Hey, my mom used to make that!

1978 wholegrain topping

The 1970s were not known for being particularly health-conscious. So it's surprising that this 1978 Quaker Oats ad includes a recipe for a wholegrain topping.

Savory Add-a-Crunch

2 cups Quaker Oats (quick or old-fashioned)
1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted
1/3 cup Parmesan cheese
1/3 cup finely chopped nuts, wheat germ or un-processed bran, if desired
1/4 teaspoon onion or garlic salt

Combine all ingredients; mix well. Bake in ungreased large shallow baking pan in moderate oven (350˚F) 15 - 18 minutes. Cool; store in tightly covered container in refrigerator. Makes about 3 cups of topping.

Add-a-Crunch Crescent Dinner Rolls

Separate one 8 oz. pkg. refrigerated crescent dinner rolls into triangles. Brush 1 side of each triangle with melted butter; sprinkle with about 1 tablespoon Savory Add-a-Crunch. Roll up; brush tops with melted butter. Sprinkle tops with Savory Add-a-Crunch. Bake according to crescent dinner roll package directions. Makes 8 rolls.

Click here for another vintage healthful recipe.

Retro Recipe: Sunburst Yam Bake

This recipe has three of the hallmarks of white trash cooking. First, it calls for just a few ingredients. Second, all of them are either processed or canned. And third, it's pretty much a casserole.

Here's the recipe.

2 1-lb. 1-oz. cans Royal Prince Yams (sweet potatoes), drained
1 13-1/4-oz.can pineapple tidbits, drained
1/4 cup Kraft Pure Orange Marmalade
1 cup Kraft Miniature Marshmallows or 10 Jet-Puffed Marshmallows

Arrange yams in a circle in 9-inch pie plate. Place pineapple in center. Dot yams and pineapple with marmalade. Bake at 350˚, 30 minutes. Top with marshmallows. Broil until lightly browned. Makes 6 servings. 

 Click here for another retro side dish recipe.

Via Shelf Life Taste Test

Retro Autumn: Apple Mallow Yam Bake

Going apple picking? Here's what to do with some of your haul.

This recipe for for Apple Mallow Yam Bake is from the 1970s.

2 apples sliced
1/3 cup pecans
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
2 17-oz. cans Royal Prince or Princella yams, drained
1/4 cup Parkay margarine
2 cups Kraft mimi marshmallows

Toss apples and nuts with combined brown sugar and cinnamon. Alternate layers of apples and yams in 1 1/2-quart casserole. Dot with margarine. Sprinkle marshmallows over yams and apples. Broil until lightly browned. Makes 6 to 8 servings. 

Click here for another retro recipe that uses apples.

Via Eudaemonius

Retro Scalloped Potatoes, Part 2

Dropping temperatures are the perfect excuse to treat yourself to some serious comfort food.

Here's the retro recipe for Scalloped Potatoes.

1/3 cup butter or Parkay Margarine
1/3 cup flour
2 cups milk
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1, 8-oz. pkg. Cracker Barrel Old Natural Cheddar Cheese, shredded
2 tbsp. chopped pimento
2 tbsp. minced onion
6 cups sliced cooked potatoes

Make cream sauce with butter or margarine, flour, milk, salt, pepper. Add shredded Cracker Barrel; stir until it's melted. Add pimento and onion. Place alternate layers of potatoes and cheese sauce in greased, 1 1/2-quart casserole. Optional: sprinkle on more shredded cheese. Bake in moderate oven, 350˚, 20 minutes.

This is the second recipe for scalloped potatoes I've posted. Click here to see the other retro recipe for Scalloped Potatoes.

Via Shelf Life Taste Test

Retro Scalloped Potatoes

Here's the retro recipe from the Dairy Farmers of Canada:

Mix 1/4 cup flour into a small bowl; mix in 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon garlic salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper and 1/2 cup instant skim milk powder.

In an 8-cup casserole, arrange in shallow layers 6 thin-sliced potatoes, 1 cup minced onion and milk powder mixture; dot each layer with its share of 1/2 cup butter.

Combine 1 can (20 ounces) mixed vegetable juices and 1 cup water. Pour over potatoes. Cover. Bake in moderate oven (350˚F) 1 1/2 hours. Uncover and bake 1/2 hour longer. Makes 10 servings.

Click here for the original Green Bean Casserole recipe.

Via Flickr/Shelf Life Taste Test