Rushing between classes and wanting to save time, I often go to the dining hall for meals, especially lunch and dinner. But being dependent almost solely on the dining hall for meals can become repetitive and boring.

Overall, I like the dining hall food, but sometimes you gotta mix it up. My friend and I love creating our own dining hall recipes. Using ingredients from the dining hall ONLY, check out our recipes for peanut butter tofu, creamcheese spinach bites and DIY butterbeer.

1. Peanut Butter Tofu

Easy

Prep Time: 4 min
Cook Time: 1 min
Total Time: 5 min

Servings: 1

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon peanut butter
1 bowl tofu
1 bowl vegetables of your choice
1 tablespoon RedHot sauce or Sriracha
2 tablespoons soy sauce

dining hall

Photo by Cathy Ma

Directions:
1. Make the sauce by mixing the peanut butter, RedHot sauce or Sriracha and soy sauce in a bowl.
2. Mix the sauce with the tofu and vegetables.
3. If you want to spice up the ingredients, add black pepper or red pepper flakes.
4. Once you are done mixing, microwave for 45 to 60 seconds.

dining hall

Photo by Cathy Ma

2. Cheese Spinach Bites

Easy

Prep Time: 3 min
Cook Time: 0 min
Total Time: 3 min

Servings: 1

Ingredients:
1 English muffin
2 tablespoons cream cheese
A few spinach leaves (chopped up)

dining hall

Photo by Cathy Ma

Directions:
1. Mix cream cheese and spinach in a bowl.

dining hall

Photo by Cathy Ma

2. Spread the cream cheese and spinach mixture onto one side of the English muffin, top with the other half.

dining hall

Photo by Cathy Ma

3. Press it in a waffle maker and cut into bite-sized pieces.

IMG_0302

Photo by Cathy Ma

3. DIY Butterbeer

Easy

Prep Time: 2 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Total Time: 2 minutes

Servings: 1

Ingredients:
½ cup ginger ale
¼ cup diet Coke
1 pump vanilla ice cream (from the soft serve machine, or just one scoop vanilla ice cream)
1 pump caramel sauce

dining hall

Photo by Cathy Ma

Directions:
1. Mix all the ingredients in a cup until combined.

dining hall

Photo by Cathy Ma

2. Enjoy your drink!

dining hall

Photo by Cathy Ma

For more dining hall hacks, check these out: