Vintage Recipes No One Makes Anymore – But Should
While everyone has a favorite dish from their youth, it seems as though some mealtime staples have turned into childhood dinners you almost forgot existed. Don't get us wrong, there are definitely some recipes that should never make a comeback — we're talking about you tuna and Jell-O pie — but what ever happened to treasured meals like beef stroganoff and pot pie? It's time these 25 dishes make their way back on today's tables.
Cinnamon Toast
Waking up for school in the morning was tough, but the smell of cinnamon toast wafting into your room was always there to soften the blow. Just toast some bread, top it with butter, cinnamon and sugar and add this tasty snack to the ongoing list of childhood breakfasts you forgot existed.
Dutch Baby Pancake
This sugar-coated classic is right up there with beignets, fried green tomatoes and other breakfast foods you didn't know existed. Cut this doughy dish into slices and there's enough for the whole family to enjoy.
Tea Sandwiches
Tea sandwiches were a staple of kids birthday parties, probably because they were so easy to make and eat. A little strawberry cream cheese or cucumbers and mayonnaise plus the power of nostalgia put these right up there with the best sandwich in your state.
Fondue
Fon-don't forget about this fun party classic. Ooey-gooey cheese, melted chocolate and bread for dipping? Yes, please. Fondue is best enjoyed with a crowd, so get some friends together and throw a '70s-themed party packed with more retro snacks that deserve a comeback.
Frito Pie
Let's be honest, Frito pie day was the one time a year you didn't want your parents to pack you a lunch for school. But sadly, Frito pie — one of Texas' favorite recipes — rarely appears in cafeterias anymore, which is just one way school has changed since you were a student.
Sweet and Sour Meatballs
Despite how strange sweet and sour meatballs sound, these little bites were delicious. They deserve to be added to your list of the best foods to bring to a party.
For the Sweet and Sour Slow Cooker Meatballs recipe, click here.
Beef Stroganoff
Beef stroganoff was popular back in the 1950s and involves pasta topped with a creamy blend of mushrooms and beef. So head on down to your favorite grocery store and pick up all the fixings to make this childhood favorite.
Chicken Cordon Bleu
This French-inspired dish made a comeback in America in the '90s but has again fallen out of fashion. It's typically made with breaded and pan-fried chicken stuffed with layers of ham and cheese. The French term cordon bleu translates to "blue ribbon," which is just one fun food fact you may not know.
Chicken Kiev
Another classic stuffed chicken dish was chicken Kiev. Chicken breasts are coated with breadcrumbs and stuffed with garlic butter and bacon. You likely won't find this dish at one of the best fried chicken places in America, but it is still a delicious blast from the past.
Egg Salad
Ah, egg salad, making a guest appearance at family barbecues for years. But unfortunately, this dish has been run out of town by things like mac and cheese and pasta salad. Don't worry though, eggs haven't gone out of style altogether. Here are some egg-cellent ways to cook an egg.
Sloppy Joes
You might not want to order one on a first date, but there's no denying that sloppy Joes are packed with ground beef goodness. When you make them right, these sandwiches taste great. There's a reason they're served at Scotty's Drive-In in Bismarck, North Carolina, one of the most historic restaurants in America.
Salisbury Steak
Salisbury steak isn't actually steak at all — it's a patty of ground beef topped with gravy and mushrooms, usually served with mashed potatoes and green beans. While it's definitely not going to make the cut at America's best high-end steakhouses, Salisbury steak is delicious when done right.
Strawberry Daiquiri
We all remember the sound of mom breaking out the blender for some Friday night daiquiris — if you were lucky you even got a mocktail version to sip on. But now that we're older, we deserve the real deal. Skip happy hour this week and try whipping up your own strawberry daiquiri.
Texas Toast
How did Texas toast ever go out of style? Who could forget Texas toast grilled cheese or Texas toast garlic bread with a big bowl of spaghetti and meatballs? You likely won't find that dish at the best Italian restaurants, but that doesn't mean you can't bring it back to your dinner table.
Pot Pie
There are hundreds of ways to use leftover chicken, but cozy and comforting pot pie is up there with the best. The No. 1 reason pot pie should make a comeback? It's one of the best foods you can make ahead and freeze for the week.
Scalloped Potatoes
Potatoes are important. The starch-packed food is perfect for any time of day, but there's something extra special about potatoes when they're baked and smothered in butter and cheese. Consider warming up in the remaining winter weeks with scalloped potatoes as a side dish to these comforting slow cooker recipes.
Crescent Rings
Classic crescent rings have all but disappeared from most menus — they're even made with ingredients no one cooks with anymore. Some throwback crescent rings are stuffed with taco meat and cheese, or you can even try your hand at bacon-chicken crescent rings. Don't forget to top them off with some of the world's hottest hot sauce.
Icebox Cakes
The Icebox cake might be a childhood dessert you forgot existed. It's a cake that requires zero baking skills. You simply allow the layers of cookies and whipped cream to sit in the freezer overnight and bam, you've got a cake.
Meatloaf
You probably didn't make it through childhood without eating family dinners of mashed potatoes and ketchup-infused meatloaf. Learning how to make this dish is practically a rite of passage, but meatloaf is definitely one of those foods that will have you wondering why it never tastes as good as grandma's. Her secret ingredient? Nostalgia.
Bananas Foster
It's rare to find a treat that can comfort you and satisfy your sweet tooth, but bananas Foster truly does it all. Brown sugar, cinnamon and dark rum are all slathered over bananas atop a pile of ice cream. Drooling yet? There's definitely a reason it's one of the regional desserts you need to try.
Mai Tai
For as many delicious foods that have been forgotten about, there are just as many tasty cocktails dying to make a comeback. Said to have been invented in the 1940s, this tangy cocktail should definitely be served at the best cocktail bars in every state.
Bread Pudding
One of the best ways to use stale bread is to turn it into bread pudding, which is basically a sweet, dense casserole of bread. At times, casserole seems to be a thing of the past, but these casserole recipes are sure to remind you of home.
Twice-Baked Potatoes
What's better than once-baked potatoes? Twice-baked potatoes. Loaded up with cheese, chives and sour cream, these little guys are no longer considered a side-dish staple. But they're still just as good as the best foods to bring to a party.
Baked Alaska
You might have heard of baked Alaska, but you've probably never tried it. It's nowhere near as popular as it was back in the '60s, and that's a real shame. It consists of a sponge cake topped with ice cream and smothered in meringue, baked in the oven and often served at the dinner table in flames. A baked Alaska is impressive to serve and even more impressive to bake, which is one reason you likely only see this dessert pop up at special occasion restaurants.
Tuna Noodle Casserole
It's sad to know that while tuna salad and tuna sandwiches are still gracing homes across the country, tuna casserole has all but vanished. While you mourn the loss of this treasured dish, be sure to take a trip back in time with these retro recipes that you forgot existed.
For the Tuna Noodle Casserole recipe, click here.
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