Vintage Eats of Kayleen Reusser
Capturing Delicious Recipes From the Past
Sometimes the quirky name of a dish catches my eye as I’m examining a vintage cookbook. This ‘Polka-Dot Macaroni & Cheese’ recipe from Good Housekeeping’ (1967) seemed intriguing. What could make a macaroni and cheese casserole look like it had polka-dots? Now I love polka-dots on clothing, textiles and in décor. Still, I couldn't imagine... Continue Reading →
There’s not much glamour in a name as simple as ‘Everything Cookies.’ But these little nuggets live up to their name. They have a number of tasty ingredients that many of us have in our pantries: oatmeal, chocolate chips, coconut and chopped pecans. They also have a delightful surprise: Rice Krispies. This is the first... Continue Reading →
On social media people like to share recipes from their ancestors – mothers, grandmothers, others who wrote down tried-and-true favorites. My mother wrote some of her favorite recipes for us to have, so I’m thrilled to have her beautiful penmanship on recipe cards. Upon examining a spiral-bound cookbook in the Indiana Room of the Wells... Continue Reading →
My family likes pancakes for a quick breakfast-for-dinner meal. Usually the pancakes are made by grabbing a boxed mix from the shelf. While nothing is wrong with that, I wanted to challenge the tried-and-true processed mix. So, for ideas I pulled out the “Kitchen Chatter II” cookbook published in 1979 by St. Mary’s Catholic Church... Continue Reading →
I love rhubarb. We live in the Midwest where it grows in abundance. At a recent library cooking club meeting at Wells County Public Library, several people said they grew it in their gardens. I'm not one of them. Maybe it's the wrong soil around my house – at least that’s what I tell myself... Continue Reading →
So you want to do something for Mom but don’t have much time. What to bake? Oatmeal Chocolate Chippers has been my go-to recipe for decades. The batch can be assembled in one bowl and baked in less than one hour. It includes items I usually have on my shelf (oatmeal, chocolate chips, etc.). The... Continue Reading →
This time of year is Strawberry season for many parts of the world. My childhood memories of strawberries are of Mom making strawberry freezer jam and eating them raw with store-bought, yellow sponge cakes and whipped cream. Hoping to do better for my family by making shortcakes, I found this recipe in the Psi Iota... Continue Reading →
Confession: I looked for an actual recipe for Moon Rocks in my vintage cookbooks, but couldn't find any. Not surprising. What I did find was a recipe for Mexican Wedding Rings. Some of you may have made these decades ago when they were wildly popular and wonder about the correlation between Moon Rocks and Mexican... Continue Reading →
Some recipes intimidate me. Sourdough breads – let’s be honest, most yeast breads intimidate me, though yeast is on my shelf with every intention of seeing use in my kitchen. Pastry. Period. French Onion Soup. I always order French Onion Soup in a restaurant when it’s on the menu because I love it so much.... Continue Reading →
My first experience cooking curry turned out great! We loved this recipe! It came from a 1960 ‘Ladies’ Home Journal Cookbook : New and Basic Recipes.’ The cover contains vintage dishes in full color. Even the font looks retro. It was hard to know which recipe to choose from the literally thousands included within the... Continue Reading →
Vintage Eats of Kayleen Reusser 