Found in college housing throughout the U.S., oatmeal and Ramen noodles can produce a plethora of delicious meals in just minutes. Here are five interesting recipes highlighting these two ingredients. All are easy to make and enjoyable to eat.

1. Sourdough Oatmeal Sandwich: Firm up those oats by reducing the amount of water used for cooking, otherwise your sandwich will just be a soggy mess. Sprinkle the oatmeal with a little brown sugar and press between two slices of toasted sourdough bread slathered with peanut butter. The salty-sweet combo of the peanut butter and bread and the contrasting textures elevate these oats from breakfast to dinner in no time.

Instead of eating just just noodles or tomato soup, try adding them together. (CU Independent/Robert R. Denton)

2. Ramen Tomato Noodle Soup: Omit the prepackaged seasoning that comes with Ramen for this flavorful soup. Cook the noodles as the package instructs, and add a can of tomato soup when they are almost done, stirring until hot. The finish product helps you avoid the step of crumbling Saltines in your soup, as the noodles add a great starchy taste already.

3. Oatmeal Smoothie: If you are not a huge fan of oatmeal’s texture but are still looking to incorporate its health benefits into your diet, consider making a smoothie with your precooked oats. In a blender, combine a half cup of oatmeal with two bananas, two cups of ice, one third cup of yogurt, one third cup of almonds and blend until smooth. The result is a high protein drink that will fuel you through your workout or an all night study sesh.

4. Ramen Noodle Salad: Healthy Ramen noodles may seem to be one of the greatest oxymoron’s in the cooking world, but when these uncooked noodles are broken into pieces and combined with lettuce, carrots, sliced green onions and slivered almonds, the result is a crunchy and guilt-free meal. Top this fresh salad with a dressing of your choice, or combine the seasoning packet with oil and honey for an on-the-fly vinaigrette.

5. Oatmeal Crepes: The beauty of these delicious crepes is their simplicity. Blend one cup of quick oats in a blender, creating a flour-like texture. Remove the oats from the blender, and beat two egg whites in the blender on low speed. Slowly add the oats back into the blender and once combined, mix on high for 30 seconds. Viola! Crepe batter that is ready to be cooked on a skillet. Fill with your choice of toppings: sliced bananas and peanut butter if you are being good, or chocolate and whipped creme if you need a treat after a long week of midterms.

Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Kelsey Anne Lindsey at Kelsey.a.lindsey@colorado.edu.

The inside of the tap house is friendlier and is dignified by the brewery’s elegant mahogany bar. Wood compliments the taproom, including the most important feature, the beer taps. Above the bar is a chalkboard listing the brewery’s beers and stats.

The Avery Tap list has eight beers on tap over 9 percent ABV. A handful of daily beer menus scattered across the bar list many of its Tap Room only beers, by far the most interesting ones.

Avery’s beers span the spectrum from sour to extra hoppy, spicy to smoked.

The brewery has five specialty beers on tap and two cask beers. On cask were two stouts: the Out of Bounds and the Out of Sight. The tap room only beers include Lilikoi Kepolo, a dry-hopped IPA. The beer is made with Simcoe and Columbus hops, two extra bitter citrus American hop cultivars. The Lilikoi Kepolo is one of the best IPAs brewed in Colorado. The Burninator, a doppelbock and the two beers I sampled, The Ermemita III and the Capaicinator, round out Avery’s tap-room-only beers.

The Capaicinator is a smoked German strong lager weighing in at 7.0 percent ABV and is cleverly spiced with chili peppers, which is my favorite non-traditional beer ingredient. But the Capaicinator did not meet this Beer Buff’s standards in pepper usage. This beer is all pepper on the aroma and no smoked malt, per the Brewers Association style guidelines. The Capaicinator assaults the tongue with a massive malt bill, with subtle smoke and oak, shifting to a dramatic spicy pepper flavor on the back of the throat. This lager packs more punch than the college favorite Keystone Light but lacks a balance between the smoked malt and pepper flavor.

Next, I sampled the Eremita III. This barrel-aged sour creation is a blend of beer from 12as different Cabernet Sauvignon barrels. The beer blend is a combination of light and dark Saison and Strong Belgian Amber Ales.

The Eremita III, a barrel aged sour beer, at Avery Brewing. (CU Independent/Andrew Kaczmarek)

The Eremtia III pours with an off-white head, topping its amber-brownish colored body, but this beer’s complexity begins well before it is poured — three years before, to be exact. In the finished form it is portrayed through an interesting mix of complex sour aromas and flavors. Eremtia starts with an earth malt, quickly shifting to a convoluted sour characteristic, mixing mouth-puckering, sour-oak, yeast, and fruits through the dry finish. This brilliantly mixed beer has the flavor qualities of a fine aged wine but with the drinkability of a beer. The Eremetia III will have me back at the Avery Tap house promptly at its 11 a.m. opening.

Avery Brewery is serving some of Colorado’s best beers just a few minutes east of campus. It is open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days week, so stop in and enjoy a pint.

Beer Notes:

Denver’s newest brewery River North Brewery opened last weekend in the Ball Park neighborhood on 24^th Street and Blake Street. Stop by Thursday through Sunday to sample Belgian style ales. Check their website for more info.

I love beer but sometimes beer’s older brother whiskey is a little more pleasing. If that is the case for you, check out the brand new Mile High Spirits Distillery and Tasting Room at 2920 Larimer St. in Denver. The new distillery will serve a house vodka, whiskey, rum and gin, which will be available in bottles by the end of the week.  Check them out on Facebook.

Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Andrew Kaczmarek at Andrew.kaczmarek@colorado.edu. 

Taking over the spot on College Avenue where Crepes To Go-Go used to be, Waffle Brothers is serving up an interesting, and delicious, take on a breakfast staple.

The service is fast, the staff is friendly and the food is delicious. When this writer stopped by, she got the waffle with bananas and cinnamon sugar. It was a simple dish compared to some of the other options, but was nonetheless fantastic. The waffle was warm and crisp on the outside, fluffy on the inside, and had just the right amount of richness.

Waffle Brothers just opened a new location on the Hill, serving seven days a week from the morning to late evening. The waffle house replaced Crepes To Go Go next to Deli Zone. (CU Independent/Nate Bruzdzinski)

Waffle Brothers is cheaper than most breakfast places in Boulder, ranging from $4.75 for the waffle with one topping of your choice to $8.50 for the “Waffle Breakfast Plate,” which features a waffle, two poached eggs, meat and a side of fruit. A major plus is that if you order one of the “Local Favorites,” your coffee is free. The portion sizes are also generous for the price; the waffle was about the size of two and half frozen waffles, and there were two sliced bananas on top covered in cinnamon sugar.

Waffle Brothers is open seven days a week, starting at 8:30 a.m. or 9 a.m. On Fridays and Saturdays, it’s open until 2:30 a.m, making it the perfect place to pick up food on your way to class or on your way home from the bars.

Whether fighting off a hangover or the drunk munchies, Waffle Brothers provides a cheap and fast breakfast (no matter what time of day). They have a huge selection of waffles to choose from, including sweet options like the “Allie Cat” (waffle, caramel, nuts, strawberry, whip cream) or savory ones such as the “Breakfast Sandwich” (two waffles with egg, meat and cheese). Of course, you can create your own waffle, with toppings like kiwi, nutella, cream cheese, chocolate chips and more.

It is often said that the hole in the wall places are the best, and Waffle Brothers is a testament to that. You can get every variety of waffle imaginable, and a lot of it without emptying your wallet. So next time you have to run out the door before eating breakfast or need something to fill your stomach after a night of beers and shots on the Hill, Waffle Brothers is the place to go.

Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Isa Jones at Isa.Jones@colorado.edu. 

In the age of technology, there isn’t much the internet can’t do. And thankfully, the world-wide Web holds a gold mine of information for weight loss.

CUI's Amanda Moutinho writes on using the internet to help with having a better lifestyle. (CU Independent/Josh Shettler)

With the vast amount of resources, you’ll never be lost again. Whether you’re looking up the proper way to do a squat or how many calories were in that bag of chips you just scarfed down, you’ll find it online.

Here’s a handy guide for getting the most out of the Web:

Recipes

You can find literally millions of recipes online. Food.com provides recipes from every category. It even gives healthier versions of popular take out options. FoodNetwork.com also has recipes from your favorite shows, including meals from Rachael Ray and Giada De Laurentiis, but I would steer clear of anything made by butter-queen Paula Deen. Skinnytaste.com features plenty of recipes that will get you over the hump of eating healthy. You’ll find better versions of chicken nuggets, mozzarella sticks and even cupcakes. You can also sign up with Gojee.com. Not only does it provide mouth-watering food, but it also gives you recipes based on what you have in your kitchen.

Nutrition Facts

Lots of fast food chains and restaurants have nutrition facts online. Maybe you don’t want to look up the calories or fat content in your beloved Big Mac (540 calories and 29 grams of fat). But, the reality check might save you from indulging in that chocolate milkshake or those large French fries in the future. Looking at the menu can also help you find the healthier options when you’re stuck between two choices.

Community

It’s essential to have support when you’re trying to lose weight. Tumblr has a great weight loss comradeship. You can get healthy recipes, workout ideas, motivation and plenty of before-and-after pictures. Most importantly, you can find people who are going through the same struggles as you are. If you can’t get enough of College, Cardio and Carrots, then check out my Tumblr at http://collegecardioandcarrots.tumblr.com/.

Exercises

The Internet holds copious amounts of workouts. You’ll find any and every exercise you need to go from soft to rock hard. Check out about.com under the exercise or weight training category or this list of the 60 Must-Read Health and Fitness Blogs. But if you’re sick of reading awkward instructions of how to bend your body in various positions, then check out YouTube. There’s lots of bored people who have uploaded thousands of how-to videos and a lot of them are really helpful. Online magazines like Fitness Magazine also provide several how-to videos; some even have their own YouTube channels like Self Magazine. YouTube itself also has a lot of workout routines, including some from Biggest Loser trainer Jillian Michaels, the Pussycat Dolls and Flirty Girl Fitness.

Tips

With just a little bit of research, you’ll find great websites that will give you tricks and tips. You’ll find 52 Healthy Meals in 12 Minutes or Less or Eight Secrets of the Naturally Slim. Websites like Greatist.com, FitSugar.com, Prevention.com or even WebMD.com are all fantastic resources. Also you can check out the fitness and food tab on Pinterest and follow health professionals on Twitter.

So maybe instead of spending countless hours on Facebook or actually doing your homework, make better use of your time and get yourself motivated online. Am I missing any health-oriented websites you love? Sound off in the comments!

In future columns, I will talk to health professionals, discuss my struggles, and try to answer the question of “what is beauty?” Stay tuned for advice for living a healthy life, and to know you’re not the only person struggling with weight issues.

Contact CU Independent Managing Editor Amanda Moutinho at Amanda.mountinho@colorado.edu.

With many options of places to drink in Boulder, most places tend to have a night of bar specials available. (CU Independent/Josh Shettler)

Thursday:
Pearl Street: 
Absinthe House
9 p.m. – 2 a.m.
Free drinks for ladies until 12 a.m.

The Attic
9 p.m. – 12 a.m.
$3 Fat Alberts

Catacombs
8 p.m. – 1:30 a.m.
$2 well drinks
$2.50 Full Sail drafts
$3 Long Island Iced Teas & Jameson

Old Chicago
9 p.m. – 2 a.m.
$2 pints (except rotators)
$2 well drinks

Rio Grande
9 p.m. – 12 a.m.
$4 margaritas

Sundown Saloon
10 p.m. – 2 a.m.
$1 kamikazes
$3 vodka Red Bulls

Walrus
10 p.m. – 2 a.m.
Karaoke at 10 p.m.
$1.50 well drinks for ladies
$2.25 select domestic pitchers

The Hill:
The Goose
$1.50 wells until 12 a.m.
2 for 1 Firefly Vodkas

The Sink
10 p.m. – 2 a.m.
$2 Jäger shots
$3 Jägerbombs

Friday:
Pearl Street:
Absinthe House
10 p.m. – 2 a.m.
$2 wells until 12 a.m.
$3 pints
$3 Jäger shots
$5 Jägerbombs

The Attic
9 p.m. – 12 a.m.
$5 can of Old Style and shot of Jim Beam

Catacombs
10 p.m. – 2 a.m.
$2 Shiner Bock drafts
$3 Long Island Iced Teas

Conor O’Neill’s
9 p.m. – 2 a.m.
$3 O’Dell’s 5 Barrel Pale Ales

The Hill:
The Goose
$3 energy cocktails
$3 Jäger shots
$4 Jägerbombs

The Sink
10 p.m. – 2 a.m.
$1 wells from 10 p.m. – 11 p.m.

Saturday:  
Pearl Street:
Absinthe House
9 p.m. – 2 a.m.
$2 wells until 12 a.m.
$3 drafts
$3 Jäger shots
$3 Tuaca shots

The Attic
9 p.m. – 12 a.m.
$4 Long Island Iced Teas

Catacombs
10 p.m. – 2 a.m.
$2 Long Island Iced Teas
$3 Absolut drinks
$3 Boulder Beer drafts

The Hill:
The Goose
The “Wheel of Fortune” style wheel is spun every 30 minutes to reveal a new special.
Possible specials:
$1 doubles
$1 kamikaze shots
$2 tequila shots
$3 Jägerbombs

The Sink
10 p.m. – 2 a.m.

Contact CU Independent Entertainment Editor Anne Robertson at anne.robertson@colorado.edu.

The Walrus

One of Boulder’s oldest bars, The Walrus Saloon is the epitome of the college bar scene. Share a popular fish bowl with your friends — these giant mixed drinks are guaranteed to get you loose and out on the dance floor. The dancing doesn’t get started until later into the night, but once it does, it’s a great time. Usually, the music blaring from the speakers are Top 40 hits, which are fun to jiggy to and sing along with. Once in a while, the bar will host a guest DJ, who engage the crowd and get people moving. On the down side, sweaty, belligerent dancers and pop music can get old if you visit the Walrus too many weekends in a row.

Tahona

Tahona is a refreshing addition to Boulder’s dance scene. It’s a small bar with an equally small dance floor, but the lack of space makes it feel more intimate. A slightly older and more sophisticated audience come here, and the dancing tends to be more tame than what you would find at The Walrus. As it is a Latin-inspired bar, they play music from that region mixed in with popular hits. Besides the expensive drinks, it is a fun place to spend a night if you need an escape from the club music and dubstep that seem to  filling other Boulder bars.

The Absinthe House provides music and lights for students. (CU Independent/John Regalado)

Absinthe House

If you want a huge dance floor, loud music and some unforgettable entertainment, spend your weekend at Absinthe House. This bar is a larger version of the Walrus, which is located just across the street. There is usually a live DJ and, while they mostly play house music, there is the occasional themed music night. Last weekend, the DJ mixed an 80s and 90s rewind, which included a nostalgic mix of Smash Mouth, Sir Mix-a-Lot and Cher. However, the drunken college students who fill this bar can be a little overwhelming. If you are easily offended or don’t like large crowds, this place is not for you. But even if you don’t like to dance, Absinthe House is the second-best place to people-watch.

‘Round Midnight

The best place to people-watch is ‘Round Midnight. This is by far Boulder’s liveliest dance bar. You will find all kinds of people here, and the dance floor is always packed. Like most of the Boulder bars, they play club music and Top 40 hits. Due to the variety of people that frequent this bar, ‘Round Midnight can sometimes give off a strange or creepy vibe. It can also feel a bit dirty. It helps to take in one or two (or three) of their cheap, strong drinks to get you feeling good and out on the dance floor.

Contact CU Independent staff writer Natalie Proulx at natalie.proulx@colorado.edu.

With every new year comes a new opportunity to resolve to make a better life for yourself. Money is a very popular choice for new year’s resolutions along with losing weight and doing better in school.

As the new year is here many make it their resolution to save money. With the help of three easy steps more people will hopefully create a habbit that will allow them to reach their goal. (CU Independent/Amy Leder)

If you are looking to save more and spend less this year, you are going to need to stick to a resolution and put your money where your mouth is. The key to success is to choose a goal that is measurable, has an expiration date, and is very precise.

In her Wall Street Journal article How to Keep Your Money Resolutions, Carolyn T. Geer gives essential financial advice.

“Saving more is abstract,” Geer writes. “Saving for a trip to Rome isn’t.”

Choosing to stick to a very limited and strict budget is often the worst resolution to choose.

“Because of their emphasis on self-denial (no more lattes!), we are not motivated to follow through with them, so we are constantly failing,” Geer explains.

With Geer’s advice in mind, here are my three steps to help create an achievable resolution.

Step one: Choose a concept or an idea. Everyone has something that they want to change. Examples are creating an emergency fund, saving more money, buying a car, or to even stop buying lattes.

Step two: Create a way to measure your success. The resolution to stop paying for lattes could be measured in days without buying one or by how many caffeinated beverages made at home before a busy day. Typically, financial resolutions will be measured by dollars saved.

Step three: Decide on an expiration date. Specifying a date forces action and doesn’t allow time for procrastination. Picking a concrete day such as December 1st, 2012 puts a time limit and a countdown on a goal or resolution.

Support is vital to success in all areas of life, and people are more likely to stick to something when they know that their reputation is riding on it. Reaching goals and living up to resolutions shows a sense of dedication and self-worth to friends and family or those who have been giving their support throughout the year.

The most important thing to remember when trying to stick to a resolution is that it only takes about a month to create a habit. Survive the hump and it will be a downhill breeze for the rest of the year. The habits that someone creates in college will stay with them the rest of their lives.

College is the best time in life to implement change, start a new tradition, and adapt to new habits. As the saying goes, “The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago. The second best time is now.”

Contact CU Independent Assistant Opinion Editor  Mandi Meek at Amanda.meek@colorado.edu.

The Blackout Wikipedia page that obscures the site for 24 hours during Jan. 18. The page is in protest of the PIPA and SOPA acts, currently in legislation. (CU Independent Photo Illustration/Robert R. Denton)

The Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and Protect Intellectual Property Act (PIPA) aim to make the host site responsible for all user submissions. For instance, if someone were to post a video of copyrighted material on their Facebook page, Facebook itself could potentially be held accountable for the user’s copyright infringement.

Currently, there is a Safe Harbor Rule in effect. This frees websites such as Wikipedia and YouTube that are dependent on user submissions from the responsibility of policing everything that is posted on their sites. If material is found to be violating copyright laws, the material is simply removed from the site.

Even though SOPA and PIPA were created to target offshore piracy sites, which are free from the U.S. justice system, the language of the acts puts a high amount of responsibility on legitimate sites.

For this reason, Wikipedia, Craigslist, Reddit and Boing Boing will go dark today. Other major websites have vocally opposed the acts, including Google, Facebook, Twitter and eBay, however they will remain operational during the blackout.

Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales told Reuters.com that English Wikipedia generates 25 million visitors a day worldwide, according to comScore data.

This means that today 25 million individuals, when attempting to visit Wikipedia, will find information on SOPA and PIPA instead. For everyone accessing the website from the United States, directions will be provided on how to contact their local Congressmen and voice their opinion on the legislation.

The CU Independent explored student opinions on the effectiveness of the website blackouts and their thoughts on SOPA and PIPA.

(CU Independent/Rose Heaphy)

Contact CU Independent Staff Writers Donald Tartaglione at Donald.targatlione@colorado.edu and Rose Heaphy at Rose.heaphy@colorado.edu.

1. Be polite

That person who asked to buy you a drink has taken the guts to just come over, rejection can be tough enough without the extra sting of a rude turn down. When in doubt use that golden rule we learned as kids.

Taylor Stratton, a 20-year-old junior environmental studies major, said a little politeness can go a long way.

“Make sure you’re really polite; [say] a ‘thanks, nice talking to you,’” Stratton said. “Smile and walk away.”

But why be polite if someone is bothering you? Chances are that invitation is unwanted and could put a hitch in what might be a really good night. Stratton said people don’t have to be rude.

“I don’t think they mean any harm,” Stratton said. “I think it’s flattering if they’re nice enough to come say hi to you. It’s a compliment.”

Mike Gaisbauer, a 22-year-old senior English major, said a polite rejection is all that’s necessary.

“If they say no, I’d respect that,” Gaisbauer said. “Why not just let them be?”

2. Be taken, even if you’re not

Whether you’re the one turning someone down or the one being turned down, single life is littered with rejections. Giving a harsh “no” can be avoided by using those three simple words: “Sorry, I’m taken.” Sometimes they work like a charm. That creepy guy asking for your number just disappears with the looming threat of an angry boyfriend.

Those words can work, whether or not you say them out loud.

“When I worked at a restaurant or bar I’d wear an engagement ring,” said Katie Cross, a 20-year-old junior theater major. “Every time I put down a glass in front of them it would be very obvious. Just go ‘I’m engaged.’”

If you do decide to use this avenue to secure escape from your bothersome suitor, 20-year-old junior theater and English major, Daniel Leonard said its a good idea to sweeten the rejection with a little ego fluffing.

“You want to get away from them,” Leonard said. “Make them feel like you really regret it because then it’s more likely that they’ll stop bothering you and go try someone else.”

3. Use the buddy system

The politeness was rampant, you’ve said you were taken, yet that guy or girl still won’t leave you alone. Luckily, friends are there for a reason.

“If I was with friends, use them,” Gaisbauer said. “Take you and your friends and head off into a different direction.”

Use your friends in a variety of different ways, like agreeing on a “help me” signal ahead of time and keeping friends of the opposite sex close by.

“Usually I’m out with enough guy friends, I can give a look and they come save me,” said Kayla Brown, 22-year-old senior political science major.

Friends don’t always have to come to the rescue. If they simply distract your pursuer for a moment, they can diffuse an awkward tension.

“Get friends to talk to the guy,” Gaisbauer said. “They can get his attention off of you.”

4. Think for a second: Do you really have to say no?

Not all students believe that a “creeper” in question needs to be turned town. If a person looks nice, seems decent, and isn’t very creepy, it may be worth the time to accept that drink. Just think about what it takes to ask a stranger if you can buy them a drink. Instead of a creeper, he might be a good guy.

“I think if a guy follows the proper protocol which is starting a conversation getting to know a person then asking for a number, it’s polite,” Cross said. “I applaud the guys who tactfully ask for a number and follow through.”

If that guy does follow through, and there’s a spark, it could leave to something more. That’s what many single students want, isn’t it?

“We’re always looking for that guy who is tactful, who is conscientious, to be romantic. That’s what you want in a relationship,” Leonard said.“Somebody ask somebody out.”

Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Ana Faria at Ana.faria@colorado.edu.