Houston Middle Students Take Their “Shakin’ Sauce” from Classroom to Cafeteria

In Andrea Starks’ food and consumer science elective, students were challenged to create the perfect dipping sauce for burgers and fries. The winning recipe, a zesty, tangy mix the team called The Shakin’ Sauce, quickly caught the attention of GMSD Food Services Specialist Debra Davis, who knew it had potential beyond the classroom.

With the help of SFE Chef Tony McCray, eighth graders Mary Bingham, Ryleigh Chester, Arington Nischwitz, and Isabella Nunez stepped out of their classroom aprons and into the commercial kitchen to scale up their sauce for the entire student body.
“It’s kind of like a Cane’s sauce recreation,” said Mary, laughing as she and her teammates whisked up gallons of the orange-hued condiment. “We found a recipe, tweaked it, and brought in our own ingredients to make it our own.”
When asked about the quirky name, Ryleigh admitted with a grin, “It just tasted like shaking to us.”

On sauce launch day, the cafeteria was filled with excitement as students lined up with chicken tenders and fries, eager to try the newest addition to the menu. The girls admitted they were “a little nervous” to hear what their classmates thought, but the early reviews made it clear: word on the street is you have to try the Shakin’ Sauce.
For Davis, this partnership is more than just a fun lunchtime surprise. “This is such a great opportunity for students to see how what they are learning in class connects to the real world,” she said. “They get to work with our chefs and staff, scale up a recipe, and watch their peers enjoy something they created.”

Chef McCray agreed, noting that the recipe was completely student-driven: “My role was just to expand the measurements so it could be made in bulk. This sauce is one hundred percent theirs.”
From a classroom contest to cafeteria fame, these Houston Middle students proved that sometimes the secret ingredient really is a little bit of creativity and a whole lot of shaking.