TCNJ

8 The College of New Jersey Magazine No stove? No problem. Julia Kuzman '18 turned her tiny college kitchen into a testing ground for quick and cozy recipes that now live in a cookbook made for real life. When Julia Kuzman '18 arrived at TCNJ in her first year, she had a microwave and a mini fridge with a freezer that actually kept ice cream frozen (a miracle). But meals? Mostly oatmeal, frozen dinners, and a couple creative dining hall hacks. "I didn't really know how to cook for myself, and I knew I wasn't alone," says Kuzman. "So many people my age were living on their own for the first time, trying to juggle classes, keep up a social life, and figure out how to feed themselves. It was a lot." By her junior year, in the small kitchen of her off-campus apartment, she started learning to recreate the flavors she grew up with in recipes that felt warm, nourishing, and doable on a college schedule and budget. She documented her success along the way on an Instagram blog, @anythingbutramen, and recently published a cookbook, The Ultimate Guide to College Cooking: Easy, Healthy Meals Using Your Hot Plate, Microwave or Dorm Kitchen. Kuzman says her culinary creations are fun, fuss-free, and easy enough to make in a dorm room — or a first apartment. Here's a taste of the recipes that helped her survive, and thrive, in her college kitchen. — Emily W. Dodd P R A I R I E Julia Kuzman '18

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