Seasonal shopping

06/28/10 22:47 PM

The essence of summer undoubtedly lingers in the humid Florida air. Aside from being exposed to the continual rays of sunshine, summer time in a sub-tropical climate geographically lends itself to many perks. Of those is the availability of fresh produce during the months of June, July, and August. Designing your grocery-shopping list by what is in season can save you so much money while simultaneously providing a better tasting dish because everything is so fresh! With an abundance of fruits and vegetables in season within the next few months, now is an ideal time to start shopping for the seasons. Take raspberries, for instance.  A one-quart container of raspberries in November or December can cost $5-$8, depending on whether or not... 2 comments

Home-cooked meatloaf and mashed potatoes

06/21/10 19:51 PM

What college student wouldn’t crawl through a pile of broken glass for a hearty home cooked meal mid-semester?  Depending on your culture, mom (or dad’s) cooking could range from Asian stir-fry to Ziti.  However, one dish that almost always translates to pure home-cooked comfort food to most Americans is the classic meatloaf and mashed potatoes.   The comfort food movement is something that restaurants continuously bank on.  Take Cracker Barrel, for instance: an entire restaurant centered on recreating the comforts of being in mom’s kitchen.    Even trendy fusion bistros in major cities are putting this dish on their menus to give diners the feeling that they are enjoying the comforts of a home-cooked meal.    ... 5 comments

Brown bag it

06/15/10 12:56 PM

My very first job was at a ‘mom and pop’ café that served sinfully delicious and butter-laden baked goods, an assortment of gelato ice creams and grab-and-go boxed lunches.  Day after day, I would witness store patrons willfully paying outrageous prices for low-cost food items. It’s amazing how much people will pay for convenience.    Having customers pay 50-100% more than what an item costs to make is how restaurants stay in business.  When you are in college and have such a tight budget, you should be running away from these places.  Essentially, you’re paying for the atmosphere and not the food.  For the $10 you would spend at an overpriced café for one wrap and handful of potato chips (drinks are... 3 comments

Make ‘Amore!

06/07/10 13:41 PM

As a full time medical professional busy running a chaotic Italian household with two children, my mother was always seeking something quick to cook for my family.    There seemed to be certain characteristics for a meal to be served in the Ralleo household: quick, easy and Italian.  What comes to mind as the flagship quick-fix meal for our household: ‘Chicken Parmigiana.’  I have adapted the recipe slightly to fit the college lifestyle.    Of course, my mom would give me a good old Italian beating if she knew I was recommending jarred tomato sauce (hers was homemade prior and kept frozen), but it still is delicious, fast, and inexpensive.    There are several... 2 comments

College Cooking Concepts

06/02/10 10:45 AM

No doubt collegiate life will inevitably introduce one to the midnight marvels of cold pizza and peanut butter sandwiches for dinner.  We all face the same dilemma: cooking with no time, space, or money.    You have four hours until an assignment deadline, three square feet of counter space, and just over two dollars to spend on dinner.  Great, your stomach just began making uncontrollable hunger spasms. What to do?   Perhaps preparing a well-balanced, cheap, and tasty meal may seem more unattainable than passing college algebra with an A.    However, all of the potential tastiness starts at the grocery store. With an overwhelming selection sometimes it is easiest to get lost in the mess of fresh produce and meats and just grab something from...