Hey, my mom used to make that!

Halloween luncheon meat

I have no idea what luncheon meat has to do with Halloween but, apparently, it seemed like a good idea to someone in 1954.

Happy Halloween!

Via Mew Deep

Retro Hot Spiced Cider

Here's the recipe for Hot Spiced Cider.

Combine in a large saucepan: 2 qts. apple cider, 1/4 cup sugar, 12 whole cloves, 6 whole allspice, 4 3-in. sticks of cinnamon. Heat slowly to boiling. Boil 3 to 5 minutes. Remove spices.

Serve hot, garnished with orange slices or rings of unpeeled red apple with whole cloves forced through peel.

Makes 16 servings.

Via The Peach Martini

Pretty cool idea for your Halloween or Thanksgiving party

Gut a pumpkin, fill it with ice and you have an awesome cooler.

This serving suggestion comes from a 1947 ad for Dr. Pepper.

ADDENDUM posted 29 October 2012

If you 'd rather turn your pumpkin into a keg, click here for directions.

Via Paul.Malon

Retro Happy Hour: Hot Pumpkin Cocktail

A little treat to raise the Halloween spirits.

1 part Hiram Walker Pumpkin Spice
1/2 part Kahlua
4 parts hot coffee

Pour all ingredients into a mug. Garnish with whipped cream and a sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice.

 Click here for the recipe for another Halloween-inspired cocktail.

Via Eudaemonius

Retro Creamed Tuna

A 1951 recipe for quick'n easy indigestion Carnation Creamed Tuna.

1/2 cup Carnation Evaporated Milk, diluted with 1/2 cup water
1 tabsp. butter
1 tbsp. flour
1/4 tsp. salt
1 cup (7-oz. can) tuna

Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in flour and salt; cook 1 minute; remove from heat and add 1/4 cup milk; blend carefully until smooth. Add remaining milk and return to heat, stirring constantly until sauce thickens. Add tuna and serve immediately over toast slices or browned noodles. Garnish with pimiento or sliced olives, if desired. Makes 4 to 6 servings.

Click here for another retro recipe made with Carnation Evaporated Milk.

Via Alsis35

Chili Chicken with Dumplings, 1993 recipe

Chili Chicken

2 cups cut-up cooked chicken
1 can (15 oz.) tomato sauce
2 cans (15 oz. each) spicy chili beans, undrained
1 can (about 8 oz.) whole kernal corn, undrained
Bisquick Dumplings (below)
1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese (2 oz.)

Mix chicken and tomato sauce in 4-quart Dutch oven. Heat to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in beans and corn. Heat to boiling; reduce heat to low. Prepare Dumplings. Drop by 12 spoonfuls onto hot chili. Cook uncovered 10 minutes. Cover and cook 10 minutes longer. Sprinkle with cheese. Cover and cook about 3 minutes or until cheese is melted. Makes 6 servings.

Dumplings: Mix 1 1/2 cups Bisquick Original or Reduced Fat baking mix, 1/2 cup cornmeal and 2/3 cup milk until soft dough forms. Note: Stir in desired amount of chili powder with the beans.

 Click here for a recipe for Tangy Chicken with Tomatoes and Herbs.

Via Eudaemonius

Retro Apple Crisp

Super easy. Super yummy. And your house will smell amazing.

Place in a greased 6" x 10" baking dish: 5 to 6 cups sliced, pared or unpared apples (about 6 tart, firm apples)

Mix together with fork until crumbly and sprinkle over the apples: 1 cup sifted Gold Medal enriched flour, 1/2 to 1 cup sugar (depending on tartness of apples and sweetness desired), 1 tsp. baking powder, 3/4 tsp. salt, 1 unbeaten egg

Pour over all: 1/3 cup melted and cooled shortening

Sprinkle with: 1/2 tsp. cinnamon

Bake 30 to 40 minutes in a moderate oven (350˚). Serve warm, with cream or top milk. Makes 8 generous servings.

Click here for another fall favorite — Baked Apple Roll-Ups.

Via Chronically Vintage

Retro Happy Hour: Gin Fizz

Here's how to make a Gin Fizz.

1/2 lemon (juice only)
1/2 tbsp. powdered sugar
1 jigger dry gin

Add cracked ice and shake thoroughly, strain into small highball glass and fill with carbonated water.

 Click here for a recipe for Sloe Gin Fizz.

Via tikigirl2

Banana Scallops, a 1948 vegetable alternative

Click here for the recipe — which is basically fried banana chunks.

Melted fat or salad oil
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1 egg, slightly beaten or 1/4 cup evaporated milk
6 firm bananas
3/4 cup fine corn flake, bread or cracker crumbs or corn meal

For deep-fat frying, have a deep kettle 1/2 to 2/3 full of melted fat or salad oil.

For shallow frying, have 1 inch of melted fat or oil in frying pan.

Heat fat to 375˚F, or until a 1-inch cube of bread will brown in about 40 seconds. Add salt to egg or undiluted evaporated milk. Peel bananas and slice crosswise into pieces 3/4 to 1 inch thick. Dip into egg or milk. Drain. Roll in crumbs or corn meal.

Deep-fat fry or shallow fry in the hot fat 1 1/2 to 2 minutes, or until brown and tender. Drain well. Serve very hot. Six servings.

Important. Have fat at correct temperature before frying.

Click here for a retro recipe for peas.
                                                                                           Via TikiTacky

Retro Shock and Awe: Frankfurter Crown Casserole

You know you want to make it.

2 slices of bacon
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 can Campbell's Cream of Mushroom Soup
1/2 cup water
1/2 tsp. salt
dash of pepper
3 cups sliced cooked potatoes
1 cup cooked green beans
1/2 pound frankfurters, split and cut in half

1. In skillet, cook bacon. Remove and crumble. 2. Cook onion in drippings. 3. Stir in soup, water, salt, pepper. 4. Add potatoes, beans. 5. Pour into 1 1/2-qt. casserole. 6. Stand up franks around edge. Bake at 350˚F 30 minutes. 7. Top with bacon. Makes 4 servings.

For German-style seasonings: just add 1 to 2 tbsp. vinegar to soup.

 Click here for another soup-er supper recipe.

Via Shelf Life Taste Test