By Janet Lee
Staff Writer

There are many foods you can make in a regular kitchen. However, making it in the dormitory is a different experience because it proves your independence and, more importantly, it gives you an opportunity to bond with your roommates. Here are some fun dishes you can make right in your dorm. These dishes are vegetarian, but you can add meat or anything else you’d like.

This pizza is perfect for a Friday movie night or fun to make for lunch or dinner on a weekend. Here are the things you will need:

-  Garlic herb dough

-  Bruschetta

-  Mozzarella

-  Spinach

-  Bell peppers

-  Heirloom tomatoes

-  Red onions

-  Shredded Parmesan

First, make sure all the ingredients you want on your pizza are prepped. In this case, wash and cut the bell peppers, heirloom tomatoes, red onions and the spinach. Then, roll out the pizza dough while sprinkling flour on the dough. After that, spread a good amount of bruschetta onto the dough. Then, spread a good amount of spinach, bell peppers, red onions, heirloom tomatoes. Sprinkle shredded Parmesan cheese over it all. Finally, preheat the oven and bake the pizza at 400 degrees for 20 minutes.

This next recipe is for a simple salad that is great for lunch or even for dinner. If you are watching your calorie intake, this is a perfect option. You will need:

-  Garlic

-  Lemon

-  Roasted chickpeas

-  Persian cucumbers

-  Cherry tomatoes

-  Feta cheese

-  Garlic salt

-  Red onion

-  Pepper

All you need to do is first wash and chop all your vegetables into bite size pieces. Then just mix it all together.

The next time you think about what to have for lunch or dinner, take an alternative route and cook yourself a meal. Especially on a weekend, if you want to do something different, take advantage of Hofstra’s Blue Beetle and take a trip to Stop and Shop or Trader Joe’s and get these ingredients for a delicious meal you can make right in your dorm!