Many college students miss their familyβs home-cooked meals. So for nearly nine years, through ΒιΆΉΣ°ΤΊ Stateβs innovative βTaste of Homeβ program, Dining Services has invited students and family members to submit favorite recipes that ΒιΆΉΣ°ΤΊ Stateβs executive chefs may feature in one of the dining halls on campus to make the menus more like home.
This year for Parents and Families Weekend, Dining Services facilitated a Taste of Home contest, and ΒιΆΉΣ°ΤΊ State parent Debbie McKinney won for her turkey chili recipeβa favorite of her daughter Dana, a first-year photo illustration major.
βThe crockpot recipe makes a large batch, so we keep it in smaller containers in the freezer, ready to thaw, heat and enjoy anytime,β wrote McKinney in her submission. βSince itβs not spicy, and because I use black beans instead of red beans, it doesnβt create indigestion, as some chili recipes do.β
McKinney won two tickets to the Student Affairs loge for the weekendβs football game, and her chili was served there and at the Eastway CafΓ©. (Turns out McKinney is no stranger to serving a crowdβshe owns Time to Spare, a corporate and nonprofit event planning and gift service in Akron.)
βI love her turkey chili, like all my friends and family do,β says her daughter, Dana. βSheβs a really good cook.β
Students and family members can submit recipes year-round at www.kent.edu/dining/taste-home.