finish by topping with cheese and season with salt and pepper. This is the bare Egg-In-A-Mug, but extra ingredients are encouraged. Fresh veggies or meat can be good to add, but may require longer microwave times.

Pretzel Concoctions

Need: pretzel rods, two cups of semi-sweet chocolate chips, white chocolate chips and optional sprinkles or candies.

For those craving the sweet and salty, dipped pretzel rods may be the perfect mid-afternoon munchie. The recipe begins by melting any of a variety of dips in the microwave, such as semi-sweet chocolate chips. Start the microwave at 40 seconds and then stir. Microwave again for 40 seconds and stir once more until the liquid is fully melted. Once this is complete, simply dip pretzel rods into chocolate with an inch or two of the pretzel uncovered. If desired, enhance the rods with sprinkles, M&M’s or other candies. Once all pretzels are dipped and laid out on wax paper or a plate, refrigerate for 30 minutes. At this point, drizzle other toppings or chocolates onto the pretzel rods, or they eat and enjoy as they are.

Quick Quesadillas

Need: microwave-safe plate, two small flour tortillas, 1/2 to 3/4 cup of shredded cheese and optional meat or veggies.

With the usually busy and sometimes hectic schedules of most students, a short break is much needed. What better way to relax and enjoy a respite, however brief, than with a tasty quesadilla made from the comfort of your own dorm? This meal requires little time and few materials, but promises a quality meal. Place one tortilla on a microwave-safe plate and sprinkle shredded cheese over it before placing the second tortilla on top. Microwave for about a minute, adding time if the cheese is not fully melted. Additionally, feel free to add meat or veggies to the cheese for a more flavorful quesadilla.

Oreo Balls

Need: one package of Oreos (crushed), one package of cream cheese and one package of chocolate almond bark.

One first-year student shared the following sweet treat, featuring a combination of a few favorites. This dorm-friendly dessert will serve 20 to 25 people and requires just three ingredients. Crush the Oreos by hand and mix with a package of cream cheese. After combining both ingredients, roll the concoction into walnut-sized balls and leave to chill for one hour in the fridge. During this time, melt 3/4 of the almond bark in the microwave. Finally, dip the Oreo balls into the melted almond bark and allow to harden on wax paper or a plate for 15 minutes.