Dorm food has a bad reputation. Pizza, chips and candy, energy drinks, and Cup Noodles constitute the four major food groups of the college diet. So how does a teen food blogger, one who considers the Saturday morning farmers’ market the highlight of her week, navigate this daunting new environment?
Well, for starters, I will live in an apartment-style dorm this fall. My two roommates and I share a kitchenette equipped with a refrigerator, stove, and (hopefully) a small oven. I have access to fresh produce and pantry staples from an on-campus grocery store, but everything I cook must be quick and simple. Healthy snacks are especially important because they keep me going throughout the day and dictate my energy level.
Enter yogurt popsicles with granola and fresh figs.
This recipe allows you to use whatever you have on hand, mixing and matching flavors, with no fancy equipment required. Layer granola, mixed nuts, and ripe fruit with dollops of yogurt in a glass vessel, pop the glass in the freezer for a few hours, and enjoy a specially-designed, portable snack.
Some of my favorite combinations include toasted coconut and blueberries, almond butter and banana, and mixed berries with jam.
In the coming weeks, I will chronicle every chapter of my dorm food adventure. I invite you all to share any recipes and tips with me in the comments box. I look forward to discovering creative ways to enjoy fresh food within the parameters of college life.
Inspired by The Gourmandise School of Sweets and Savories
Ingredients
1/2 cup yogurt (I like the tanginess of Greek yogurt)
3 tblsp granola
2 ripe figs
2 tblsp fig jam
Drizzle of honey
Drizzle the sides of the glass with honey. Cover the bottom with a dab of yogurt. Layer bits of jam, figs and granola with the yogurt, sealing the top with yogurt. Stick a spoon through the center of the “parfait,” and freeze for at least five hours. To release the popsicle, run the glass under warm water and twist the spoon.
Let's Live La Vida 
Maral, so exciting to be heading off into college life! I hope it's everything you dreamed, and more. Based on your passion for good food and your talent for preparing delicious recipes, somehow, I think your roommates are going to be well fed. BTW, will there be anytime in your busy schedule to continue with your pop-up bakeries? I hope so. 😉
Thank you so much Mary! Yes, II think that my roommates won't mind being my taste-testers 😉 I'm currently trying to figure out a way to keep up with my pop-up bakery schedule, and will definitely keep you posted.
there are beautiful pictures Maral. im jealous you live in such a cooking-friendly environment… allli have is a fridge freezer and microwave :(((( can’t wait to see what you make this year. take care and have a wonderful year xoxox