Dear Quilly Girl,

Loneliness in college can feel like an unexpected fire drill. One minute you are moving through your day, the next you are standing outside in the cold wondering how long you will be stuck there. But what if the antidote to all that isolation wasn’t more screen time or another round of “pretend I’m busy” scrolling, but something simple, nostalgic, and kind of sweet?

Enter the potluck. 

Think about it. Food is the most natural invitation we have. A potluck says, “Hey, I don’t have it all together but I’ve got an unopened bag of chips.” It takes the pressure off hosting a perfect dinner party and it turns into everyone showing up with whatever they can contribute. A friend’s signature mac and cheese, someone’s store-bought cookies, an inexpensive bottle of win from Trader Joe’s…suddenly, you’ve created a communal girl dinner less about culinary savvy and more about togetherness. 

And here’s the best part: regardless of your space, be it a teensy on-campus dorm, sleek studio apt, or homey common room, a potluck can transform it into a chosen-family kitchen. Everyone brings a dish, everyone brings a story, and somehow loneliness doesn’t feel as intimidating when everyone is eating off mis-matched dishware. 

I believe that food shared is presence shared. A potluck says, “You belong here, exactly as you are.” And when you realize your solo snack routine has turned into a table full of people swapping stories between bites, you being to remember you were never alone in the first place. 

So the next time you feel loneliness creeping in, call on your Quilly girls, declare that potluck night, and tell everyone to bring their signature dish (yes, store-bought absolutely counts). Because in college, the recipe for connection doesn’t need to be complicated. Sometimes its just butter, sugar, and cereal, and a Quilly girl to share it with. And since no potluck is complete without something a little sweet… here’s my go-to upgrade for the humble Rice Crispy Treat. It’s nostalgic, it’s shareable, and this one has a grown-up twist.

Quilly’s Tea-Time Rice Crispy Treats

What you’ll need

• 6 cups Rice Krispies (or the off-brand, we don’t judge)

• 1 bag (10 oz) mini marshmallows

• 3 tbsp butter

• 2–3 bags of your favorite tea

Directions

1. In a saucepan, melt butter over low heat.

2. Add your tea bags directly into the butter (yes, you read that right) and let them steep for 5–7 minutes, stirring occasionally. The butter will take on all that fragrant tea flavor.

3. Remove tea bags, carefully squeezing out extra butter before discarding.

4. Add marshmallows to the tea-infused butter and stir until melted and smooth.

5. Pour in Rice Krispies and mix until every piece is coated in sticky, tea-kissed goodness.

6. Press mixture into a greased 9x13 pan. Let cool in the fridge (if you have the patience).

7. Slice, serve, and share at your next potluck!