What do you cook for kids returning from college?

[cakebaker]

My DD is coming home tomorrow for the weekend-first since she left for college 9-20-09. DH & I wanted to take her out to dinner, but she wants some home cooking. This is what she's requested-from MyRecipes. We've made it a few times & its one of her favorites.
What do you cook for you DSs & DDs returning from school? Their favorites, something special?

Chicken Teriyaki Meatballs with Edamame and Snow Peas



Photo: Marcus Nilsson


Worthy of a Special Occasion


Yield: Makes 4 servings
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups long-grain rice
1 1/4 pounds ground chicken
2 scallions, chopped
2 tablespoons grated fresh ginger
2 tablespoons canola oil
1/2 pound snow peas, halved crosswise (3 cups)
1 cup frozen shelled edamame, thawed
1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce
2 tablespoons brown sugar
Preparation
Cook the rice according to the package directions.

Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine the chicken, scallions, and ginger. Shape into 16 meatballs.

Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the meatballs, turning, until cooked through, 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer to a plate.

Wipe out the skillet. Heat the remaining oil over medium-high heat. Add the peas and edamame. Cook, tossing, for 2 minutes. Return the meatballs to skillet.

In a small bowl, combine the soy sauce and sugar. Add to the skillet and simmer until slightly thickened, 2 to 3 minutes. Serve over the rice.

Tip: To keep the ground chicken from sticking to your fingers, wet your hands before forming the meatballs.

[ADM]

Originally Posted by cakebaker

What do you cook for you DSs & DDs returning from school? Their favorites, something special?

I'll bet that the most special things they can think of, and are hoping for, are their favorite comfort foods!

[sneezles]

The first night is always about their favorites! Mine typically want my meatloaf but the youngest now comes home very three weeks and he doesn't get it every visit! Maybe every third or fourth but then he's been at school for 3 years now.

[Angelsfan]

Our ritual is always the same. It used to take place when I returned home from college and now we do it when I fly back to the Chicago suburbs from Orange County.

The first night we go to Phillie's Pizza in Willowbrook. I order fried zucchini and mushrooms for an appetizer, and a pepperoni, mushroom and green pepper pizza, well done. (Who knows how many beers will be consumed by my crazy Irish family .)

The next few meals can come in any order, but I must have Mom's Broccoli Shrimp Pasta, Beef Stroganoff and her full on "Sunday dinner" which is basically the whole Thanksgiving spread. My obsession with cooking is starting to make a lot of sense....

-Heather

[tbb113]

I haven't had college kids yet, but when my son came home from 4 months in Israel, the first meal he wanted was Chicken Alfredo (which I had never made). He was tired of kosher-style food and it was his way of enjoying a 'mixed meal'.

But in general, I will cook what they are missing. My guess it will be baked goods more than food.

[helene]

My son and daughter will be home, from university, for XMas. My son already sent me a list of meals he wants to eat. Mainly it's French Canadian food that he is craving like: tourtière, meatballs with gravy. Desserts also. Can't wait to cook for them and see them.

[LakeMartinGal]

DM always tried to cook my favorites... but she forgot who liked what, so I usually ended up with my brother's favorites!

When my DDs were in college, we usually went out to dinner, then cooked whatever they wanted. That was really before I got into cooking as a hobby, so their choices were usually steak!

[Cyndi L]

Comfort food and more comfort food! My daughter always wanted my macaroni and cheese and meatloaf! Oh, and apple dumplings

[merley]

Both my DD are away at college. When younger DD is home she wants fresh fruit and veggies. That is what she misses in the dorm.

Older DD doesn't live in the dorm so she cooks what she wants.(Older DD lives within walking distance from Zingermans). She has access to great food all the time.

[gritsgirl]

DD, is in school locally and has her own home. DS, is in school about two hours away. When he comes home we cook whatever he wants. One thing he loves though that I will fix for him is homemade potato chips and boiled peanuts. DD, comes to visit when he is here she likes them too. Sounds crazy, but they enjoy

[zoey55]

DS always requested meatloaf, garlic mashed potatoes and greenbeans w/ slivered almonds. Probably second to that was beef kabobs w/ gpepper, onion and water chestnuts, served with rice and an 'Asian' salad (mandarin oranges, green onion, cukes, carrots over lettuce w/ crunchy rice noodles on top)

[PAMMELA]

Well i'm going to my parents for Christmas this year, the first since we've moved to Texas 3 years ago, and i already gave my mom MY list of meals I want when i'm there!!

[JackieO]

My DS (jr in college) is home for the weekend. I asked him what he wanted for dinner last night, and the request was "stir fry." When I asked chicken or beef, he said, "Chicken." I'm really sick of my chicken in hoisin sauce basic recipe, so I Googled to find a version of volcano chicken, a dish we loved at a Thai restaurant in Milwaukee years ago.

Voila! I found something, and it turned out GREAT. My step-daughter and her family will be visiting one of the next two weekends, and she LOVED volcano chicken, too. Can't wait to surprise her!

[dixie]

When my daughter was in college she always wanted home made chicken pot pie and CL pasta jambalaya. My son - a sophomore - wants steak and chopped salad or spaghetti - he's easier!

[Anne]

Halibut and salmon are the top picks for both kids - guess it must be hard to find decent seafood in a dorm. They also want homemade bread, pancakes or waffles for breakfast, and deserts.

[patissac]

I would just like to comment that I made your Chicken Meatball Teriyaki dish last night. I had to do alot of substitutions though, didn't have brown sugar so I used regular and added some oyster sauce because I was afraid the soy sauce might be overpowering. I didn't have the snow peas but used zuchinni in with the edamame. Both my kids loved this! What a neat idea, I really liked that it was out of the norm too, chicken meatballs...YUM! Thanks for posting!

[BarbaraL]

DD is now a college graduate--hurray! I would always cook one of her favorites on her first night home. Other nights, I'd check whether she'd be home for dinner or not, as she would get together with her home/high school friends on some evenings. Toward the end of her visit, I'd try to make something (like beef stew or BBQ pork) that we could enjoy together but then have leftovers that she could take back to school -- THAT was really appreciated.

[tbb113]

My 20 year old son (who still lives at home) created this list tonight of what I should make soon:

Matzo balls (I was making turkey soup)
Kugel
Brisket
Potato Chip Cookies
Banana Cake
Spicy Chili
Double decker brownie/choc chip cookie bar

and if I was feeling really amazing....hamentaschen