Warm Spinach Dip

Spinach Dip!!! Wooo! Yes, spinach dip is incredibly exciting, at least it is with my group of friends! Definitely a party staple and probably the most requested recipe I have. Which makes it an obvious addition to the Ultimate Student Collection. Its ooey, its gooey and soooo tasty! Even though it is packed with cheese, (and I mean seriously packed), I use light/low fat versions to help out a bit, but surprisingly it does not sacrifice flavour.

Now I know there are a gazillion spinach dip recipes out there, but I add a little something extra that sets mine apart. That secret is slivered almonds. It adds an element of crunch to the creamy dip. Trust me, once you have the dip without them, you will miss them.

So next time you have a girls night, or you are invited to a potluck, try bring this super easy spinach dip, its sure to please the masses.

12 Tips and Tricks to Eating on a Student Budget

There are a million and one budget tips and tricks out there but these are mine that I try to live by. I am a living, breathing, extremely poor student and these are from my own experiences!

You can always find these under my Tips and Tricks Tab posted above. 

Tip #12: Don't forget to splurge every once in a while. 

Eating on a budget doesn't mean you have to make sacrifices, just compromises. So every once in a while, it is okay to make a special meal that includes a great cut of meat, or a really fancy cheese or whatever. Being able to treat yourself here and there will allow you to stay on budget the rest of the time a whole lot easier. Whether it is for a special someone, or even just for yourself, splurge! Life is about living and enjoying food is one component of that. 

New Food Challenge #1: The Pomelo

Welcome to the first new food challenge! I have decided I really need to broaden my horizon and start trying some new foods. More specifically, simple ingredients. Just things you may walk right on by in the grocery store, or things you wouldn't look twice at at the market. Some foods I may try are actually ordinary to some people, and vice versa. But what the hey, we are taking this journey together right?!

First up...the pomelo. Pomelo pomelo pomelo. What the heck is a pomelo? Well it is interesting because I first heard about a pomelo from my mother. But not while growing up, only recently after I have moved out. I was home for the weekend and there she was, eating one at the kitchen table. "What the heck is that?" I asked. "A pomelo!" she replied as if she has been eating them forever and I am a nutball for not knowing hahaha....oh mom what a hoot.

Curried Sweet Potato Soup with a Honey Drizzle

Cold outside? Need to warm your belly? I have the perfect trick - a big ol hearty bowl of soup. Its sweet, savory and spicy all at the same time. I love soup, but I'm not a big fan of the kind with broth and stuff in it ... I like the pureed type, so you will begin to see a lot of these types of soup in the future! 

A really good thing about this soup is that it is extremely healthy for you! (Always a plus). In the past sweet potatoes may have been given a bad rap because they are a carb. You know, the whole "carbs are evil" thing that was floating around for awhile. However, sweet potatoes are actually extremely good for you and should be a part of everyone's diet. It is full of dietary fiber (apparently more than oatmeal) and Vitamin A and C and beta carotene (when eating with the skin on). Sweet potatoes also have a really low glycemic index score - wait what is that? Well all you need to know is that it means that sweet potatoes are digested slowly, which keeps you fuller, longer.  

I also just like to make a note that I chose to leave the skin on my sweet potatoes. Most of the antioxidants found in sweet potatoes are actually in skin. I just scrubbed them real well before using them. Plus... I am lazy and skipping the step of peeling was right up my alley. But if you choose to skin the potatoes, the color of your soup will be a lot more vibrant (just something to keep in mind). 

Holiday Party

Every year, a bunch of my friends and I get together around the holidays. We drink some wine, share some laughs, exchange gifts and eat some really good food. This year is was no different except for the fact that I am sharing it with the world!  Well the blog world at least. Our holiday parties are always pot-luck style. We all try make sure there isn't a burden on one particular person and it ends up being a lot more fun this way. I wanted to share some ideas my friends have come up with, especially since no one is confined to making these just around the holidays!

Naomie's Cranberry and Pistachio Cheese Ball 

Jen's Taco Dip

Lindsay's Mini Potato Skins with Avocado Mousse

Meagan also contributed with delicious meatballs and a Spinach Salad with Pecans and Pomegranate Seeds. I am really sorry for not having any pictures of those, but trust me they were fantastic!

Holy moly everything was so amazing, and everyone was so impressed with everyone else! I guess no one expected to be eating as well as we did. I ate so much cheese... I think I felt that more than I felt the wine. 

Last but not least, I was in charge of dessert! In true Gourmet Student style, I needed to make something quick, easy and affordable, but still amazing. Which lead me straight to chocolate fondue! The combination of chocolate and cream makes for a delicate treat. I stocked up on fruits, marshmallows, peanuts, cookies and sprinkles to dip with and there wasn't an empty belly in the house!

All in all, we all had a great time, especially me because I think I landed the best gift during our gift grab ;) lol. 

So next time you are thinking of having a holiday party, or any type of party, try having a potluck! It keeps the cost down  for the host and it is a great way for your friends to share some personality through their food!

For recipes of any of the dishes made by my friends, please email me at thegourmetstudent@hotmail.com

How-To: Keep Brown Sugar Soft

Don't you hate when you go to use your brown sugar, and it is hard as a rock? You try to break off pieces with a knife, cursing the whole time, but no matter what, it is still a sugary brick. BAH!!

So what do you do? Well I have some tricks, some may be a bit crazy sounding (ok.. really crazy) but they work I swear.

But first, ever wonder why brown sugar gets so hard? Well it is because of the molasses in it. Yep, brown sugar has molasses in it, that is why it has such a dark brown color. And the darker the sugar, the more molasses it contains. So the reason the sugar becomes a brick is because the liquid in the molasses evaporates. Go figure.

I know there are multiple ways to soften the brown stuff, but these 3 are ones that I have used multiple times and have had great success with. So lets battle the block together and try these at home.

Trick 1: Zap it Soft. 
This trick is for when you need to use your brown sugar right away. Put some sugar in a container in the microwave and put a bowl of water in the microwave beside it. Zap it on high for about a 1 minute. Still hard? Put it in for another 30 seconds, continue this until soft.

Trick 2: The Pulse and Grind. 
Also good for when you need brown sugar right away. Put some in a food processor/blender/coffee grinder and pulse until it is a usable texture.

Trick 3: The Bread Trick (WARNING: Crazy Alert!)
Yes, extreme warning. This sounds crazy. I honestly didn't think it was crazy the first time I heard it, I thought it was nifty and I have been using this trick ever since. The crazyness comes from my friends reaction when they look at me like I am a nutball for putting bread in my brown sugar jar. Ya that is all you have to do! Put a slice a bread in your brown sugar jar and leave over night, I swear to you it will be soft and luxurious the next morning. Seriously...just try it. Don't hate.

Cheers to soft brown sugar!

Peanut Butter and Jelly French Toast

French toast is great on its own, but why not jazz it up every once in a while and make your Sunday morning breakfast a treat. I know my goal was to stay away from PB & J sandwiches, but I couldn't help it! It is a classic combination!That is why I needed to add this to the Ultimate Student Collection.  I added fresh fruit to not only make it a bit healthier, but add another level of flavor and texture. 

Want a few tips about how to make a great basic french toast? Check it out here. 

Peanut Butter and Jelly French Toast

2 slices of bread

French Toast Egg Mixture (2 eggs, splash of milk, dash of vanilla... or look here)

2 Tbsp of Peanut Butter (any kind - crunchy, smooth, natural)

2 Tbsp of Jelly/Jam

Handful of fresh fruit

Dip bread in egg mixture and cook in frying pan over medium heat until golden brown. 

While still warm, spread peanut butter and jelly over one slice of french toast. Top with fresh fruit. 

Pour over maple syrup (but be careful because the jam is already really sweet, so you may not want to add to much liquid sugar).