Kentucky Woman Remembers Rare School Lunch Item

Kentucky Woman Remembers Rare School Lunch Item

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Since it's almost time for the kids to head back to school, well, some have already, I was thinking about all the school lunch items and menus I used to love.

What started rattling around in my brain was one particular item that I'm pretty confident was never served at my elementary school. Where are you all at Wayland? Fast forward to high school and that's where I first encountered the Rhode Island Burger. First of all, like Mike Myers as Linda Richman on SNL used to say, I'm paraphrasing, "I'll give you a topic, a Rhode Island Burger has nothing to do with Rhode Island or a burger, discuss!"

Seriously, when I went to search for an image of what I remember I think it looked like, I got pictures of traditional or fancy burgers. To be fair, it is bread, meat, and another layer of bread concoction, so sort of a sandwich. In my mind, and if anyone who attended school in Ohio County remembers, the RIB visually looked like Mexican cornbread. I know that's weird, but in reality, it was biscuit dough with ham and cheese on top, then another layer of bread on top consisting of several yeast rolls.

Actually, I found a TikTok of a fellow Ohio Countian making the Rhode Island Burger, take it away Matilda!

 

@ky_mom_79 Did anyone else have Rhode Island Burgers in school? Did I just make this up? @Matilda •~•#rhodeisland #rhodeislandburgers ♬ original sound - Matilda

Okay, so that doesn't look like a piece of cornbread, and honestly, the make-it-at-home recipe looks much more appetizing. So where did it come from? I was told it was a lunch item at Horse Branch School, but my friend Heather told me she had the RIB at Southern Elementary. By the way, here is Heather's recipe:

Rhode Island Burger"
 
Yeast Bread with Ham and Cheese Filling Baked to a Golden Brown
(A Favorite in School Cafeteria for Years)
Yeast Dough Recipe (For Top and Bottom Crust)
1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
1/4 cup warm water
1 pinch white sugar
Mix these three and set aside..
1/2 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 cup warm water
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon salt
4 cups all-purpose flour
Shaved Ham or thinly sliced
American Cheese..Shredded or thin-sliced
(can add other kinds of Shredded Cheese)
Melted Butter
In another Bowl ..Mix Eggs,Sugar, Water ,Oil and Salt
beat in 2 Cups Flour..Add the Yeast Mixture..then add the rest of the Flour beat until it forms a soft Dough..cover with a warm Damp Cloth
..let rise until Doubled..
Roll out on Floured Board..to make thin Crust ..
Grease a long Baking Dish..Put Bottom Crust in Pan..Layer Ham and Cheese
(as much as you like to fill Baking Dish)
Top with another Thin Crust..cut any extra Dough from the sides so the Two Crusts combine.
Brush with Butter..Let set until Dough Rises again..
Bake at 350 for about 30 Mins. or until brown.
This may be enough Dough for two small ones or one large one...
Is it yeast? Is it biscuit dough? It doesn't matter. LOL! I guess it is a fancier ham and cheese sandwich. I picture the RIB being served during the fall and winter months as a side for a big bowl of chili.
Okay, so did you or do you have a school lunch item that is unique to your school or school system? I must know!

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Gallery Credit: Dave Spencer

Filed Under: Kentucky, back to school, Ohio County
Categories: What's New, Kentucky Food