Credit this dessert tale NOT to my culinary artistry but rather to my instincts to make my daughter a “winner.”
That might explain why, more than two decades ago, I read with interest a letter sent to parents of students at the University of Richmond, where my daughter, Melissa, was enrolled. The communique called for parents to send in a recipe for their child’s favorite food; if the recipe were selected as one of the best entries, the food would be placed on the menu of the UR Dining Hall in a week devoted to the contest.
I decided to make sure that Melissa claimed a win in this event, so that translated to my finding a recipe that would garner some attention. To this day I do not really know what Melissa’s favorite food is, but it might be the macaroni salad that I still prepare for her when she visits.
But no way was macaroni going to make the cut at Richmond, I figured.
GET OUT THE RECIPE BOOK
So I perused my book of recipes, gathered not from my years of sweating over the stove but mostly from articles I had cut out of newspapers or from copies of recipes given to me from those individuals I had featured in stories I published as a food writer. Please understand that I did not make a significant mark in that area of journalism, but I wrote a lot of food stories as a freelancer/columnist for daily newspapers; a few articles made it to a national news service. In fact, I won an award from the NJ Press Women for my food writing and, when my name was announced, everyone chuckled because they knew I was not proficient as a cook. (The prize-winning story was about agriculture, not about cooking).
As I leafed through my scores of printed recipes for the Richmond competition, my eyes focused on a dessert that I actually had made. It was called Kansas Dirt or some other state dirt and was a tasty offering made with Oreo cookies and other delightful ingredients. The UR contest did not call for an original family recipe, but just one favored by the student. So I chose this “dirt” one, typed it up, and sent it off as Melissa’s favorite!
Since we reside in New Jersey, I called the recipe Jersey Dirt.
A WINNER!
Sure enough, Melissa emerged as a student whose favorite recipe was among those selected so her name was revealed along with those of other winners. As I recall, Jersey Dirt was to be served as a dessert on a Friday lunch or dinner at the D Hall.
Melissa was infuriated. She called and wanted to know “what the devil” Jersey Dirt was and how it got to be her favorite food.
“You mean your winning food,” I reminded her as I laughed.
She was so incensed that she came home for the weekend in lieu of being present as her NEW favorite food, Jersey Dirt, was served in the dining hall at Richmond.
For the past quarter century, Melissa has regaled her friends and relatives with the story about Jersey Dirt, noting that she never did pick up the prize (a mug, I believe).
But now, in the past week, the Jersey Dirt tale has risen to new heights.
GETTING FAMOUS
The other day, the UR Facebook showed a photo of a bowl of Jersey Dirt with a message” “It’s Back!” The reaction was swift…comments on Facebook and Instagram from all over the country, especially after Melissa noted for social media users that she and I could claim ownership for the entry. Respondents admitted that they LOVED Jersey Dirt as a main staple of their diet in their years at Richmond.
A link to the website of a national food directors site showed Jersey Dirt as one of the top 50 popular campus foods. But the accompanying recipe, reportedly provided by UR, had been tweaked. The word Oreos is gone and crème-filled cookies are now the primary ingredient. And milk---real milk---has given way to 2 percent milk (who are they kidding?) Is this some sort of political food correctness?
Nevertheless, Jersey Dirt is LOVED by UR alumni as the many social media commenters have noted. The university even wrote that the food is “legendary” in its Dining Hall.
Wow—legendary!
After years of verbal criticism of her mother, Melissa has to admit that the Jersey Dirt phenomenon is a direct result of my entering the recipe in her university’s contest. The link to the recipe is even on her Facebook page. I think she might be proud of our newfound fame.
Now how can she continue to rail about Jersey Dirt and her contest win?
And for all the notoriety UR is getting, you'd think the university would send along the prize mug. LOL
Jersey Dirt Recipe
1 large pkg. Oreo or Hydrox cookies, crushed
1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese
I stick butter
I C. powdered sugar
3 C. milk
2 pkgs. Instant vanilla pudding
1 t. vanilla
1 (12 oz.) carton of Cool Whip
Put half the crushed cookies in the bottom of 9 x 13-inch cake pan.
Cream together cream cheese, butter, and powdered sugar. Add milk, pudding, vanilla, and Cool Whip; blend well. Pour mixture over crushed cokes and top with other half.
Freeze or refrigerate until firm.
Serves 8-12