The Trials and Tribulations of Cooking in College

So I have recently moved into my apartment for the summer and I FINALLY have my own kitchen. No more meal plan for me; instead, its time for me to branch out and start “feeding myself”. I have gotten into cooking lately and have been making relatively simple but delicious meals like tacos, salmon, burgers, and lasagna. However, I realize that these meals could be too complex for someone really just starting out in the cooking arena (say my fellow intern Karthik). So, I want to give you (and him) the tools to make a simple dish, one that pretty much everyone will like, and that can be as varied as you want to make it. Yes, if you haven’t guessed, I am referring to an OMELET.

Step 1: Shopping- Now this can be done in a variety of ways. You could go to the grocery store or shop in your own fridge (or a friend’s fridge). Just remember, there is ONE CRITICAL INGREDIENT: EGGS. Other then eggs, feel free to use anything you have around. I love my omelets with spinach, tomatoes, onions, and goat cheese. But you can literally put whatever you like into an omelet (love meat: add bacon and ham. Love veggies: go crazy with everything in your fridge). The opportunities and variability of an omelet is endless!

Step 2: Preparing: So depending on what you’re putting into your omelet, there is usually some prep time involved.
-Tomatoes: you should probably chop them.
-Onions: maybe sauté them first.
-Cheese: be sure to open the container (this can be a little tricky, be careful if utilizing scissors).
-Pan: be sure to prep the pan (a small fry pan is key) with a little bit of butter or cooking spray. Also, remember to crack the eggs, add a little water or milk and beat with a fork or whisk.

Step 3: Cooking: Just a heads up, this is the hardest part! Add the eggs to the pan and let them cook till the bottom is hard, then push part of the cooked egg into the center of the pan and let the runny part cook (repeat as needed). Then add the good stuff into the omelet! At this point (once all the egg is cooked), fold the omelet over so it is a semi-circle. Then flip to ensure it’s fully cooked and WALA! There you have it, your own gourmet meal that you can impress your friends and family with. ENJOY!