How to Feed Yourself

The editors of Spoon University, which began in 2013 as a publication for students “who didn’t know how to feed themselves,” present an entertaining assortment of 100 recipes intended for coeds and recent grads who have small kitchens and small budgets. Some recipes focus on perking up simple ingredients (there are three variations on instant ramen and an entire chapter on toast), while others tread the line between creative and desperate. A bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich substitutes toaster waffles for the bun, and a dish called empty peanut butter jar noodles calls for shaking warm pasta inside a much-used jar. Each offering comes with usage suggestions: the scrappy cream cheese pasta, for example, is a good dish to make when supplies are low and “you refuse to go to the grocery store,” and consists primarily of a box of pasta and a brick of cream cheese. This minimalism carries over to some healthier options, including flourless pancakes made from only bananas and eggs. A section on being a grown-up includes a two-page spread on how to dine at a nice restaurant, while a brief collection of cocktails contains creations only a freshman could love, including a punch called summer beer, which combines beer, vodka, and pink lemonade. No prerequisites are required for this intro course on easy and inexpensive cooking. [em](Dec.) [/em]