Collins Culinary Creations

If you don’t already know, the 5Cs have some pretty darn good food.   In fact, four of the five dining halls rank among the top 18 of College Prowler’s best dining list, with Collins in the top six.  But sometimes you’re just in the mood to make your own food.  Here are a few dishes you can make when the "At Home" buffet isn’t striking your fancy and when the World Wok line is too daunting:

BBQ Chicken Salad First grab not one, but two plates.  From the salad bar, pile a few tongfuls of romaine lettuce on one plate, then add ½ a ladle of ranch dressing.  Put second plate on top and shake both plates until the dressing is well mixed. Still at the salad bar, throw on some corn-off-the-cob, bacon bits, red onions, and olives.  Now move onto the sandwich area and add roasted red and green bell peppers, cheddar cheese, and ½ ladle of BBQ sauce.  Then ask the man at the grill station for a nice plain breast of chicken.  Put that on the second plate that served as a top for shaking.  Spread some more BBQ sauce on the chicken and cut into thin slices.  Place on salad.  Then head to the "Farm to Fork" station for a handful of Fritos.  Finally, drizzle ½ ladle of ranch dressing on top to finish it off.  Scrumptious.

Brunch Quesadilla Feeling last night a bit too much?  Try this for a comforting, stomach-coating fix. Go to the omelet station and ask for a flour tortilla.  Spread some red pepper sauce (in the sandwich station) on top, and then cover half the tortilla with cheddar cheese.  Go back to omelet station and add tomatoes, onions, and any other vegetable that you might be particularly keen to.  If desired go to the salad station for some spinach leaves.  Then move on to "At Home" buffet for some eggs (tell them to just put eggs on the cheesy half of the tortilla).  Next, fold the tortilla over itself and cook on the sandwich press until cheese is melted and tortilla is golden.  Top with sour cream if available, cut into pieces, and enjoy.

Pineapple Thai Peanut Noodles Grab a cereal bowl and a spoon. Put about a tablespoon of peanut butter in the bowl, 1 ½ tablespoon of soy sauce (from the dining area), and about ½ tablespoon of soymilk.  Stir to combine, then microwave for 30 seconds.  Take out and put bell peppers, spinach, and shredded carrots on top.  Microwave for another 45 seconds.  Get a plateful of pasta from the "At Home" section and add all ingredients from the bowl.  Mix it all up nice and well.  Top with pineapple slices, a bit more soy sauce, and Sriracha sauce.  Yum!

You might think people will look at you funny for scurrying around the dining hall with multiple plates and strange food combos, and you’re probably right.  But it’s worth it.  You’ll be proud of your little creation, and you’ll enjoy it that much more.  So go on and experiment with your own culinary masterpieces.