Vintage comfort food taken to the next level! Inspired by YouTuber Catherine’s Plates, I added an option for an enhanced 1950s experience that relies less on prepared food: the Cook Your Own Pasta Sauce option. The original recipe that uses prepared spaghetti sauce from the supermarket works just fine, but I think that going the […]
Category: Child-Pleasing
Hearty Meat Sauce Casserole
This decadent dish isn’t for the person on a weight loss regimen! Dating back to 1950, an age of blissful dietary innocence before cholesterol became a scary household word and liver was considered health food (and eating liver was a considered sign of being grown up), this kid-pleasing, tongue-coating, pantry-staple recipe will surprise you with […]
Ham-Noodle Casserole
Adapted from a 1969 recipe from Favorite Recipes of Assemblies of God Women, this dish is exceedingly simple but nonetheless enjoyable. Cookbooks like these church women’s recipe collections give a window into what was actually served on the dinner tables of ordinary households, such as that of Mrs. Frank Giberson, whose recipe was published in […]
Classic Lasagna
Lasagna hasn’t changed much from this 1960 recipe, and this one is fantastic. It calls for a lot of old-fashioned kitchen time, but it’s worth it. You’ll need: 1 lb. ground beefOlive oil2 cloves garlic, finely chopped1 package onion soup mix1 No. 1 can (that’s 8-9 oz.) tomato sauce1 No. ½ can (that’s 6-8 oz.) […]
Beef Macaroni Casserole
Appetizing eye appeal makes everything taste better, and this dish has it! Mild yet fun to cook with its old-school techniques, anyone who likes meat will chow this right down. You’ll need: 1 lb. ground beef (15-20% fat best, see instructions)1 tbsp. fat or shortening1 No. ¼ can mushrooms, finely chopped (optional) (that’s 3-4 oz)1 […]
Easy Hamburger Casserole
Fond memories of dinners as a child! Mild, simple and kid pleasing, this tasty, filling dish is as much fun to make as it is to eat. Just like Jiffy-Pop. For the ground beef, I used home-ground sirloin which provided a wonderful uniform texture, but if using ground beef of more than 20% fat, consider […]
Sausage and Noodles Casserole
This visually appealing recipe would make for a challenging home economics assignment with its numerous cooking steps using several different cooking methods from boiling to sauteing and roasting. Yet, in true vintage American form, its use of mundane ingredients with little added seasoning nonetheless yields a surprisingly rich, flavorful dish. You’ll need: 6 oz. pasta […]