Cheap and easy meals for students

Being a foreign student is not an easy job as everyone might think. We know that it is hard to find time to cook, clean, do grocery shopping, and run all other errands at the same time that you try to make time to study, do projects, homework, and prepare for exams.

Cooking and eating well are the most important things you must take care of; however, it is also one of the things students struggle the most with. That is why we are sharing with you some easy and inexpensive recipes you can cook while studying abroad.

Pork and peanut dragon noodles

Pork and Peanut Dragon Noodles - with VIDEO - Budget Bytes

Total cost: $3.75 recipe / $1.25 serving

INGREDIENTS

DRAGON SAUCE

  • 1/4cup chili garlic sauce ($0.53)
  • 1/4cup soy sauce ($0.24)
  • 1/4cup brown sugar ($0.16)

PORK AND NOODLES

  • 1/2 ground pork* ($1.50)
  • 6 ramen noodles ($1.00)
  • 3green onions, sliced ($0.20)
  • 1/4cup unsalted peanuts, chopped ($0.12)

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Combine the chili garlic sauce, soy sauce, and brown sugar in a bowl.
  2. Add the ground pork to a skillet and cook over medium heat until it is fully browned*. Once browned, add the prepared dragon sauce and chopped peanuts. Allow the pork and peanuts to simmer in the sauce for another 5 minutes, or until the sauce has reduced by half.
  3. While the pork is browning, begin boiling water for your noodles. Once boiling, add your noodles and cook according to the package directions. Drain the noodles in a colander.
  4. Once the sauce has reduced and the noodles have drained, add the noodles to the skillet and toss until everything is combined and coated in sauce. Top with sliced green onions and serve!

 

Creamy tuna pasta with peas and parmesan

Creamy Tuna Pasta with Peas and Parmesan - Budget Bytes

Total Cost: $6.01 recipe / $1.50 serving

INGREDIENTS

  • 8 pasta ($0.67)
  • 2Tbsp butter ($0.26)
  • 2cloves garlic, minced ($0.16)
  • 1cup frozen peas ($0.38)
  • 1cup half and half* ($0.75)
  • 1/2cup shredded Parmesan ($0.95)
  • 12 can solid albacore tuna, drained ($2.79)

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Bring a pot of water to a boil for the pasta. Once boiling, add the pasta and continue to boil until the pasta is tender. Drain the pasta in a colander.
  2. While the pasta is cooking, prepare the rest of the dish. Add the butter and minced garlic to a large skillet. Sauté the garlic over medium heat for about one minute, or just until it is soft and fragrant, but not browned.
  3. Add the frozen peas and season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Sauté for a couple of minutes more, or until the peas are heated through.
  4. Add the half and half to the skillet and allow it to come up to a simmer, stirring frequently to keep a skin from forming on the surface or the bottom from scorching. Let the half and half simmer for about 3-5 minutes, or just until it reduces slightly.
  5. At this point, the pasta should be finished and drained. Add the drained pasta to the skillet and stir to combine. Sprinkle the Parmesan over the pasta and stir to combine again. Allow the heat to melt the Parmesan as you stir. Once melted, turn the heat off. Taste the pasta and add a pinch of salt and pepper, if needed.
  6. Finally, add the drained tuna and fold it into the pasta. If you are using whole tuna chunks, break them up slightly as you stir. If you are using chunk light tuna that is already in small pieces, fold gently to avoid breaking the tuna up too much. Serve warm!

 

Hearty black bean quesadillas

Hearty Black Bean Quesadillas - Vegetarian - with VIDEO - Budget Bytes

Total Cost: $6.61 recipe / $0.66 serving

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 15 oz.can black beans** ($0.56)
  • 1cup frozen corn kernels ($0.48)
  • 1/2small red onion ($0.44)
  • 1clove garlic ($0.08)
  • 1/4bunch fresh cilantro ($0.21)
  • 2cups shredded cheese ($2.50)
  • 1batch taco seasoning ($0.34)
  • 10taco sized tortillas ($2.00)

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Drain the can of beans and rinse lightly. Place the beans in a large bowl along with the corn (no need to thaw).
  2. Rinse the cilantro, remove the leaves, and chop roughly. Dice the onion and mince the garlic. Add the cilantro, onion, garlic, and shredded cheese to the bowl with the beans and corn. Lastly, mix up a batch of taco seasoning and add to the bowl. Stir everything until evenly mixed.
  3. Place a half cup of the filling on one side of each tortilla and fold over. Cook in a skillet on both sides over medium heat until brown and crispy and the cheesy filling has melted.
  4. To freeze the quesadillas, simply fill each one and place it on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Place in the freezer for one hour to solidify the quesadillas and then transfer to a freezer bag. To reheat either microwave (for a soft quesadilla) or cook in a skillet on low heat (make sure to use low heat so that the filling has time to thaw and melt before the outside burns).

 

For more recipes click here. (https://www.budgetbytes.com/hearty-black-bean-quesadillas/#wprm-recipe-container-32876)

Don’t forget to visit us on Facebook or Instagram! You can find us like @mshomestays

Why to live in one of the best neighborhoods of Montreal, The Plateau Mont-Royal?

The Plateau Mont-Royal is the perfect combination between the wealth of a working-class from the past, the entrepreneurial start-up spirit, and the bohemian-chic tendencies of its many resident artists. This is what makes Plateau the perfect neighborhood for students and young people.

Imagen relacionada

If you have seen pictures or have walked by this colorful neighborhood, you have realized that the heritage architecture is unique and beautiful, its narrow streets shaded by tall trees, and its legendary Victorian colorful houses. More than half of these houses were built before 1946, so by living and wandering around the neighborhood, you can really appreciate one important part of Montreal’s history.

However, if you are not a history fanatic, you should consider the diverse activities you can practice in the neighborhood and simply admire all of the area’s beauty. You should know that the Plateau has the highest population density of all Montreal’s neighborhoods with roughly 100,000 residents, and all of them are bilingual and multicultural. Even if French is one of the most used languages, you can also speak in English. Also, the neighbors have a Facebook group to stay connected and share the activities or cultural events in the neighborhood and its surroundings. Check it out here.

Check below you some local landmarks you can’t miss and activities that can be enjoyed by residents:

  1. Enjoy outdoor activities or sports at Mont Royal Park or have a picnic at La Fontaine Park.
  2. Visit local restaurants, coffee shops or bakeries. We recommend you Schwatz’s sandwiches and Saint Viateur bagels. Also, you can try out some molecular gastronomy.
  3. Enjoy live music concerts at the Metropolis, Casa del Popolo and Divan Orange.
  4. Go shopping on Saint-Denis Street, Saint Laurent Boulevard and Mont-Royal Avenue.

The Plateau is an accessible place from Downtown Montreal by bus or metro. The closest metro stations you can find are Mont-Royal, Sherbrooke, and Laurier.  There are also several bus stops. Check them out here.

If you need more information about apartments in this iconic neighborhood, contact us directly in the section of our website. You can also find us on Facebook and Instagram as mshomestays. The apartments are fully equipped, accessible, and with all services you need. You can book a videocall to see the apartment.

References

https://community.shupilov.com/hc/en-us/articles/115000490887-What-s-it-like-to-live-Plateau-Mont-Royal-

https://www.realtor.ca/blog/postpage/5511/1364/13-reasons-to-live-in-plateau-mont-royal-montreal

¿Cómo hemos mejorado para brindarle el mejor servicio de hospedaje a nuestros estudiantes?

Ya casi es fin de año y en MS Homestays estamos muy orgullosos de haber culminado otro año lleno de experiencias con nuestros estudiantes, lamentablemente cada año hay que decir adiós pero también recibimos nuevos estudiantes preparados para vivir la aventura de estudiar en Montreal.

Como cada año nos gusta evaluar qué hemos hecho bien, cómo hemos mejorado, qué nos falta por lograr y cómo podemos brindarle a más estudiantes una experiencia inolvidable. Por eso nos gustaría conocer tu opinión y mejorar nuestros servicios para ti y más estudiantes.

Vivir en otro país es un reto y una experiencia única pero también conlleva una serie de responsabilidades, por eso año tras año nos dedicamos a apoyar a nuestros estudiantes en todo su trámite de hospedaje y ser sus guías en la ciudad.

Este año lanzamos nuestra guía de bienvenida, la cual incluye tips para que nuestros estudiantes puedan adaptarse más fácilmente a la ciudad, y también para conocer sobre los trámites que debe hacer al llegar a Montreal, tales como usar el transporte público, obtener una cuenta bancaria, etc.

Además, mejoramos la rapidez en la respuesta a nuestros clientes y prospectos a través de nuestros diferentes canales de comunicación: Facebook, Instagram y Whatsapp. Para nosotros no hay nada más importante que poder ayudarte en cualquier duda antes, durante y después de tu estadía en Montreal.

De igual manera en MS Homestays sabemos perfectamente que la seguridad es primero y buscar un alojamiento en el extranjero no es una tarea fácil, menos online, sin embargo, para darte mayor seguridad en tu proceso podemos hacer una videollamada y mostrarte nuestros alojamientos sin compromiso, puedes buscarnos en nuestras redes sociales personales para conocernos un poco más y saber quién está detrás de los mensajes, llamadas y correos que recibes, en MS Homestays nos preocupamos por tener una relación cercana con nuestros clientes. De igual manera, puedes verificar el registro de la empresa directamente en el Registre de entreprise du quebec. Es muy común que un alto porcentaje de estudiantes en Montreal sean estafados online para llegar a un alojamiento falso.

¿No sabes con quién te hospedarás en tu departamento compartido? ¿No estás seguro si te vas a llevar bien con tus roomates? En MS homestays sabemos cuán importante es para ti encontrar a los roomates ideales, es obvio querer vivir con personas que compartan los mismos intereses y gustos. Por eso, te mostramos un perfil que muestra los gustos e intereses de tus roomates para que los conozcas antes de llegar a Montreal. Además, al rentar con nosotros sólo pagas los días que te hospedas y no el mes completo en departamentos 100% equipados, olvídate de estar comprando utensilios de cocina, toallas, artículos de limpieza, etc. ¡Ojalá hubiera conocido una agencia así cuando nosotras venimos de intercambio!

Recientemente adquirimos un nuevo departamento en una de las zonas más trendy e icónicas de Montreal: Plateau. Es importante, y no nos dejarán mentir las personas que se han hospedado con nosotros, todos nuestros departamentos y homestays están ubicados en zonas seguras y cercanas al transporte público.

Finalmente, sabemos que estudiar en el extranjero es para viajar, experimentar y conocer, por eso, a través de nuestras redes sociales siempre estamos a tus órdenes, te brindamos asesoría en cualquier situación que se te pudiera presentar como problemas con tu homestay, tips y lugares que puedes visitar.

Nos gustaría conocer tu opinión a través de reviews en nuestra página de Facebook. ¡Tu voz hace la diferencia! Búscanos como @mshomestays en Facebook e Instagram.