Talking to college daughter yesterday, I inquired as to what she had done over the weekend. She told me that she had gone to Church X on Saturday night, Church Y on Sunday morning, and Church Z last week. I was all impressed by her church shopping and commented, "I can't believe you went to church twice in one weekend." That's when she admitted that she and her friends had chosen to go to these houses of worship based on the fact that they were offering free meals for college students afterwards! I told husband I don't remember being that desperate for good food, ever.I lied. Thinking back, I used to go work at my university's telethon every spring. The one where you call alumni and beg for donations. Believe me, I was no philanthropist back then. The lure of foot-long subs and potato salad drew me in. This was before Subway and Quizno's existed. I definitely did more eating than dialing.
The only complaints we've heard thus far from daughter about her college experience has been about the food. Suddenly, I've been promoted to IronChef America, at least in her mind. She goes on and on about wanting some "real meat." HUH? She refers to the dining hall main dish as "gas station meat." I'm still unsure what that exactly means, but I have to say I'm proud that my status has been raised in the eyes of an 18 year old. My years of searching cookbooks and the internet for new and exciting recipes has finally received some accolades. Go me!
And I will proudly be serving my famous chicken & potato bake at the next church supper. Come early; we're expecting a crowd.
Urg, I remember college food well. The chicken always had this weird color to it and was somewhat rubbery. I pretty much stayed away from all other meat though.
ReplyDeleteWell, it's proverbial that the way to a man's heart is thru his stomach. Apparently the same is true of college girls. . .
ReplyDeleteI've always gotten a mild chuckle from hearing all the complaints about college food. And all this, from the same folks who gained 25 pounds eating it. . .
My dorm used to not serve an evening meal on Sundays, so it was semi-common for families in our Christian community to invite 'dormies' over for Sunday dinner. Which was really nice. . .
Tulip - she says the exact same thing about the chicken!
ReplyDeleteDesmond - oddly enough, my daughter may be the only freshman in history to lose weight - 8 pounds so far. She was a 4 yr. Varsity athlete and played her sport year round in high school. Now that she's no longer playing, she must be losing some of her bulk or something.
Then again, it could be the lack of Lil Debbies she was used to at home.
oh honey, i remember the food at my college cafeteria. we had an awesome baker who made fabulous desserts...the rest of the food....not so awesome. if someone told me there was free home cookin...i was THERE!
ReplyDeleteGoing away to college always makes things from home seem much better!
ReplyDeleteI ALWAYS look forward to My Mom's "real" dinner that she cooks every Sunday. To this day- It has been a tradition for over 10 years now. :)
ReplyDeleteGah! Why did no one tell me of these options back in the day?! I sustained myself on plain bagels with extra cream cheese and cans of diet Sprite for so long you'd think I'd hate all of those things today, but alas, I love them dearly!
ReplyDeleteThis is yet another reason why I'd do college over again!
Gas station meat? What are they feeding them – Slim Jim's?
ReplyDeleteYes, college cafeteria food is lousy... it's how we inspire them to learn to cook!
Lime - I need to get me a personal Baker.
ReplyDeleteMama Dawg - I suspect that is very true. I'm wondering if the hot dogs I buy would seem better to her just because they'd be served at home.
Buttafly - My mom never enjoyed cooking and we seemed to have the exact same 7 meals every week. I still remember the day she served Taco Salad for the first time. I was in heaven!
FADKOG - Yeah, let's both go back to college and be roomies. But the college has to be next door to a Panera.
Zip - I'm trying to figure out the gas station thing too. I remember a challenge on Top Chef once where they had to prepare a dish using foods bought at a gas station. Most looked pretty nasty.
Your chicken bake sounds delish. What time should I be there?
ReplyDeleteThis post has brought back so many college memories. Our cafeteria had pretty good food and the socializing was sweeter than the fresh strawberries. The only troubles I recall with the cafeteria was that it wasn't open all the time like Luby's and on more than one occasion I'd get carried away with a class or a conversation and forget to zoom over there before the doors closed. Thankfully, several of my guy friends worked as dishwashers on the work/study program so they'd let me in the employee entrance if I jogged up after the doors were locked.
I didn't gain any weight in college. I gained weight when I transitioned from college to corporate america.
SW - corporate america will get you every time. And what's "Luby's?"
ReplyDeleteLuby's is a Texas-based cafeteria restaurant.
ReplyDelete