[aephi alum]

I would recommend The Absolute Beginner's Cookbook by Jackie Eddy. My mom gave me a copy when I left for college (even though I was far from an absolute beginner, even back then), and there are some tasty (and easy!) recipes in there.

My dorm was set up in suites, each of which had several bedrooms, a bathroom, a lounge, and a full kitchen. The cafeterias were horrible. (Aramark SUCKS!) We had a declining-balance meal plan (so instead of signing up for, say, 21 meals a week, you put a dollar amount on your card, and whatever you didn't use, you got back at the end of the year). So I kept a couple hundred dollars on my card so I could grab a bagel and coffee in the morning ... and I cooked. A LOT.

Pasta is an easy one. Just buy some dried pasta and follow the directions on the package. Either buy a jar of sauce, or make your own if you're feeling adventurous (tomato sauce and spices are no less difficult to heat up, and arguably less expensive than a jar of prepared spaghetti sauce).

Stir-fry is easy, too, and very flexible. Get a chicken breast or some beef or pork or whatever (unless you're vegetarian, obviously) and cut the meat into strips. Get whatever veggies you like (onions, bell peppers, broccoli, etc.) and slice them up. Heat up some oil in a saucepan, throw in the meat and veggies and some spices if you like, stir-fry it up, and you're done. Make up some instant rice if you're pressed for time, or cook up some white or brown rice.