What is your favorite memory from childhood?
Much of mine is tied to my loving parents, grandparents, good churches, and a happy home. I was most fortunate to have all of those.
Especially when it came to occasions when food was king!
Mom was a great cook. Food has always been important to her. I think it was because her extended family gathered so often around a table laden with food made by them, rather than eating in a restaurant.
As a young mother, I learned to bake. When my kids were growing up, I baked casseroles, cookies, cakes. They thought it was a treat to get store-bought cookies like Oreos. Ha!
I still bake today and often share the items with friends and even our local hospital and law enforcement agencies. Baking makes me happy and relaxes me.
I know cookies are not considered healthy snacks, but there is such a thing as peace and contentment that results from biting into a cookie that helps one get through a difficult day. At least it does in this household.
And yes, I usually go out for a walk afterward to walk off the calories.
This summer I began researching long-forgotten recipes to be found in old cookbooks. Thrift shops, garage sales, libraries, friends, antique stores, and online auctions have resulted in a handful that I now peruse during free moments.
My goal is to keep my thoughts positive by re-discovering that simpler life — even though I suspect cooking and baking were not as simple then as they are now!
With that in mind, this blog will change its focus from military stories to recipes from the 1930s-1970s. I’ve chosen the name ‘Vintage Eats’ to encompass recipes, the items that revolve around vintage cooking, and stories from this time period.
I will always respect for our nation’s vets and participate in honoring them in parades and events. But after more than a decade of solid effort into preserving hundreds of stories, I’m ready to move on.
For those of you who choose to journey with me in this new direction, you will find recipes here which I’ve found in old cookbooks, along with photos of the finished products.
I will also include the history and photos of kitchen gadgets used during this time frame.
My kitchen is gradually becoming filled with vintage items found in thrift stores (I got a breadbox recently!). These items bring me delight at a small price and that is worth a lot right now. I can’t wait to share them with you!
Send me your thoughts on vintage recipes and if you have one to share, I’d love to hear the story behind it if there is one.
Happy cooking!
Writing of Kayleen Reusser 