The Sherman experience is often comparable to that of the life of a heroin addict: The highs are high, the lows hit hard, and you sometimes end up feeling ill.But there are oodles of edibles you can prepare for yourself from Sherman's "permanent collection," meaning you don't have to rely on the Home Zone to have something delicious, or only venture to Sherman when you hear rumors of chicken wings. With a mug of ingenuity and a spoonful of courage, you can be eating like royalty even when the soup of the day is bread.

Now you may already know some of these tips, and perhaps you feel as if you deserve the credit. I am by no means claiming to have developed these "recipes" but rather am merely compiling them into a convenient column to give you, the reader, an arsenal of ideas that you can try next time in the all-you-can-eat bustle when you find yourself lost as a puppy who strayed too far from home. My apologies to those of you who keep kosher; due to my everyday mixing of meat and dairy, all I know is the non-kosher side. However, most if not all of these recipes can be concocted on the kosher side as well.

I'll start off with beverages. I used to be a boring drinker and would limit myself to lemonade and the occasional hot chocolate. But have you ever thought of making a soda float? Just grab one of the taller plastic glasses, fill it with Coke or root beer, and plop in a scoop or two of vanilla ice cream. Top it off with whipped cream if you are feeling frisky, and you have a drink fit for Mr. Sherman himself.

Another equally decadent drink I enjoy making just as much as I do drinking is what I like to call the Mocha Masterpiece. The preparation is a little tricky, though, so pay attention. You will need a tray and two mugs.

\0x07Fill one mug three-fourths full of a coffee blend of your choice

\0x07Fill the taller mug with hot chocolate

\0x07Combine both drinks

\0x07Use whipped cream from the waffle station and make a conical tower atop the mixture

\0x07Sprinkle Oreo crumbs or jimmies from the ice cream station on top, preferably over a plate to minimize the mess

\0x07Drizzle caramel or chocolate sauce on top

Next up, the bread/microwave/miscellaneous condiment table next to the pizza. I'm sure you've gone there for the occasional bagel and cream cheese, maybe a toasted English muffin with jelly. And while those are filling and mildly satisfying, there is plenty of room for creativity. For a bit of variety, try a toasted English muffin with butter and honey, or cream cheese and jelly. Try straying to the heartier breads by the soups, bring back a couple of slices, and make yourself a deliciously protein-and-potassium filled peanut butter, banana and honey sandwich. Add a glass of milk and you'll be hooked.

To satisfy your ice cream fix, make a blondie sundae. It's Rachael Ray easy.

\0x07Microwave blondie

\0x07Place blondie in bowl and smother it with ice cream

\0x07Add necessary candy toppings. For something extra special, melt some peanut butter in the microwave and then pour that on top of the ice cream.

You can also try a more decadent twist on the typical Sherman waffle by adding several scoops of your favorite ice cream on top, as well as some strategically-placed whipped cream, strawberries and chocolate sauce (or those unidentifiable crunchy chocolate toppings.)

If all this ice cream leaves you feeling in need of something healthier, turn to the yogurt, an excellent source of calcium. Cut up fruit and mix in yogurt with some granola to make a parfait. Cereal makes for a good mix-in as well.

While these ideas may not satisfy all of your nutritional needs, they taste good and spice up a potentially mundane Sherman experience. Who needs vegetables anyway? So next time you reluctantly reach for a veal parmesan and unsavory serving of steamed squash, remember: You have choices. Don't misjudge the power of a modest spread such as peanut butter. You can have your mocha and drink it too, and a blondie a day keeps the doctors away (or the obesity risk elevated.) Bon apetite!