S’mores to lasagna: food that reminds UMW students of home

By KELLY O’GRADY

We have now entered Week 3 and some of us are no doubt feeling homesick. With Family Weekend right around the corner, I have been thinking more and more about home. Whether it is a Thanksgiving meal or mom’s special grilled cheese sandwich, food is the very thing that reminds us of home.

For me, the one food that reminds me of home is s’mores. Every summer my dad and I make s’mores. My dad and I bond over these delicious treats because we both make a competition out of roasting the marshmallows, until they are golden brown. If you caught the marshmallow on fire you were disqualified. My mom would always have the graham crackers ready with three pieces of chocolate. My love for s’mores was so intense that my parents even bought me an indoor s’mores maker.

If you want to make a dorm room s’more all you need is a chocolate bar, graham crackers, marshmallows, and viola; you have the perfect sweet treat. You can pick up the few, simple ingredients at our local Giant, Dollar General, or any other grocery store. There is not access to a campfire in your dorm room, so you are going to have to get a little bit creative.

To heat up the marshmallow, either use an indoor s’mores maker or put the marshmallow in the microwave for a maximum of 15 seconds. Take it from me, do not let the marshmallow cook too long in the microwave, you will end up with an exploded, gooey mess. My favorite brands to use are Honey Maid Graham Crackers, Hershey’s chocolate bars and Kraft Jet-Puffed Jumbo marshmallows.

I hope this inspires you to get a little creative in the kitchen and make up some of your favorite childhood foods. Everyone deserves a little comfort food when the stress of college starts to take a toll. Just close your eyes and dive into your delicious dish and relive all the memories it brings.

For instance, I interviewed three University of Mary Washington students to find out the scoop on their favorite dishes.

“The food that reminds me of back home is my mom’s banana pudding. It is special to me because every time she makes it, we have a huge family get together,” said sophomore history major Jessie Whitmer.

“Grilled cheese always reminds me of home because my mom would make them for my siblings and I for lunch after playtime during the summer,” said sophomore political science major Stephen Lamm.

“I’m nostalgic with ramen noodles because my brother and I would make our signature childhood dish, ramen noodles with spinach, every Friday night. Just try it,” said senior American studies major Nancy Milroy.