There are many stereotypes about college life. You’ll sleep till noon; you’ll learn about the wonders of liquor bottled in plastic handles; you’ll hang one of 10 popular posters up in your room freshman year. Many of these stereotypes are true…but none is truer than the famed (and feared) freshman 15.

It’s no mystery why we gain weight at college. The steamed trout at your dining hall is probably not very good, which means a lot of burgers from the grill station and late-night pizza runs. But take it from someone who spent four years without kitchen access: it is …

Thanks to everyone who entered our Slushed! giveaway. We loved hearing about all your favorite frozen treats! But there can only be one winner…

Congrats to Francine!

Francine’s favorite treat is 1/2 spicy chocolate, 1/2 pistachio gelato. YUM. Shoot us your address to claim your prize!

Keep an eye out for more great giveaways here on SKC.

—The Small Kitchen College Team…

Thanks to everyone who entered our Edible Cocktails:From Garden to Glass—Seasonal Cocktails with a Fresh Twist giveaway! We loved hearing about all your creative cocktail flavors, and you’ve definitely inspired us. But there can only be one winner…

Congrats to Jacqui, who thinks a cotton candy cocktail would be fun and delicious. That sounds amazing—we’ll get right on that! Shoot us an email to claim your prize.

And stay tuned for more great giveaways at SKC!

—The Small Kitchen College Team…

Snack: Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
Brain booster rating: 6 out of 10—the oatmeal is healthy and filling, but the chocolate keeps this firmly in the sweets category
Equipment: Mixing bowls, hand mixer, baking sheet
Ingredients: Oats, butter, sugar, brown sugar, one egg, flour, baking powder, salt, vanilla, cinnamon, chocolate chips

One of the many things I learned upon college graduation was that one’s need for study break snacks will actually increase. When you’re working in an office all day, that mid-day snack becomes your beacon of hope, and sometimes it’s the only thing that keeps you going. However, being …

Tomorrow is Cinco de Mayo, one of our favorite excuses to gorge ourselves on cheese and avocados—you might even call it the Summertime Superbowl. To help you throw a proper party, here are a few of our favorite Mexican recipes from around the web, with help from this week’s Pinterest board.

—Lily Bellow, Small Kitchen College Managing Editor

**SKC Picks**

You’ve probably made guacamole before—but I bet you can make it better. Here are some pro-tips.

These chicken flautas are the perfect finger food, and will please party guests of all ages.

While your guests are chipping and …

It’s definitely not winter anymore, I can vouch for that. But just when it begins to feel almost too hot, I curse myself for leaving home without a jacket. Is that what spring is now in our newly globally-warmed ecosystem; just the rapid interchange between winter and summer? I can’t help you with what to wear, but I can give you some vegetarian meals to acclimate you to a warmer season while keeping you comforted in the kitchen, with help from this week’s Pinterest board.

**SKC Picks**

This african peanut stew features winter’s all-star vegetable cast, and can be …

Thanks to all who entered our Sir Kensington’s Ketchup giveaway! We loved hearing about all your favorite foods for dipping. But there can only be one winner…

Congrats to VanessaMeryl!

Here’s what Vanessa had to say: Fries definitely! But that Bloody Mary sounds AWESOME! One of my life goals is to make or find a bloody Mary base recipe I really love! Testing those out is fabulous and dangerous

We’re happy to help you cross something off your bucket list. Shoot us an email to claim your prize!

And stay tuned for more great giveaways on SKC!

—The Small …

As soon as the weather turns warm, I have 2 thoughts: “VEGETABLES!” and “BATHING SUITS!” The first is screamed in excitement; the second in horror. The slow braises and hearty pastas of winter have taken their toll on my thighs, and now that their season has passed, it’s time to get serious. And fast.

Fortunately, my vegetable excitement happens to be a perfect solution to my problem. There are enough fresh vegetables to keep my diet interesting and varied, and unlike their wintertime cousins, they’re delicious pretty much all on their own. Which brings me to: gazpacho. I’ll use …

Thanks to everyone who entered our Lodge Cast Iron Cookbook giveaway! We loved hearing about all your favorite kitchen equipment (and heard a lot of familiar small kitchen-friendly answers). But there can only be one winner…

Congrats to Barbara Palermo!

Barbara’s favorite piece of kitchen equipment is her Kenwood! (And can you blame her?). Shoot us an email to claim your prize!

Stay tuned for more great giveaways here at SKC.

—The Small Kitchen College Team…

Originally made as the sauce for a whole wheat roasted red pepper pizza, this kale and arugula pesto would be equally good as a spread, dip, or pasta sauce. It’s bright and healthy, and as low as possible on olive oil and cheese, so it doesn’t feel as oily as typical restaurant pesto. Feel free to swap out any of the greens for your favorites!

Lily Bellow graduated in 2009 from Harvard University with a degree in English Literature. While in college, she bartended and cooked at the campus pub, and as a result has a difficult time eating …