Jed Marquart, BSME ’80, is enjoying his hobbies in retirement, one of which is cooking.
A professor of mechanical engineering, Jed was a frequent winner in the annual College of Engineering Faculty and Staff Bake-Off at «Ӱҵ.
His cooking accolades extend to high school in the 1970s, when he received the Betty Crocker Homemaker of the Year Award during his senior year in Home Ec.
Jed retired last spring after 33 years at «Ӱҵ teaching courses in fluid mechanics, heat transfer, aircraft design, computational fluid dynamics, and more.
"Watching students discover an interest, find their niche, and embark on fulfilling careers was amazing,” he said. “I still hear from many of my former students.”
Jed became interested in cooking while growing up on a farm.
“My mom instilled in us that if we wanted something that wasn’t on the table, then we should learn how to make it.”
Jed finds great satisfaction in finding a new dish that pleases family and friends.
“You have to be willing to play around and try something new and see if it works. If not, so what? Try again.”
Jed passed on his cooking interest to his three sons, and their skills in the kitchen surpass his, he says. Jed’s French toast, however, is “world-famous,” according to his granddaughters. His winning touch is homemade bread, a dash of vanilla in the egg mixture, and a fresh blueberry topping.
His young granddaughters’ enthusiasm for his French toast inspired him to experiment. He found a breakfast recipe that has received rave reviews from his family and can be assembled the night before:
