Vintage Recipes
Photo credit: Miss Retro Modern
I generally like vintage recipes, but this molded vegetable salad (Woman’s Day Encyclopedia of Cookery, 1974) should probably be subtitled “culinary efforts gone wrong. VERY wrong.”
For some truly yummy, non-revolting, vintage recipes, check out Retro-Food. I tried several of TW’s recipes, and they all turned out well. The blog features recipes from TW’s grandma’s recipe box, as well as from various other vintage sources. Interesting, fun, and delicious.
What’s the weirdest, or grossest food item, vintage or not, that you have ever come across, or have eaten? Please share in the comments.
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MammaDawg responds:
Posted: July 15th, 2008 at 10:08 pm →
Dang – it sure looks pretty, though!!
MammaDawg’s last blog post..How to Piss off a 3 Year Old
Scott McIntyre responds:
Posted: July 15th, 2008 at 10:28 pm →
Sounds deeeeeeeelicious to me!
I’m not sure whether this Scottish ‘delicacy’ (tongue firmly in cheek) has made its way across the Atlantic…
Deep fried Mars bar
Sickly sweet. Highly calorific. Heart-attack inducing.
Try it with full fat ice cream for maximum effect.
Yum
Linda responds:
Posted: July 15th, 2008 at 11:17 pm →
Hi Vered,
As a newlywed I decided to be creative in cooking something yummy for my new husband. So I added garlic salt to the French toast recipe! YUCK! Never again. And I’ve never deviated from a recipe since that time either. Cooking is definitely not my forte!
Fun post & photo!
Linda’s last blog post..Tips for Creating a Safety Net for Our Aging Parents – Part 1
Barbara Swafford responds:
Posted: July 15th, 2008 at 11:23 pm →
Hi Vered,
This looks good. What a good combo, veges with Jell-O. I remember those Jell-0 molds, but I don’t I haven’t seen any in the stores.
The link to the retro recipes sounds great. Often the old recipes are the best. I’ll check it out!
Years ago I worked for a Japanese company (airline catering -when they actually served decent food on the airplanes), and they made some interesting looking (??) stuff for first class. I remember eel, squid and some other raw fish/seafood. I tried some of it, but couldn’t develop a taste for it. Maybe if I didn’t know what it was, I would have been a little more receptive.
Barbara Swafford’s last blog post..It’s Not Your Fault I Can’t Spell
Robin responds:
Posted: July 15th, 2008 at 11:33 pm →
Vered – is this what you are going to give us at our dinner party?
Robin’s last blog post..Is The World Getting Better Or Worse?
Bamboo Forest responds:
Posted: July 15th, 2008 at 11:45 pm →
I’m no gelatin fan. That being said, isn’t gelatin a dessert food? Why oh why put lima beans in a dessert food?! This is disturbing. Thanks for sharing.
Bamboo Forest’s last blog post..Flying LlamaFish’s 7 Fun Words
Justin responds:
Posted: July 16th, 2008 at 1:26 am →
This dish looks kind of scary.
Rebecca responds:
Posted: July 16th, 2008 at 2:57 am →
That is disturbing. EEK!
Rebecca’s last blog post..Project Black (Take 7) and Wordless Wednesday (You really otter see this.)
MizFit responds:
Posted: July 16th, 2008 at 3:01 am →
I love that photo…as it’s completely something Id concoct and like.
cant even think of the oddest thing Ive eaten (tho Im certain there were more than a few in Kenya in the little villages——I just avoided asking “what’s this?”) as there is a good chance it was of my own deliberate creating.
MizFit’s last blog post..Viewer Mail. The *some of you are gonna feel ripped off* edition.
Evelyn Lim responds:
Posted: July 16th, 2008 at 3:49 am →
Err…not sure whether I’d really enjoy eating the dessert with the picture that you just posted.
The worst thing I’ve ever consumed? It’s not food really but medicine. A Chinese concoction of bitter herbs and a chopped sea horse, with tail and all, brewed for 3 hours in water and to be taken once a week for a period, “to cleanse the blood of toxins”. After brewing, the entire soup was black. It was hard to swallow it down.
Needless to say, I couldn’t finish the entire course. I lasted for only 3 bowls, as far as I could remember.
Evelyn Lim’s last blog post..Guest Post: 7 Steps To Positive Self Talk
Amy responds:
Posted: July 16th, 2008 at 4:17 am →
Yuck! Why in the world would someone put veggies in there??
Joel Falconer responds:
Posted: July 16th, 2008 at 4:51 am →
Woah. If a time machine is ever invented during my lifetime, I hope this dish is not retrieved from the past. At least not for any dinner parties I have to attend. You won’t serve this at your dinner part, right, Vered?
Al at 7P responds:
Posted: July 16th, 2008 at 6:01 am →
Hi Vered,
I’m pretty tame when it comes to food selection. However, there’s a blogger at TheSneeze.com who had a series of posts on the extreme stuff he ate. It’s definitely not for the faint of heart, but I was amused with how he described his experiences. The articles can be found by googling “steve don’t eat it”.
-Al
Al at 7P’s last blog post..Which Superhero Blockbuster Movie Are You?
Jill responds:
Posted: July 16th, 2008 at 7:14 am →
This looks horrible!
I went through a phase of dieting when I was in my 20s. I used to buy low-cal, whole-wheat, sugarless cookies. I’m pretty sure they were the grossest thing I have ever tried.
RJ responds:
Posted: July 16th, 2008 at 7:42 am →
Sweet…and high in fiber ^_^
magpie responds:
Posted: July 16th, 2008 at 8:25 am →
i once read a recipe for beef brisket, smeared with grape jelly, wrapped in foil, and baked. i DID NOT make that.
CharlesP responds:
Posted: July 16th, 2008 at 8:54 am →
Wow, glad I ate before looking at this post… Lima Bean Jell-O… *shudder*
CharlesP’s last blog post..The mediocre malaise
The Glamorous WAHM responds:
Posted: July 16th, 2008 at 9:28 am →
I am definitely NOT feeling the lima beans! Hellooooo in jello?
The Glamorous WAHM’s last blog post..Wordless Wednesday
Suzie responds:
Posted: July 16th, 2008 at 9:39 am →
This is the coolest food ever! I will be a real woman the day I make this. I love jello molds…no really
Suzie’s last blog post..Panic Come On In Make Yourself At Home
zoe responds:
Posted: July 16th, 2008 at 9:53 am →
That jello mold might not be so bad if you like lima beans. My mom makes a jello mold/salad that has pineapple and shredded carrots that I love. So you just never know.
As far as something that I love to eat that grosses most people out…I love, Love, LOVE, peanutbutter and (fresh out of the garden) tomato sandwiches. Don’t forget to salt the tomatoes. I also like peanutbutter and gralic dill pickle sandwiches. I bet you’d never guess that I’m picky eater.
zoe’s last blog post..To Twitter, or Not to Twitter
Sarah responds:
Posted: July 16th, 2008 at 9:56 am →
That just looks WRONG.
I once ate a dried caterpillar. It was a delicacy from Africa. Either that or I got my leg pulled BIG time. It was crunchy and slightly salty…
Sarah’s last blog post..The Art of Fine Tuning Your Lifestyle.
CharlesP responds:
Posted: July 16th, 2008 at 10:14 am →
Zoe, we too used to eat PB and Tomato sandwiches when I was a kid. I’m sure my wife would beat me senseless were I to do it now (she takes offense at foods which don’t match up in her mind, and tomatoes are sacred to her).
Oh, and though your blog is blocked here at work, the answer is “to twitter”.
CharlesP’s last blog post..The mediocre malaise
BK responds:
Posted: July 16th, 2008 at 10:17 am →
The weirdest or grossiest food item I tried is definitely the Balut when I was in Philippines. It is actually duck egg where it has already started to hatch.
BK’s last blog post..Wordless Wednesday: Singapore Flyer
Aunt Becky responds:
Posted: July 16th, 2008 at 10:26 am →
Oh, I’m pretty sure anything encased in Jello marks the most disgusting thing I’ve eaten.
Pamela Kramer responds:
Posted: July 16th, 2008 at 11:06 am →
You are so right! That is wrong and it sounds like it would taste terrible! Ugh! Happy WW.
Pamela Kramer’s last blog post..Wordless Wednesday – Scottland Wins The World Cup
Allison responds:
Posted: July 16th, 2008 at 11:20 am →
Oh GOD! At first I thought your title was serious. And I was worried that you had made this “creation” and were going to post a recipe with it or something…it’s a good thing I read your alternate subtitle which is SO true! That is a culinary mistake of the upmost!
Haha! Thanks for sharing.
Happy WW
Allison’s last blog post..Wordless Wednesday: We Should All Be So Lucky
Randall responds:
Posted: July 16th, 2008 at 12:33 pm →
The title could be…
How to Ruin Your Jello in One Easy Step
Randall’s last blog post..Wordless Wednesday
Urban Panther responds:
Posted: July 16th, 2008 at 12:52 pm →
Sort of right up there with that fluffy salad concoction with coloured minature marshmallows. A friend of mine makes a layered salsa dish that my kids labelled Salsa Crap. They love Salsa Crap mind you, and always want to know if Marie is going to make it. And there there is the dessert made with crushed Oreo cookies, whipped topping and chocolate pudding, which goes by the family name of Dirt. Looks extremely appetizing when served with gummy worms crawling out of it!
Urban Panther’s last blog post..A big Panther roar!
Ellen Wilson responds:
Posted: July 16th, 2008 at 12:55 pm →
Hi Vered,
Good to be home! This is not the food I was expecting though! And it even has olives on top.
I cannot stand anything with marshmallows in it. I hate marshmallows. Okay, I do like them toasted on an open fire. But that’s it. Those gelatin salads with marshmellows in them are the worst. I’m not even sure I am spelling marshmallow correctly, since I didn’t do a spell check. I’ll take my chances.
It reminds me of Barbara’s post (spell check).
Ellen Wilson’s last blog post..Crossing the Border
MomGrind responds:
Posted: July 16th, 2008 at 1:36 pm →
@ MammaDawg: It does.
@ Scott: Wow. I think I gained 2 pounds just THINKING about this.
@ Linda: ha! I change recipes too, often with disastrous results.
@ Barbara: I love sushi and sashimi, but somehow eating those on a plain doesn’t sound very appetizing.
@ Robin: I might…
@ Bamboo Forest: I think it’s an attempt at being creative and making something special and fancy. Sometimes these attempts do go wrong!
@ Justin: I agree!
@ Rebecca: It is indeed.
@ MizFit: You are either weird… or adventurous. Re not asking “what is this?”, we did the same in China.
@ Evelyn: That sounds SO GROSS. I can’t believe you managed to keep it down!
@ Joel: Well I just might.
@ Al: Sounds like an interesting blog!
@ Jill: Glad you’re not dieting anymore.
@ RJ: I guess…
@ magpie: You are a wise woman.
@ CharlesP: I agree that Twitter is worth checking out. But I’m not as active as I used to be over there.
@ The Glamorous WAHM: Yup, it’s weird.
@ Suzie: I can’t stand the texture of gelatin. It makes me gag.
@ zoe: That sandwich sounds very wrong. I am trying to imagine the taste and texture and it just doesn’t work in my mind at all. I’m amazed that CharlesP used to eat those too. I guess you’re not such a freak after all.
@ Sarah: a dried caterpillar? Wow. I’m impressed. I like to say that I’ll try anything once, but I’m not sure I could handle eating insects.
@ BK: Another dish that I would probably prefer to avoid. I guess I’m not that open minded after all.
@ Aunt Becky: I dislike jello too!
@ Pamela: Happy ww.
@ Allison: Well, Zoe here said she likes a similar dish, so I guess it’s not unheard of to like these things.
@ Randall: Love this title.
@ Urban Panther: These all sound deliciously disgusting.
@ Ellen: I love marshmallows.
Re spelling, I was seriously upset to find out that I misspelled beans in the title. It was a relief to read that Barbara, whom I deeply respect, thinks typos on blogs are not a big deal.
theramblinghousewife responds:
Posted: July 16th, 2008 at 1:40 pm →
Lima beans and jello do not belong in the same sentence together much less the same dish!
Blech!!
And I thought my cooking was bad!
It’s all relative, see. My dinner on a plate looks pretty damn good next to that!
theramblinghousewife’s last blog post..Back in the Sneakers
Kmommy responds:
Posted: July 16th, 2008 at 2:02 pm →
mmmmm yeah, I think I’m going to pass on that one!
Even pregnant that just doesn’t sound or look good! Hilarious!
Kmommy’s last blog post..Wordless Wednesday: Too Hot for Clothes!
Marelisa responds:
Posted: July 16th, 2008 at 2:22 pm →
That’s just wrong
When I lived in Italy I had a Sicilian boyfriend who taught me the basics about cooking, so I get by (but just that, get by). There’s a California Salad in the site you suggest (Retro-food) that looks great. I’m going to try it (I love avocado).
Marelisa’s last blog post..What is Love?
Mel responds:
Posted: July 16th, 2008 at 4:42 pm →
That is absolutely disgusting. As I’m typing this my nose is still crinkled…Ewww! Happy WW.
Mel’s last blog post..Wordless Wednesday – Sand on the Nose
Ann at One Bag Nation responds:
Posted: July 16th, 2008 at 6:39 pm →
I was surprised to see this was from the 70s; I thought it had a definite 50s look about it! One time my book group had a 50s-themed dinner and we enjoyed a Sunshine Salad (also a jello specialty) as well as deviled eggs and green bean casserole w/cream of mushroom soup and those canned crispy onions. Nothing tasted awful but except for the eggs, I wouldn’t go out of my way to eat any of it again!
DavinaH responds:
Posted: July 16th, 2008 at 7:23 pm →
I can’t really think of anything really bad that I’ve eaten. But, I can say that the last thing in the world I would eat is chocolate covered insects. EEEEEYUCK!!!
DavinaH’s last blog post..Like a Bird
Sara at On Simplicity responds:
Posted: July 16th, 2008 at 9:31 pm →
Dude. I mean, dude. This reminds of the classic red Betty Crocker cookbook. I asked for it thinking that there would be classic recipes, but so much of it (the retro edition) is just not right. Meat Ring? No way!
Sara at On Simplicity’s last blog post..Weekly Links: Barefoot Stroll
MomGrind responds:
Posted: July 16th, 2008 at 9:45 pm →
@ theramblinghousewife: “Lima beans and jello do not belong in the same sentence together much less the same dish!” Amen!
@ Kmommy: Even pregnant? Especially pregnant!
@ Marelisa: You’ve had such interesting life. I love avocado too.
@ Mel: Happy ww.
@ Ann: I’m usually suspicious of retro cooking too!
@ DavinaH: Chocolate covered insects… yum.
@ Sara: Meat ring? Is that some kind of a meatloaf? Interesting…
Shilpan | successsoul.com responds:
Posted: July 16th, 2008 at 9:51 pm →
Vered -
I’m a vegetarian. I also love Lima beans as they have high fiber. So, this recipe is timely and tasty treat for me. I’ll pass it on to my wife.
Thanks
Shilpan
Shilpan | successsoul.com’s last blog post..Warren Buffett’s 7 Secrets for Living a Happy and Simple Life
zoe responds:
Posted: July 17th, 2008 at 1:27 am →
CharlesP- I’ve never met anyone else who’s tried PB&T, and no one I know will even try it. And tell your wife thanks for the input, even if she won’t let you make a PB&T sandwich.
Vered- I believe I’m still a freak. Oh what wait, I see your comment was modified with “such”, meaning, that I am a freak, just not as much as previously thought.
zoe’s last blog post..Workers Revolt
Cath Lawson responds:
Posted: July 17th, 2008 at 1:32 am →
Hi Vered – That sounds completely gross. It’s difficult to remember off the top of my head – but one of the most horrible things I’ve probably eaten is sheep treacle. My grandparents had a farm and the feed you’d give the sheep had lumps of treacle in it, so I used to eat it. Looking back, this was completely gross, as there were tons of rats in the place where the feed was kept.
I’m going to Mexico soon and I’ve heard they eat cows eyeballs there. I’m keen to avoid any dish that contains them.
Cath Lawson’s last blog post..Is Blogging Putting You at Risk?
MizFit responds:
Posted: July 17th, 2008 at 2:46 am →
swinging through to letcha know Im now keeping an eye on yer triceps.
methinks they are already amazing!)
an eye on how great they already look!
(dont forget we saw a photo of you recently
MizFit’s last blog post..Guest Chef Time: The ImNotWorthy ImNotWorthy edition.
hyrcan responds:
Posted: July 17th, 2008 at 7:14 am →
Ugh… I’ve seen plenty of things that shouldn’t be consumed. Some of which were purposely made based of the dishes highlighted in the Gallery of Regrettable Food (I think they have a version of that jell-o dish)
The grossest thing I’ve eaten? That’s up in the air.
That could be anything that was prepared at the Navel Station Charleston’s galley while I was there in the Americorps program NCCC… Orange Jell-o with chocolate chips anyone?
The Jones Soda Holiday Pack 2005… so gross I’ve repressed the memory.
Or… The slice of pizza I got at Tokyo Tower… no I’m not talking about Okonomiyaki, that is delicious and I could probably eat it every night (osaka style that is). I’m talking pizza… japanese style… two words… Sweet. Corn.
The pizza was this foamy mush of sweet corn, seafood and mayo (I think), and thick… I managed a bite. -A BITE- I’m pretty adventuresome when it comes to other cultures foods, I ate some pretty strange things while I was there, and enjoyed them all…well most of them, but none as bad as the pizza. I think it’s because… well you just should not do to a pizza! You get all ready to have a taste slice of pizza…and get presented with that mush. Blagh.
Though. The more I think about it… the more I think the soda was worse. In a pinch, I could have finished that slice of pizza. There’s no way under the sun I would ever stomach so much as a sip of that soda. It was bad enough just to smell it.
Hmmm… speaking of Okonomiyaki, something that I know other people things is pretty darn gross, that I absolutely can’t get enough of is Takoyaki. I even bought my own pans to make my own.
I first got some from a street vendor in Osaka, and oooh man… They are so tasty! But, the reason people get a little grossed out, is not only is it Octopus, but they put the meat into little round dumpling balls, cover it with sauce and mayo, then sprinkle katsuobushi (dried smoked tuna shaved very thin). The katsuobushi reacts to the heat and steam and writhes around as if the entire plate was still alive. There’s some youtube videos that show the effect. 
@Scott McIntyre: Mars bars, snickers, oreos, pickels, whole turkeys… we fry them all on this side of the pond. Though I’m not a fan of them.
MomGrind responds:
Posted: July 17th, 2008 at 3:50 pm →
@ Shilpan: I generally like beans… but am not very fond of lima beans, and certaonly not in gelatin.
@ zoe: Ah, but being a freak is far better than being normal and boring.
@ Cath: sheep treacle. Wow. I’m speechless! I’ve been to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Food was good but mostly mainstream.
@ MizFit: THANK YOU! Coming from you, that means a lot!!!
@ hyrcan: pizza mush… hmmm. I still thinks Cath’s sheep treacle is grosser.
Okonomiyaki doesn’t sound too bad.
I ate some bad things when I served in the Israel Defense Forces – it was mostly mainstream food, but the cooking was done by tired, overworked, indifferent military cooks and the results were pretty bad.
Growing up in Israel, I had mostly healthy stuff. Lots of veggies, olive oil, falafel, hummus, eggs, fish and lowfat cheeses. Frying stuff that doesn’t really need to be fried is weird. Why would anyone do that??
Kelly@SHE-POWER responds:
Posted: July 18th, 2008 at 12:08 am →
I ate grasshoppers in chilli when I was in Thailand in the 90s. And I don’t know what was worse, the too hot chilli ripping my sensitive tongue open or the grasshopper’s legs, which I couldn’t get out of my teeth. Makes me cringe now. I think I used to be WAY too adventurous.
By the way, anything involving gelatine is disgusting in my experience.
Kel x
Kelly@SHE-POWER’s last blog post..SHE-POWER Fiction: The Girl in the Window
MomGrind responds:
Posted: July 18th, 2008 at 11:00 am →
@ Kelly: That is the most disgusting thing I have ever heard. You WERE adventurous!
Friar responds:
Posted: July 18th, 2008 at 12:32 pm →
Aww…..PUUUUKE!
I’ve ranted about Lima beans on my blog a few times, but I cant’ imagine anything WORSE than putting them into fruit-flavored gelatin.
This one takes the cake!
Worst.
Dish.
Ever.
Friar’s last blog post..Friar’s Random Rants (Part II)
Muthering Heights responds:
Posted: July 18th, 2008 at 8:10 pm →
Hmm, I’ve never had that before, but it looks very pretty!
MomGrind responds:
Posted: July 19th, 2008 at 9:37 pm →
@ Friar: I tend to agree.
@ Muthering Heights: Pretty indeed. I like your blog’s name.
Let’s Live Forever! » Blog Archive » This Blogging Life! responds:
Posted: August 3rd, 2008 at 10:42 pm →
[...] …and if you want to know where there yummy-looking jelly comes from, click here. [...]