A "school lunch classic" may sound like a contradiction in terms, but here it (mostly) refers to favorite recipes at colleges, which are known to have food that is vastly superior to grade school lunches. Some recipes have become famous, at least regionally, because students love them. And each of these standout recipes has a story behind it, like Jersey Dirt at the University of Richmond. As a prank, Tina Lesher entered it in a recipe contest at the school, claiming it was her daughter's favorite dessert. It was a winner.
One day, Melissa Lesher walked into the dining hall and saw Jersey Dirt (which she had never tried) on display, along with signs stating that it was her favorite. “I was mortified. I lost it. I turned the cards over so no one would see my name associated with it. I was livid,” she told the alumni magazine years later. But the dessert lives on at UR. Writes alumnus Catherine Amos Cribbs, “That glorious mix of cheesecakey pudding and crushed Oreos could calm an overstressed brain or soothe a broken heart.” For our overstressed brains and broken hearts, you can use this recipe from the university itself.
Find out how other school recipes became standouts, like Wellesley Peppermint Stick Pie and Cornell Barbecue Chicken, at Atlas Obscura. You might be pleased to find that two of these treats are from the lower grades, and one is actually served for lunch.
