Old Favorites Make Exciting New Deals
It’s the first week back! The health center is renovated, Worth courtyard is spruced up, and the first-years are wide-eyed and fresh-faced. But for all these changes, our old faithful Sharples is still serving up familiar fare. Some may welcome having food at their fingertips again, especially for those who survived the summer eating self-made meals ad nauseam. Others may be less swipe-happy and express exasperation with the fare (except you, freshmen. It’s barely been a week since orientation. Food-complaining privileges have yet to come into effect. Dining Services’ primary role is to prevent our deaths by starvation and malnutrition, not to indulge us with restaurant-quality cuisine, so just eat the food). Whether you embrace or bemoan the meal plan, here are a few suggestions to inspire imaginative eating and stymie grumblings about Sharples’ grub.
Pasta Bar Alternatives
Skip the pasta. As the infinite mainstay of Wednesday and Sunday dinners, pasta is not worth the lengthy line. Instead, hit up the main bar and put a twist on the rotating entrees.
Spicy Beef Salad
| Source | Ingredient(s) |
| main bar | Grilled Flank Steak |
| salad bar | spinach leaves, bean sprouts, cucumber, carrots, peppers |
| milk fridge | lemon wedges |
| wok bar | soy sauce, sesame oil, chili flakes, pepper |
Assemble salad ingredients on a plate, top with steak and drizzle over lemon juice and condiments.
Purple Salmon Salad
| Source | Ingredient(s) |
| main bar | Soy & Citrus Salmon |
| salad bar | spring mix, red onion, cucumber, crumbled feta cheese, olives |
| milk fridge | lemon wedges |
| condiment bar | dried cranberries |
Assemble salad ingredients and top with salmon and condiments.
Pot Roast Pocket
| Source | Ingredient(s) |
| main bar | Pot Roast |
| deli bar | pita pocket, lettuce, tomato, onion, cheese etc |
| condiments | mustard, jalapenos etc |
First, drain off juices from the pot roast. Then, stuff it into a pita pocket along with fillings and condiments of your choice.
Build-Your-Own-Brunch
Weekend mornings call for breakfast of champions and hangover helpers, i.e. bacon. Fact: college kids are not yet subject to cardiac arrest. Indulge while you can.
Oinkmeal
Top oatmeal with these sweet and savory accompaniments: sliced banana, maple syrup, cinnamon and bacon.
The Elvis
Who needs homefries and Egg Beaters when you can have breakfast of The King? A favorite of Presley, this sandwich will result in persistent rubberneckin’. Spread peanut butter on one slice of toasted bread, and honey on the other and fill with sliced bananas and bacon. Keep these babies out of the panini press so as to not kill people allergic to peanuts -you butter nut risk it.
Homebaked Hope’s Cookies Hijack
Tender and freshly-baked, Homebaked Hope’s Cookies are heavenly. Now try sandwiching Bassetts ice cream between them. Hope’s Cookies not on the menu? Try one of these four flavorful ice cream sandwich combos.
Flavor suggestions:
| Homebaked Hope’s Cookie | Bassetts ice cream |
| Macadamia & White Chocolate | Cherry Vanilla or Butterscotch Vanilla |
| Snickerdoodle | Strawberry or Coffee |
| Chocolate Chip | Peanut Butter Swirl or Mint Chocolate Chip |
| Oatmeal & Raisin | Butter Pecan or Rum Raisin |
Weekend Evening Nifty Fifty’s Fake-Out
Friday and Saturday nights see the lowest numbers of swipes at Sharples, and arguably the least desirable food options. Pickings may be slim, but ice cream and grill items are invariably available, perfect for recreating shakes and fries from Nifty Fifty’s diner.
Milkshakes
Shake up Ice Cream Sundae Bar and make milkshakes by selecting a neutral ice cream, mix-ins, milk and vigorously whisking the ingredients together in a glass.
Suggestions for mix-ins:
- peanut butter sauce and Oreo crumbs
- strawberry preserves and Cinnamon Toast Crunch (from cereal bar)
- toffee bits & pretzels (from deli bar), crushed
Smothered Cheesesteak Fries
Hit up the grill, the one-stop LDL cholesterol dispensary. Sprinkle fries with Old Bay, top with cheesesteak (hold the roll) and cheese whizz.
