Vintage Eats of Kayleen Reusser
Capturing Delicious Recipes From the Past
This past winter I found a packet of papers in a drawer that made by day, especially with the season I’m in of posting vintage recipes. They were dozens of hand-written recipes my mom—Joan Archbold Brewer—wrote out in the early 1990s. Back then, she made copies and shared them with my two sisters and me.... Continue Reading →
I’ve had to call a halt to the zucchini in my life. I love it so much for use in cooking and baking that I feel I've overdosed after slicing, dicing, sauteing, chopping, and processing it for the freezer to the point that I’m tired of it. Enough is enough. But after shredding and bagging... Continue Reading →
I confess, I normally skip Appetizer sections of cookbooks. The vintage ones especially are filled with recipes for cheeseballs, many of which sound similar, and, in my opinion, are seasonal (Christmas). But in continuing with my ‘When Cooking Hurts’ types of recipes, I looked at this cookbook’s appetizer section for a quick and easy dish... Continue Reading →
Have you ever made a mistake in the kitchen and not known it was a mistake until after you’ve eaten the item –and it tasted delicious? I have. In fact, I may have created a new recipe – all with a mistake born of ignorance. Let me explain. It has to do with persimmons. I... Continue Reading →
If sugary treats threaten to disable your health restrictions or caloric goals this Christmas season, Hot Spiced Fruit is a good recipe to come to your rescue. It is a wonderfully luscious combination of fruits with no or little sugar involved. Frozen berries which are plentiful throughout the year are often packed sugar-free. Plus, it... Continue Reading →
You may not expect to find a good meat loaf recipe in a cookbook dedicated to fruit. Cranberry Meat Loaves defies that expectation. It is listed in the Better Homes and Gardens 'So Good with Fruit’ volume from 1967. It might seem early to be delving into the cranberry vibe since Thanksgiving and Christmas –... Continue Reading →
Last week, I gave my debut presentation of ‘Cooking Through the 20th Century.’ It was a zoom presentation for an Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) group in Fresno, CA. I presented one recipe from each decade of the 20th century, based on recipes found in cookbooks I own. I showed photos of the cookbooks and... Continue Reading →
One thing I really like about re-creating vintage recipes is knowing exactly what I’m eating. There is no strange ingredient list with items I can't pronounce and have no idea of what they are. Instead, I use common items that are economical and something from my pantry, usually a leftover item I’ve used previously, which... Continue Reading →
This is my new favorite vintage dessert recipe! I had never cooked with plums. Truth be told, although I liked the taste of plums eaten raw, I didn't purchase them often. Finding two bags on sale at the grocery inspired me to pick them up and try them in a recipe. Wow! This Italian Plum... Continue Reading →
This summer I’ve had a fascination with pineapple and the various ways to use it. (My favorite way may still be freshly cut!) I’ve shared vintage pineapple recipes for slaw, chicken dish, and cake. Today’s recipe is another possibility, should you find a sale on pineapple at your store (I always keep my eyes open!)... Continue Reading →
Vintage Eats of Kayleen Reusser 