The Poor College Kid's Guide to a Semi-Homemade Meal

Home cooked meals are like a rare peacock in the home of a college student. Number one, we're broke. Number two, most of us can't cook. And it's pretty impossible for our parents to mail us something worth eating that wouldn't rot or give us food poisoning by the time it got delivered.

For this, I offer a fairly close substitute. It only involves a trip to Wal-Mart, a George Foreman grill and a microwave. Pretty basic, right?

For the George Foreman grill, Wal-Mart sells them for as low as $17.00. As for the shopping list: potatoes, any kind of chicken--though buying frozen bags is a cheap alternative because you get more for your money, and salad.

Start the chicken first because it takes the longest to cook and is the most important to get done to avoid food poisoning. Generally, the smaller George Foreman grills can only fit about two to three pieces of chicken at a time. It's a good choice though because it pulls out all of the fat to make the chicken healthier.

Photo Credit: Anna Hartenbach

Spice the chicken with any kind of basic flavoring such as pepper and seasoning salt. Turn the chicken over about every two minutes and press the lid back down for even cooking. Then start the potatoes by washing them with a vegetable brush and warm water.

Washing the potato is important to get any dirt, germs or impurities off of the potato. Once it is clean, make a few cuts in the potato to allow for even cooking and place it in the microwave for 5 minutes.

Photo Credit: Anna Hartenbach

As my Grandma Rosie would say, potatoes and chicken are done when you stick a fork in it and it comes out easily (maybe this is where they get the saying, "Stick a fork in it, it's done).

Once the salad is complete, you have a semi-homemade meal.

Photo Credit: Anna Hartenbach

Of course, it wouldn't be complete without a paper plate, 3-D Mickey Mouse cup and pre-packaged apple slices.

The Verdict: A pretty good meal, considering it wasn't made with a mother's love. Very simple to make in about 20 minutes or less.

Best Paired With: Disney's Ratatouille because according to Chef Gusteau, "Anyone can cook!"

Revision: As I Lay Dying Announces The Cool Tour

A fellow classmate and reader pointed out that I didn't really explain the point of this post and why it was relevant.

First, I have to say I LOVE As I Lay Dying. As I mentioned in the post, they are currently touring to promote their new album with Demon Hunter, Bless the Fall and War of Ages. However, the closest they are coming to Ohio on that tour is to Louisville, Kentucky (e.t.a. 4 hours and 30 minutes) or Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (e.t.a. 3 hours and 30 minutes).

With the announcement of The Cool Tour, I was in such a haste to get the post up, I failed to explain that they will be coming to Columbus, Ohio on July 23 at The LC Pavilion, which was the whole point of the post to begin with.

Tickets go on sale April 30th on Ticketmaster.

The Verdict: No other word besides, stoked (though it may be the lingo of a twelve-year-old boy).

Best Paired With: A Garmin G.P.S., Energy drinks and a mask so you don't get killed by moshers.

30 Hour Famine; Are You Hungry?

While this really isn't an exploration in cooking, this is an exploration into hunger, which generally both hit the same spot. In America, it's rare for people to die from hunger.

According to World Vision, "Today 25,000 kids under age 5 will die--most of them from preventable causes like hunger, poverty and disease. 13,000 kids under age 5 will die just from causes related to hunger. That's one child every seven seconds."

Each year, many of the local youth groups participate in World Vision's 30 Hour Famine. As a youth sponsor at my church, this was my first year learning about the Famine.



As part of the 30 Hour Famine, the youth group joined up with other local churches from the area. They passed out bags through the town with a note that they would be collecting cans to benefit food banks and homeless shelters throughout the region.

Additionally, they collected donations from family and friends to send to World Vision. As part of the donation process, they had to go without eating for 30 hours.

Through World Vision, the church's decided to send all of their donations to Africa. In this case, $30 can feed 1 child for a whole month.

As part of the Famine, an employee of The Timothy House, a homeless shelter in Athens, Ohio, came to share the some of the experiences of homelessness with the kids through a homeless simulation.

During the simulation, there were three 15 minute days and three 5 minute nights. They each were given a packet describing the persona they had to take on, which sometimes meant they had a disease or mental illness that they needed to see the doctor for, they had to get a temporary job, visit the food pantry, etc. They also had to sleep in a homeless shelter during the 5 minute nights or in the designated outside area. Additionally, they needed to ride the bus to get to destinations or have a walking pass. If they didn't do any of these things, the cop would take them to jail.

Though the kids may not have felt the full effects of homelessness and hunger, they did learn how difficult and frustrating life can be in those situations.

If you're hungry to help, donate to World Vision.

The Verdict: Overall, this was a rewarding experience. The youth group raised a good amount of money and learned that they have a lot to be thankful for.

As I Lay Dying Announces The Cool Tour

Yesterday evening, As I Lay Dying shared upcoming tour plans exclusively with Entertainment Weekly. The tour will also feature Underoath, Between the Buried and Me, the Acacia Strain, Architects, Cancer Bats, and War of Ages.

The Cool Tour will launch on on July 12 stretching from Orlando, Florida to San Francisco on August 1, with 16 cities in between.

Photo Credit: (http://www.cooltour10.com/)

As I Lay Dying is currently touring to promote their new album with Demon Hunter, Bless the Fall and War of Ages. The Powerless Rise, which has is already available for pre-order on their website and on iTunes will be released on May 11.

Photo Credit: (http://www.bandsonfire.com)

Beyond our Suffering, the first release from The Powerless Rise, doesn't fail to deliver. The heavier sound plays homage to their earlier albums, but carries the refinement of An Ocean Between Us with more layers of guitar, bass, drums and vocals.

Sunshine, Cupcakes, Cats and Bob Marley

Photo Credit: Anna Hartenbach

For this, best of all cupcakes, I can only give the credit to my accomplice, Betty Crocker. As I freely, admit, I can't cook. My motto is, if it comes in a box then thank God I can read directions.

I obviously wasn't too adventurous in branching out and baking something special, but I thought cupcakes were all too appropriate for the occasion.

What was the occasion, you ask?

Well, number one, it was sunny and happy, which after the terrible winter I think sunny weather only calls for cupcakes. Also, my mom and I have never actually figured out when my cat's actual birthday was, so I thought it would be a good time to make up for the last seven years of un-celebratory cat birthdays...and we usually aren't the type of people to give a cat a birthday.

Since it was from a box, it was painfully simple. All the recipe...er, box...called for was 3 whole eggs, 1 cup of water and 1/4 cup of vegetable oil. And, of course, awesome sprinkle icing.

In the form of cupcakes:

1. Mix all ingredients in a large bowl until the powder is all wet.

2. Then, pull out a handy, old-school (from the 1970's in my case) hand-mixer.

3. Mix on low for 2 minutes.

4. Pour 3/4 full in each cupcake spot.

5. Beware that the mix is enough for approximately 20-24 cupcakes, so if you only have one cupcake pan, you may have to put it in more than once.

6. Decorate! Though, if you're going to decorate as I did, with a ring of sprinkles, you will need to buy extra sprinkles because the icing doesn't come with enough. Sour Patch Kids on top are optional.

Photo Credit: Anna Hartenbach

As is grass...

Photo Credit: Anna Hartenbach

The Verdict: Ask my cat...

Photo Credit: Anna Hartenbach

I think that means good.

Best Paired With: Three Little Birds by Bob Marley. "Don't worry, 'bout a thing. Every little thing's gonna be alright..." when you have sunshine, cupcakes and a nice cat.

I'm Here for the Adrenaline and Pyrotechnics

There is just something about walking into a concert arena that makes my adrenaline pump. The thrill of passing through security as they check my ticket to make sure it's real. Check my purse for skateboards (a first time experience there) and camera to make sure it isn't professional. As I make my way past the merchandise tables, the smell of freshly printed band swag pumps the excitement to my brain. I can hear the opening band and the beat of the bass through the speakers. Pupils dilate. Palms sweat. The excitement has encompassed my body.

Last night I saw Skillet and TobyMac in concert at the Big Sandy Arena in Huntington, West Virginia. The opener was House of Heroes. However, I can't say that I listened to them enough to give them a fair judgment, nor did I care to pay attention because I knew that with Skillet comes pyrotechnics.

Photo Credit: Anna Hartenbach

And they didn't fail to deliver. In fact they delivered again...

Photo Credit: Anna Hartenbach

and again...

Photo Credit: Anna Hartenbach

and again...

Photo Credit: Anna Hartenbach

Although this was my third time seeing Skillet live, they never get old. They have such a great visual aspect to their shows. I really appreciate that. So many bands focus on the music, which I guess is the main reason you're there, but it's so awesome when musicians take into consideration that you want to SEE something. Even when I've seen them play at smaller venues, they still break out confetti cannons or something to really put on a show.

I'd have to say that even without the pyrotechnics, they still have such great stage presence.

Korey Cooper plays the guitar and keyboard at the same time.

Photo Credit: Anna Hartenbach

They also had a cellist (though I didn't get a good enough picture) and a violinist.

Photo Credit: Anna Hartenbach

Not to mention a pretty awesome female drummer.

Photo Credit: Anna Hartenbach

Skillet and TobyMac are both Christian bands, though Skillet is in the rock genre and TobyMac uses rap, reggae, hip hop and funk.

TobyMac had the stage presence of a dude traveling with a large posse.

Photo Credit: Anna Hartenbach

I have to admit, though that TobyMac isn't really something I'd usually listen to. On the other hand, I do think they kept it interesting with large LED screens and some pretty neat dance moves.

Photo Credit: Anna Hartenbach

The Verdict: Overall, I had an awsome time and I was very visually stimulated as well as a little deaf at the end. I do have a preference for Skillet over TobyMac and I'd probably be more likely to see Skillet again than I would TobyMac.

Best Paired With: Water, lots of water for all of the screaming involved.

Download:

Skillet- Hero and Monster

Photos are subject to copyright.

Fresh From the Oven

Today is your lucky day, that's right today is the start of a new blog. Today is the day God smiled down and decided that Earth was in need of yet another blog. A little dramatic and most obviously not the case, but today is the day my journalism 314 class gets to bust out our new blogs.

What am I hustlin' you ask?

Other than corny jokes, sarcasm and delirious blabs from lack of sleep, I plan to take you on an adventure in cooking, movies and music.

In terms of cooking, I'm in college so it should go without saying that I can't cook my way out of a cereal box. I'm lucky most days if haven't burnt myself out on PB&J or turkey sandwiches.
My goal is to learn how to cook and hopefully learn how to cook healthy foods.

At this point I'd consider myself halfatarian, meaning I'm really picky and basically the only meats I eat are turkey, chicken and bacon. However, I'd like to learn some cool veg-friendly recipes from friends as well.

Movies and music are big passions for me. New movies, old movies and anything in between. In terms of music, I'm at an adventurous point and I'm ready to grab Granny Garmin (my GPS) and road trip to good shows.

My small college town is full of kids who can't cook, it's very veg-friendly and the main forms of entertainment here are movies and music (however, all music reviews won't be local bands).

The Verdict: TBD. At this point we'll wait and see, hopefully this turns out pretty cool.

Up Next: Friday I'm going to see Skillet in concert for the third time, so as a preview here is a video from their newest CD, Awake.