Back to school

I don't think this first post will be seen by anyone, but I have to start somewhere! I'm headed off to school in about 2 weeks. The first couple blogs are just going to be getting ready for school since I'm not there yet, more recipes will come later. For all you new timers in a cooking dorm or apartment, here are just suggested items to bring from home.

• Pots and pans (not too many, your roommates will have some too.)
• Silverware, can opener, 1 or 2 mixing bowls, a sharp knife, cookie sheet, mug, etc (think of the stuff from home you can't make do without. You can't open a can of corn with a butter knife, for example.)
• Rice, flour, and sugar. This stuff is pretty cheap but heavy, you don't want to walk home from the grocery store carrying it. Bring it from home if you can.
• Salt, baking soda/powder, pepper, cinnamon, and anything else you use frequently. Spices are expensive but last for years, bring a few tablespoons from home in plastic bags (labeled of course.)
• Hot chocolate. If you're like my family, you'll have a ton of this stuff leftover from last winter. Bring a couple packets along with a mug. You'll be thankful when the snow hits. Look for extra jars of peanut butter and other stuff that you're parents won't mind you taking.
• Rice cooker. This was my best friend at school, I used it all the time. Rice is cheap, filling, and easy to make.
• Containers for leftovers. Make sure you have around 4, you don't want to waste food.
• Recipes from home! I forgot this one last semester, I kept having to ask my mom to email them to me.

Here's my first official tip! Don't worry about a toaster. If you have one, great. If you don't, use you're oven.  Set the broiler of your oven on high, put the bread on a cookie sheet, watch it closely because it cooks really fast, and turn over to cook the other side. The one downside is that the toast cools off pretty fast so you have to butter it as soon as it gets out of else it won't melt.