Taste of time: 27 favorite childhood recipes

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Don’t deny yourself the joy of revisiting the tastes of your youth. We’re diving deep into the dishes that defined our early years without a single calorie count in sight. So, buckle up, foodies, it’s time to take a tantalizing trip down memory lane.

Dutch oven artisan bread slice on wooden cutting board.
Dutch oven artisan bread. Photo credit: An Off Grid Life

Watermelon Rind Pickles Recipe

Watermelon rind pickles recipe.
Watermelon rind pickles recipe. Photo credit: Recipes from Leftovers.

Remember the summers when you visited your grandmother and she made watermelon rind pickles? Here’s a fast version of an old-time favorite.
Get the Recipe: Watermelon Rind Pickles

Old-Fashioned Sandwich Bread

Homemade sandwich bread cooling in a loaf pan.
Homemade Sandwich Bread. Photo credit: An Off Grid Life.

This is a go-to recipe if you want the slicing sandwich bread your grandad loved. Perfect for a farmer’s lunch – load it up with ham, bacon, veggies and cheese!
Get the Recipe: Old-Fashioned Sandwich Bread

Dutch Oven Artisan Bread

Dutch oven artisan bread slice on wooden cutting board.
Dutch oven artisan bread. Photo credit: An Off Grid Life

Make this round artisan-style bread to serve with cheese, cold cuts and fresh fruits. Add a side salad and you’ll have the perfect summer meal just like you did when you were young and it was too hot for mom to cook.
Get the Recipe: Dutch Oven Artisan Bread

Dandelion Cookies

Dandelion shortbread cookies.
Dandelion shortbread cookies. Photo credit: An Off Grid Life.

Dive into our Old-Fashioned Dandelion Shortbread Cookies recipe, a delicious blend of traditional baking and nature’s touch. These golden-baked, buttery delights offer a unique dandelion twist to classic shortbreads. Enjoy them for a refreshing, nostalgic snack any time.
Get the Recipe: Dandelion Cookies Recipe

Pickled Beets

Top view of a jar of pickled beets on a wooden cutting board.
Pickled Beets. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Rediscover the tangy, sweet taste of homemade Pickled Beets, a vibrant and colorful vintage recipe that’s just like grandma made. These versatile pickles are perfect as a side dish, salad topper, or straight from the jar!
Get the Recipe: Pickled Beets

Peanut Butter Bread

Peanut butter bread slices
Peanut Butter Bread. Photo credit: An Off Grid Life.

As the story goes, this recipe was created during the tough times of the 1930s. Moms needed a filling but cheap bread that served as a meal, so this depression-era peanut butter bread was born.
Get the Recipe: Peanut Butter Bread

Blueberry Bread

Dutch oven blueberry bread slices on a white plate.
Dutch oven artisan blueberry bread. Photo credit: An Off Grid Life

Whether wild, commercial, fresh or frozen, blueberries make this dutch oven bread loaf a delicious treat for brunch, lunch, or an afternoon snack. It brings back berry-picking memories from childhood.
Get the Recipe: Blueberry Bread

Homemade Lemonade

a glass of lemonade on a yellow fabric coaster.
Lemonade. Photo credit: Feast + West.

You’re not going to believe how easy it is to make homemade lemonade! With fresh lemons, water and sugar, it’s a cinch to put together and the best you’ve ever had.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Lemonade

Molasses Cookies

Old-fashioned molasses cookies in a yellow bowl.
Old-fashioned molasses cookies. Photo credit: An Off Grid Life.

Discover the timeless joy of baking with our Old-Fashioned Molasses Cookie recipe, just like Grandma used to make. Filled with the rich, sweet depth of molasses and the comforting warmth of classic spices, these cookies offer a mouthful of nostalgia in every bite. Perfect for family gatherings or a treat alongside your morning coffee.
Get the Recipe: Old-Fashioned Molasses Cookies

Strawberry Syrup

Three jars of strawberry syrup on a white cloth.
Strawberry Syrup Recipe. Photo credit: An Off Grid Life.

This old-fashioned strawberry syrup brings back memories of iced strawberry drinks, strawberry shortcake and strawberry syrup with ice cream during Canada Day celebrations!
Get the Recipe: Strawberry Syrup

Strawberry Coffee Cake

Strawberry Coffee Cake pieces on top of each other.
Strawberry Coffee Cake. Photo credit: Low Carb – No Carb.

This strawberry coffee cake may be keto, but it will remind you of your favorite childhood recipes for strawberry desserts.
Get the Recipe: Strawberry Coffee Cake

Sauerkraut Soup Recipe

Sauerkraut Soup inside soup bowl with dollop of sour cream.
Sauerkraut Soup Recipe. Photo credit: Low Carb – No Carb.

Our Sauerkraut Soup Recipe with sausage originates in Eastern Europe and has been served as a hearty Christmas soup for generations. It is also known as Slovak Kapustnica, Czech Zelnacka, German sauerkraut soup Sauerkrautsuppe and Polish sauerkraut soup Kapustniak.
Get the Recipe: Sauerkraut Soup Recipe

Homemade Fermented Dill Keto Pickles Recipe

Homemade Fermented Dill Keto Pickles in a mason jars.
Homemade Fermented Dill Low Carb Pickles Recipe. Photo credit: Low Carb – No Carb.

Make a quick and easy homemade Fermented Dill Keto Pickles recipe that will take you back to your childhood visiting the family farm.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Fermented Dill Keto Pickles Recipe

Pea Salad

pea salad in a blue bowl.
Old Fashioned Pea Salad. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Delight in the fresh and vibrant flavors of Pea Salad, a vintage-inspired side dish made with peas, cheese, bacon, and a creamy dressing. This old-school recipe is the perfect accompaniment to any meal.
Get the Recipe: Pea Salad

Church Window Cookies

Church window cookies with colored marshmallows and coconut.
Church Window Cookies. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Delight in the whimsical charm of Church Window Cookies, a colorful, no-bake vintage dessert that’s sure to brighten up any gathering. These marshmallow-filled, chocolate-coated treats are as fun to make as they are to eat.
Get the Recipe: Church Window Cookies

Frozen Lemonade Pie

slice of lemonade pi on a plate with lemonade in the background.
Lemonade Pie. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Cool off with a slice of Frozen Lemonade Pie, a refreshingly sweet and tangy vintage dessert that’s perfect for hot summer days. This easy, no-bake treat is sure to become a new favorite with an old-fashioned twist.
Get the Recipe: Frozen Lemonade Pie

Chocolate Rugelach

low angle shot of rugelach cookies filled with chocolate and pecans.
Chocolate Rugelach. Photo credit: All Ways Delicious.

Chocolate Rugelach is a classic Jewish cookie! Rich, buttery, flaky cream cheese dough wrapped around a rich chocolate-pecan filling—yum!
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Rugelach

Quaker Oatmeal Cookies

Quaker oatmeal cookies on a white platter.
Quaker Oatmeal Cookies. Photo credit: All Ways Delicious.

Classic Quaker Oatmeal Cookies are called Vanishing Oatmeal Cookies for a reason. It’s a recipe that has stood the test of time because the result is a perfectly chewy, sweet, and irresistible cookie.
Get the Recipe: Quaker Oatmeal Cookies

Ginger Snaps

low angle shot of a single gingersnap cookie broken in half.
Gingersnap Cookie. Photo credit: All Ways Delicious.

Are Gingersnaps the best cookie? I think so! They’re quick and easy to make and packed with spicy ginger flavor. These are perfectly crisp , the way a gingersnap should be!
Get the Recipe: Ginger Snaps

Kolacky

Several poppy seed filled kolacky on a white plate with red and gold ribbons in the background.
Kolacky. Photo credit: All Ways Delicious.

This old-fashioned reckipe makes flaky pastry rounds filled with a sweet poppy seed filling. They’re just like grandma used to make!
Get the Recipe: Kolacky

Strawberry Lemonade

mint leaves, strawberries and lemon slices garnish a glass of strawberry lemonade.
Strawberry Lemonade. Photo credit: Feast + West.

Fresh, homemade Strawberry Lemonade will surely be a hit at your summer lemonade stands! Made with fresh berries and lemons, water and sugar, do not sleep on this strawberry goodness.
Get the Recipe: Strawberry Lemonade

Cold Brew Iced Tea

lemons garnishing a glass of ice tea next to a mason jar pitcher of tea.
Cold Brew Iced Tea. Photo credit: Feast + West.

Stop buying iced tea! Making it at home is incredibly simple. A few tea bags, some water and a little time will yield the smoothest, richest iced tea, then you can sweeten and flavor it however you desire.
Get the Recipe: Cold Brew Iced Tea

Vintage homemade gefilte fish recipe

gefilte fish on plate with beet horseradish
Homemade Gefilte Fish Recipe With Beet Chrein For Passover. Photo credit: At the Immigrant’s Table.

Make your own gefilte fish balls with this homemade gefilte fish recipe. Grind carp, whitefish and matzo meal, shape it into light and fluffy patties, and poach and simmer them in a homemade fish broth. This remarkable appetizer will add a bit of nostalgia to any meal, and is so much better than store-bought gefilte fish!
Get the Recipe: Vintage homemade gefilte fish recipe

Russian Vinaigrette Salad (Root Vegetable Salad)

overhead view of hand lifting a spoon of beet salad.
Tabbouleh Salad with Feta. Photo credit: At the Immigrant’s Table.

Experience the nostalgia of old-fashioned recipes with Russian Vinaigrette Salad. This classic dish combines root vegetables, pickles, and dill for a delightful and traditional addition to your recipe collection.
Get the Recipe: Russian Vinaigrette Salad (Root Vegetable Salad)

Ukha Russian Fish Soup

overhead view of blue bowl of soup
Ukha Fish Soup. Photo credit: At the Immigrant’s Table.

Savor the taste of old-fashioned cooking with Ukha, a Russian Fish Soup. Its hearty broth infused with fish, vegetables, and herbs brings timeless comfort and rustic charm to your table.
Get the Recipe: Ukha Russian Fish Soup

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