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Start with simple recipes like Crunchy Crostini.

Crunchy Crostini Solo
Materials	Ingredients	Toppings
Chopping board	1 French bread stick	Tomato sauce
Grill pan	1 clove garlic	Sliced/grated Mozzarella cheese
Sharp knife	Olive oil	Sliced tomatoes, olives, or jalapeños

Heat the grill. Carefully cut the French bread into slices then toast the pieces of bread on both sides until golden brown.

Rub one side of each piece of toast with half a clove of garlic, or use garlic spread, then brush it with olive oil. Add topping of choice.

CloseThis past spring break, my parents and little brother were out of the country. It was just my uncle, cousin, brother, and me, and cooking skills were limited.

I had about nine days of vacation and I was pretty sure that I would eventually need to eat! Most days we would dine out or get takeout.

But there are more nutritious and money-saving ways to enjoy a hearty meal! So, with my uncle and cousin at work, lunch was up to me.

I decided to start with simple recipes before attempting a complex one. There were a few recipe books in my house (I admit I used a children's cook book) that had simple dishes for lunch or a snack.

Every day a new recipe 

I took an idea from my mother and made Grilled Pasta.

Grilled Pasta for Two
Materials	Ingredients
Large pot to boil water	3 c. pasta shells
11" x 8" baking pan	13 oz. tomato sauce (your favorite)
Deep pan/dish for grilling	Individual choice of toppings (vegetables, meats) Shredded cheddar and mozzarella cheese

Boil the water, add the pasta and cook according to instructions.

Mix the cooked pasta with the tomato sauce and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Place the pasta in the grilling dish or pan. Layer on your choice of toppings, then the cheese. Put under the broiler until cheese is melted or crispy. Enjoy!

Close The first day, the weather was dull and wet so I decided to brighten it with a fruit smoothie.

It's probably best to make sure you know how to operate a blender correctly—not only for safety reasons, but also so the recipe you are blending turns out right.

Fruit Smoothie for Two
Materials	Ingredients
Chopping board	6 oz. (or more) strawberries
Sharp knife	1 banana
Blender/food processor	1 lemon
Glasses	1 tbsp. sugar
Straws (optional)	4 oz. yogurt
Ice (optional)	8 oz. milk

Make sure to wash all the fruit. Remove the hulls of the strawberries. Peel and slice the banana and place it in the blender with a squeeze of lemon.

Add the strawberries, yogurt, sugar, and milk. If you add ice, use less milk. After putting the lid on the blender, whiz for one minute, or until it is smooth and frothy. Enjoy!

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Another day I read about cheesecake cookie cups in a magazine and it sounded appealing to my taste buds.

Cheesecake Cookie Cups for Friends
Filling ingredients	Other ingredients
3 (8 oz.) pkgs. cream cheese	Cupcake pan
1 c. sugar	30 vanilla wafers
4 eggs	Choice of topping: blueberry, strawberry, or cherry pie filling
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla	Muffin cups

Set cream cheese out for 30 minutes or until softened. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine cream cheese, sugar, eggs, and vanilla in a mixing bowl. Mix until creamy.

Place muffin cups in the cupcake pan. Place vanilla wafers in the bottom of the cups. Spoon mixture over wafer; fill 3/4 full.

Bake for 15 or 20 minutes at 350 degrees. Let cool. Top with your favorite pie filling. Enjoy!

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The recipe was a little more advanced and it required patience—which I discovered after about three failures!

I also learned that it is better to make a smaller batch if you are baking something you are not quite familiar with.

After finally succeeding with the cheesecake cookie cups, I decided to be brave and make dinner. I chose to make a pasta dish: simple, tasty, and easy.

I took an idea from my mother for the pasta and made grilled pasta for two.

After baking the pasta, I topped it with cheese and vegetable toppings—omatoes, onions, chopped peppers, sweet corn—-you could use any combo you like.

Next I placed it under the broiler. With some salad on the side and ice cream for dessert, my meal turned out pretty nice!

Most of the food and materials I needed for my "feasts" were already in my kitchen...