Thursday, May 07, 2009

You Should Be Jealous of My Students

So, I've gotten into the habit of making food for my upper-level classes for the day of the final. Historically, I've taught in the morning, so usually I would make something breakfast-y. This semester, however, my schedule changed so I had to enter the world of lunch-appropriate dishes for 15-20 people.

Since it's spring-y, I decided pasta salad was a good choice. For the class earlier this week, I made a southwestern chicken and pasta salad, based on this recipe (though I made a good number of adjustments), and it was quite good. But for today, I went with an orzo salad. Since it had to sit for at least two hours (i.e., overnight), I didn't know how it would come out.

Oh. My. God. It's so ridiculously good I don't even know how to talk about it! I did make some adjustments (additional olive oil and lemon juice so the salad wouldn't be as dry, and I included some celery, cucumber, and red pepper in addition to the tomatoes, I didn't bother with all the whisking nonsense and so I forgot to add the mustard until this morning - woops), but I am in love with it.

The question is, will my students be scared off by feta cheese and olives?

9 comments:

Someday_phd said...

Feta cheese and Olives actually attract me like a hummingbird.

Can I be your student? Just for today?

EmmaNadine said...

That sounds divine. I love feta and kalamata olives. If your students don't like it, it just means there is more for you.

jo(e) said...

You make food for your students? At the end of the semester?

I'm impressed.

I've never had that kind of energy.

By the end of the semester, I consider myself lucky if I can get their final papers graded.

Susan said...

I *am* jealous of your students. And it didn't take that orzo salad :)

Dr. Crazy said...

If you make food for the students at the end of the semester, it is totally a way not to grade:)

To be fair, I only do this for my upper-level classes where I kick their asses all semester long and where I feel they deserve a boost at the end. I do it during finals week because I never thought it was about a bribe for evals, and also because I feel like it's nice to give them healthy food as sustenance for their challenges. But I'm so not a "snack rotation" for night classes or anything like that. Those who've not had me before are totally shocked that I feed them at the end. Actually, I'm sort of shocked that I do, too.

Shane in SLC said...

Maybe a better question is will they be scared off by the chicken? No vegetarians in your classes?

Bardiac said...

I AM jealous! Mmmm, cheese, olives... mmmm

I barely have the energy to make myself a cheese pita thingy these days.

Dr. Crazy said...

I always ask whether I've got vegetarians, and there has only ever been one: BES. Typically, they all look at me like I'm totally insane. It's much more common for me to have students who refuse to eat vegetables, actually.

That said, the orzo salad was a huge hit for those who partook! Huge hit!

Fabio Sundeen said...

what a great treat for them! I can't get it together to even buy them candy bars on the last day...

well done!