What started as distaste toward unhealthy and overcooked cafeteria food resulted in authorship for one newly published student.

A book release party was held Thursday at the TCU Campus Store for “Dormet,” a cookbook filled with quick, dorm-friendly recipes.

Channeling her passion for the eating “experience,” sophomore McKenzie Amaral took it upon herself to write a book modeled after the recipes she created during her first year living on campus.

Friends, spectators, faculty and staff attended the event, where samples of recipes from the cookbook were available to try.

“It’s extremely personable,” junior Michael McClusky said at the event. “It’s wild that the idea started at TCU, and was then tried, tested and made a reality in the TCU dorms.”

A friend of Amaral’s came away impressed with the balancing act Amaral has pulled off.

“McKenzie has a part-time internship and is a full-time student,” Abby Pluimer said. “Adding author to that list—she’s got a lot on her plate.”

“Dormet” is now available for purchase at the bookstore and on Amazon, and Amaral is in the process of reaching out to other campus bookstores who have shown interest in carrying her book.

Amaral is one of four TCU student-authors with books sold at the bookstore and the first to hold a release party there, according to Patricia Mansfield, the team leader of trade books.

At the event, Amaral signed copies of her book and sported an apron with the word “Dormet” embroidered on it.

She said it was exciting to see people tasting her recipes and to teach people how to make the food the very food they were tasting.

“’Dormet’ is something I’ve been working on for over a year,” Amaral said. “Seeing it come to life tonight is a dream come true.

As for the future, Amaral is keeping her options open.

“I see the possibility of ‘Dormet’ being cooked into a business.”