When faced with limited space and cooking supplies in a college dorm room, students often have to get creative with their meals. For those who don’t have the time to get crafty, though, reverting to childhood classics is a time-honored tradition. They’re simple, quick and often give us a sense of nostalgia we might need when faced with the stresses of college life. This week, this author introduces one of her own childhood favorites: the cheese melt.

To avoid being one of those food bloggers who prefaces every recipe with a long winded account of their entire life story, I’ll keep this brief. When I was a child, every time I would visit my grandmother, she would make me a cheese melt for lunch. Like my father before me, I loved devouring a cheese melt before being sent outside to play, and indulging in this delicious treat still brings memories which brighten my chaotic days.

What exactly is a cheese melt? Some may argue it’s simply an unfolded quesadilla, but I won’t get into that debate here. To make a cheese melt, sprinkle some mild cheddar cheese over a tortilla and microwave for 30-45 seconds. Once the cheese is melted, cut the tortilla into triangles like a pizza. In only a few simple steps, this recipe is complete! It may not be a gourmet meal, but it is great when pressed for time. It’s a basic dish which takes minimal effort for those lazier days, and the ingredients are relatively inexpensive and simple. There’s little opportunity to make a mistake while cooking this dish, except for adding too much cheese. Overall, this nostalgic childhood treat can easily be transformed into a desperate college student’s feast. With only two simple ingredients, it’s easy to build on this meal by adding bacon bits, chives or whatever other toppings suit your taste to make a more well-rounded meal. Whether or not it counts as a quesadilla is up for interpretation, but trying this latest recipe is a choice you won’t regret!