Everything you need to know

Hello Myrtle,

Help! I’m so sick of on-campus food that I have to cancel my meal plan before going completely mad. Trouble is, I can’t afford to eat out all the time, and my culinary skills only extend as far as mixing water and noodles, and sometimes I even mess that up. Any tips?

—I’m Not a Cook!

Hi INC,

Well, this isn’t “Ask Rachael Ray,” but I’ll do my best. There are plenty of easy meals you can make that require minimal knowledge of cooking. Go to Goodwill or Target and buy yourself a saucepan, a small skillet, a big wooden spoon, and a spatula. Then, pick up a copy of Joy of Cooking or (gasp) call Mom for a few simple recipes. Scrambled eggs and bacon, grilled cheese, pita pizzas, and spaghetti are all good places to start. If you can master sautéing (frying quickly in oil) vegetables, a few cut-up carrots, zucchini, onions, mushrooms, and your favorite meat or vegetable can quickly become a plethora of different meals. Break some eggs on top, and you’ve got an omelet (or if you really want to impress your friends, call it a frittata). Dump some pasta in the skillet and you have pasta primavera. Put it on some rice and you have an Asian entrée. See? You’ll be making soufflés in no time.

—Myrtle

Dear Myrtle,

I want to move in with my boyfriend next semester when my lease runs out, but some of my friends don’t think it’s a good idea. What do you think?

—Housemate Or Not?

Hey there HON,

We’re lucky that we can even consider the option of cohabitation — a couple generations ago, it would have been unheard of. Still, just because coed housing is mostly accepted nowadays, it doesn’t mean cohabitation is necessarily a good idea. Living with someone you love can be fabulous, but make sure you’re doing it for the right reasons. Moving in with somebody to save money, to piss off your parents, to test him or her for marriage, while separately all important considerations, are not good reasons. And remember, it’s difficult enough to break up with someone, but it’s even worse when you have to pack up boxes and break leases on top of the heartache. But, hey, love is all about risks, right? Just make sure you’ve thought about all the pros and cons before signing that lease.

—Myrtle

Need advice? Send queries to advice@thetartan.org.