TRI DELTA provides a home away from home for our members. In our chapter houses, fond memories are formed over shared experiences – watching a favorite TV show, getting ready together and, of course, the food.
We asked our members to tell us their favorite Tri Delta recipes from their collegiate years, and responses poured in. Each chapter has its own unique meal traditions and dessert recipes that are popular among members, and here are three that shared theirs!
Kanetta’s Cake Mix Cookies for Chicken Finger Friday – Arkansas, Delta Iota
Ingredients:
1 box cake mix (yellow, white, chocolate “sweet rewards”)
½ cup cooking oil
2 eggs or equivalent egg substitute
- Heat oven to 350 degrees
- Mix all ingredients vigorously in large bowl
- Drop dough by teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet
- Bake for 10 minutes
As Elizabeth McAlpine Haley, Arkansas, explains, “Kanetta was the name of our cook in the late 90s/early 2000s, and she would make these cookies every Friday for what we called Chicken Finger Friday (CFF). It was a once-a-week lunch where you could invite all your non-Tri Delta friends (say the whole football team!) to the house to eat. CFF has now grown into a huge production at the University of Arkansas where every sorority hosts their own lunch on Friday and sometimes even hires bands to play.”
Peanut Butter Balls – Southern Methodist, Theta Kappa
Ingredients:
2 cups peanut butter
1 stick melted butter
1 lb. powdered sugar
24 ounce bag of chocolate chips
- Mix peanut butter, powdered sugar and melted butter into a smooth consistency. I mix with my hands. If consistency is too dry, add more melted butter. If consistency is too wet, add more powdered sugar.
- Roll mixture into 1” balls and briefly refrigerate.
- While peanut butter balls refrigerate, melt chocolate. I use semi-sweet chocolate chips and melt in the microwave in a glassbowl, heating and mixing in 20 second increments. (You can also use melting chocolate over a stove.)
- Once chocolate is melted, place each peanut butter ball into the chocolate with a spoon and cover with chocolate.
- Place peanut butter balls onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Once complete, place in refrigerator for the chocolate to set. Remove 10 minutes before serving.
- Enjoy!
For Kelly Barnett Talbott, Southern Methodist, these peanut butter balls bring back wonderful memories of living in the Theta Kappa chapter house. “This dessert was never on the menu but would make a surprise appearance in the kitchen and word would spread! We would all run into the kitchen to snag this sweet treat to enjoy in between classes. It was a favorite in the house and would certainly put a smile on our faces!”
During her senior year, she knew she couldn’t move out of the house without the recipe, so she asked the chef for it.
“I found out it was made with a lot of sugar, butter and love! It’s been a joy to make these for my sorority sisters whether it be a baby shower or birthday. It takes us back to the days of living in the SMU Tri Delta house where we created lifelong friendships, learned and grew in leadership, and lived in the comfort of our home away from home.”
Theta Dessert –Minnesota, Theta
Bottom Layer:
1 pound (box) crushed graham crackers (reserve 1 ½ c. of the crushed crackers for the topping)
Put crumbs on the bottom of a 9 x 13 pan
Middle Layer:
Cream: Mix with spoon or electric mixer on low speed:
1 cup butter
3 cups powdered sugar
Top Layer:
3 squares unsweetened chocolate, melted
Separate 4 eggs –add one yolk at a time to chocolate mixture, mix well.
Blend in 1 tsp vanilla and a dash of salt.
In a separate bowl, beat the 4 egg whites, then add to the chocolate mixture.
Pour this chocolate mixture onto the crust and freeze the pan for 2 hours. Soften 1 quart of vanilla ice cream and spread on the top of the pan. Sprinkle with remaining graham cracker crumbs and freeze again.
Theta Dessert was a special tradition at the University of Minnesota. Erika Loen Beatty, Minnesota, recalls the dessert being served after Initiation every year.
“Our alumnae came and made this for us to help us celebrate our new members moving into full membership. After the Initiation ceremony was complete, we all sat in our big and little sister families huddled together eating and giggling. It was a lovely kickoff to the informal traditions of our overnight where even our ‘townie’ or commuter members stayed overnight singing, making up skits, and having those great fireside chats where we found out so much about our sisters.”
Even more special was the fact that members were given the recipe when they went through Circle Degree. “I think that is why it always comes up as a great treat to share during Pansy Brunch,” says Erika.“The smell and taste is so specific. It transports me right back to the chapter house and brings that same special feeling of togetherness.”