On Jun 18, 9:59 pm, phaeton > wrote:
> Hello..
>
> Starting the end of July, I will be returning to school. I've abandoned
> my original plan of working full-time and schooling full-time, as I'm no
> longer in my 20s. I will still be working 40 hours a week and going to
> school about 20 or so, however. It may turn out that a few days during
> the week will mean a full day from 7:00am to 10:45pm between the two,
> with few breaks in between.
>
> I'm still learning to cook, but gone will be my luxury of spending a
> whole afternoon planning out an elaborate meal and merrily accomplishing
> it step-by-step. I will need to either be able to create things quickly
> on the spot, or do a 'set-and-forget' approach while I go study,
> hopefully with the end result being several days' worth of leftovers
> (eyes the slow-cooker).
>
> The problem is that I don't want to eat crap. A frozen pizza here and
> there or a burger might do in a pinch, but I don't want to rely on
> 'convenience food' if I can help it. I need to keep my mind sharp, my
> body strong, and my money to buy books and girls. I mean... pens and
> paper.
>
> So I ask, what are some simple yet effective meal ideas that you enjoy
> or have enjoyed, or employed when time was scarce? Thanks for any input.
>
> -J
>
> Also..... if I come across a brilliant 20-something student in Calculus
> or Trigonometry, how much study time could I buy from them with a good
> home-cooked meal?


Oddly enough, it was when I was a busy college student that I learned
to cook. Instead of running off with my studio-mates to the burger
joint craporama, I'd go home, make some rice or pasta, whack apart a
chicken. Hey, I was just learning. It was a nice break. A couple
hours of vacation. Then back to the coffee and beer fueled late
night. I think that is still why I cook - chopping onions is very
calming - a simple task after a rough day.

On the other hand, get a crock pot. Throw in whatever is on sale and
you'll have stew when you come home. It's a brilliant invention.

A rice steamer is good, too. Rice in the bottom, veg in the top - if
you get distracted by the books or the girls, it takes a long time for
stuff to burn. If not, in 20 minutes you got dinner.

Do you want to OT favor us with your academic asperations? Inquiring
minds, you know.

B