Old Fashioned Recipes

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Old Fashioned Recipes

Old Fashioned Recipes

A gourmet who thinks of calories is like a tart who looks at her watch. – James Beard

Step back in time and savor the flavors of yesteryear with a collection of old fashioned recipes that evoke the spirit of simpler days. These dishes, passed down through generations, offer a glimpse into the culinary heritage of America, featuring hearty meals, comforting desserts, and satisfying staples that nourished families and fueled pioneers. Pull up a chair, and let’s explore a menu brimming with traditional goodness.

Imagine the aroma of a wood-burning stove, the warmth of a bustling kitchen, and the anticipation of a home-cooked meal made with love and simple ingredients. This is the essence of old fashioned recipes. They tell a story of resourcefulness, resilience, and the joy of sharing food with loved ones. From the frontier to the farm, these recipes sustained communities and created lasting memories.

Here’s a curated selection of old fashioned recipes, each with its own unique history and flavor profile:

Let’s delve into the preparation of some of these timeless classics.

Gold Rush Pork Chops

Imagine the aroma of cinnamon and nutmeg mingling with savory pork, a dish reminiscent of the California Gold Rush era. This recipe combines simple ingredients to create a flavorful and satisfying meal.

  • Combine flour, salt, pepper, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Roll pork chops in the mixture and brown them in a skillet.
  • Reduce heat, add any remaining flour mixture to the skillet for gravy, top the chops with sliced apples, and add apple cider until the chops are covered.
  • Simmer until tender, about 1 hour, creating a rich gravy.

Emigrant Potato Salad

This hearty potato salad, born from the necessity and ingenuity of westward-bound pioneers, showcases the resourceful spirit of the time.

  • Cook potatoes whole, without peeling, until tender. Cool, peel, and slice or cube.
  • Blend potatoes with other ingredients (recipe not provided, but likely including mayonnaise, vinegar, onion, and seasonings).
  • Refrigerate or keep on ice to maintain freshness.

Corn Fritters

A simple yet delightful treat, these golden-brown fritters are a testament to the versatility of corn.

  • Combine cornbread mix with water, being careful not to overmix. The dough should be stiff.
  • Add well-drained corn to the batter.
  • Heat oil in a skillet and ladle the batter into the hot oil. Fry for about 2 minutes, turning once, until golden brown. Serve with syrup, honey, or butter.

Baked Beans

A quintessential American dish, baked beans represent the heartiness and simplicity of early American cuisine.

  • Wash beans, discarding any imperfect ones. Soak overnight in water, or for 4-5 hours in boiling water.
  • Drain and cover with a large amount of boiling salted water; boil slowly for 1 hour.
  • Drain again and combine with salt, sugar, molasses, bay leaf, mustard, onion, and water.
  • Pour into a bean pot. Score the rind of a piece of pork and press it into the beans, leaving the rind exposed.
  • Cover beans with additional boiling water and bake in a 300°F oven for 4 hours. Remove the cover for the last 1 1/2 hours of cooking to allow the beans to thicken and brown.

Southern Rice Pudding

A creamy and comforting dessert, Southern Rice Pudding is a testament to the resourcefulness of cooks in the American South.

  • Soak rice in 2 cups of milk for 2 hours.
  • Add the remaining milk to the rice and cook over low heat for 20-30 minutes, or until the rice is tender. Set aside to cool.
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 2-quart casserole dish.
  • Cream butter or margarine until soft, then work in sugar thoroughly.
  • Beat eggs until frothy, add sugar mixture, and rice.
  • Flavor with cinnamon, mace, and lemon rind.
  • Pour into the casserole and bake for 45 minutes. Serve warm or cold, plain or with cream and sugar.

Boiled Cookies

These no-bake cookies are a quick and easy treat, perfect for satisfying a sweet craving.

  • Combine ingredients (likely butter, sugar, and milk) and boil for 1 and 1/2 minutes.
  • Remove from heat and add oatmeal, peanut butter, and vanilla.
  • Beat, blend, and drop by the spoonful onto wax paper. Allow to harden at room temperature.

Johnny Cakes

A staple of early American diets, Johnny Cakes are simple cornmeal flatbreads that provided sustenance and versatility.

  • Beat eggs and melt lard before mixing them with milk, salt, cornmeal, and sugar.
  • Drop a heaping dollop into a hot, greased skillet and fry each side until brown.
  • Serve with molasses, syrup, powdered sugar, fruit toppings, and butter.

Mock Apple Pie

A clever substitute for the real thing, Mock Apple Pie demonstrates the ingenuity of cooks who lacked access to fresh apples.

  • Break soda crackers into a bowl, add water, sugar, the juice of one lemon, and a little nutmeg or cinnamon.
  • Pour the mixture into an unbaked pie shell.
  • Dot with butter, cover with the pie crust, and bake in a moderate oven for around 30 minutes, or until golden brown.

Brown Sugar Candy

A simple and sweet confection, Brown Sugar Candy is a reminder of the treats enjoyed in simpler times.

  • Boil ingredients (likely brown sugar, butter, and milk) until it forms a soft lump when dropped into cold water.
  • Remove from heat and beat until it begins to thicken.
  • Add chopped walnuts and vanilla.
  • Pour into a buttered dish to set.

Bean Soup

A hearty and nutritious soup, Bean Soup was a staple of many early American diets.

  • Soak beans in water overnight.
  • In the morning, add a ham bone, salt, onion, bay leaf, mustard, and more water.
  • Cook slowly, covered, for 3 hours.
  • Remove from heat and remove the ham bone and bay leaf.
  • Slip the meat from the bone and return it to the soup.
  • Add tomatoes and the remaining water and simmer for 1/2 hour.

Potato Soup

A creamy and comforting soup, Potato Soup is a classic dish that has been enjoyed for generations.

  • Cook potatoes and onions in salted water until soft and mashed.
  • Scald milk with celery, remove the celery, and add butter and flour.
  • Add the prepared potatoes to the milk and season with salt and pepper.
  • Bring to a boil and serve immediately.

Baked Corn

A sweet and savory side dish, Baked Corn is a simple yet satisfying addition to any meal.

  • Melt butter, add flour, and mix well.
  • Gradually add milk and bring to a boil, stirring constantly.
  • Add corn, salt, and pepper, and heat thoroughly.
  • Remove from the fire, add well-beaten eggs, and pour into a greased baking dish.
  • Bake in a moderate oven, 350°F, for 25 minutes.

Old Fashioned Egg Custard Pie

A creamy and delicate dessert, Old Fashioned Egg Custard Pie is a classic comfort food.

  • Cream butter, gradually adding sugar, beating well.
  • Add eggs and flour. Mix well.
  • Stir in milk, water, and vanilla.
  • Pour into the pie shell.
  • Bake 20 minutes at 400 degrees, then reduce heat to 300 degrees for 15 more minutes.

Sweet Potato Pie

A rich and flavorful dessert, Sweet Potato Pie is a Southern staple.

  • Combine all ingredients (likely sweet potato puree, sugar, eggs, butter, spices).
  • Whip until smooth.
  • Pour into a cooked pie shell.
  • Cover top with chopped pecans or walnuts.

Vanilla Crumb Pie

A sweet and comforting dessert, Vanilla Crumb Pie is a delightful combination of creamy filling and crumbly topping.

  • Boil syrup ingredients together for 1 minute and set aside.
  • Beat filling ingredients in a large bowl.
  • Add to the syrup mixture.
  • Divide equally into unbaked pie shells.
  • Top with crumbs made of flour, butter, and sugar.
  • Bake for 45 minutes in a 350 to 375 degree oven.

Peach Cobbler

A classic summer dessert, Peach Cobbler is a sweet and fruity treat that is perfect for any occasion.

  • Cut shortening into flour, add milk, and roll into a rectangle.
  • Drain juice from peaches; if juice isn’t enough, add water to make 2 cups.
  • Pour into saucepan, add sugar, and heat until sugar is dissolved.
  • Slice peaches thin and spread over dough, sprinkle with cinnamon.
  • Melt oleo in pan.
  • Roll the peaches and dough into a jelly roll.
  • Slice into sections.
  • Place pinwheels into the oleo, and pour sugar-syrup over pinwheels carefully.
  • Bake for approximately 55 minutes.

Butterscotch Pie

A rich and decadent dessert, Butterscotch Pie is a sweet and satisfying treat.

  • Brown butter in a pan.
  • Then add sugar and cook together, stirring constantly, until sugar is melted.
  • Add water; stir slowly and cook until sugar is again dissolved.
  • Combine cornstarch, egg yolks, and milk and add to sugar mixture.
  • Cook until thickened.
  • Pour in baked pie shell and top with cream.

Strawberry Cobbler

A simple and delicious dessert, Strawberry Cobbler is a perfect way to enjoy fresh strawberries.

  • Heat the oven to 400 degrees.
  • Hull the strawberries.
  • Melt butter in a baking dish in the preheated oven for about 4 minutes.
  • Remove the dish from the oven.
  • Add milk, flour, baking powder, salt, sugar, and cinnamon to the baking dish and stir until just mixed.
  • Arrange the strawberries, tips pointed up, on top of the batter.
  • Bake the cobbler in the oven until it is golden brown, about 25 minutes.

Pecan Pie

A rich and nutty dessert, Pecan Pie is a Southern classic.

  • Beat the eggs; blend in the butter, flour, vanilla, salt, sugar, and syrup.
  • Add pecans; pour into the pie shell.
  • Bake in a preheated 425 oven for ten minutes.
  • Reduce oven temperature to 325 and bake 40-45 minutes longer.

Chicken and Rice Soup

A comforting and nourishing soup, Chicken and Rice Soup is a classic remedy for colds and a satisfying meal.

  • Rinse chicken well in cold water. Place in a large pot along with water, salt, peppercorns, bay leaf, and parsley.
  • Bring to a boil and skim to remove any foam from the surface.
  • Reduce heat; add cubed carrots, celery, and onion (press cloves into onion).
  • Cover and simmer for 1 hour or until the chicken is tender. Skim off fat.
  • Lift out chicken; let cool slightly. Remove celery, onion with cloves, and bay leaf; discard.
  • Add rice to broth and simmer until tender.
  • Meanwhile, remove chicken from bones; cut into bite-size pieces.
  • Return chicken to broth and heat thoroughly (allow about 20 minutes).
  • Garnish with parsley.

Chicken and Noodles

A hearty and comforting dish, Chicken and Noodles is a classic family meal.

  • Remove chicken from bones and cut into small pieces. Place it and the broth in a large Dutch oven.
  • Add evaporated milk. Cook, covered, until hot.
  • Add celery, onion, pimento, salt, poultry seasoning, and pepper. Bring to boiling.
  • Add noodles slowly to boiling broth.
  • Boil, uncovered, for 10 to 15 minutes.
  • Combine flour and water. Stir into boiling broth.
  • Cook, stirring constantly, until the chicken broth mixture thickens and bubbles.

Homemade Noodles

Freshly made noodles elevate any dish, adding a touch of homemade goodness.

  • In a bowl, combine one beaten egg, oil, and salt.
  • Add enough flour to make a stiff dough.
  • Let rest 10 minutes.
  • Roll very thin on a floured surface; let stand 20 minutes.
  • Roll up loosely; slice wide.
  • Unroll, spread out, and let dry for 2 hours.

Chicken Pot Pie

A savory and satisfying pie, Chicken Pot Pie is a comforting classic.

  • Place chicken in the deep kettle; add bay leaf, salt, pepper, celery salt, and Accent.
  • Add enough boiling water to cover.
  • Simmer for 2 hours or until the chicken is tender.
  • Meanwhile, cook onions and carrots separately, adding Accent to each vegetable.
  • Remove chicken and drained vegetables to a large, shallow baking dish.
  • Strain broth in kettle; measure. Add vegetable water to broth to make total broth.
  • Add flour, mixed smooth with cold water; cook over low heat, stirring until thickened; add remaining Accent and horseradish; pour over chicken and vegetables.
  • Make biscuit dough. Roll thick; cut with a chicken-shaped cookie cutter.
  • Arrange in a baking dish.
  • Bake in a hot oven for minutes or until biscuits are golden brown.

Chicken Pie

A simple and satisfying pie, Chicken Pie is a comforting classic.

  • Place chicken in a greased pan.
  • Pour the following ingredients over this.
  • Mix the last four ingredients to make a crust.
  • Pour over the top.
  • Bake for 1 hour at 350 degrees.

Golden Corn Bread

A warm and comforting bread, Golden Corn Bread is a perfect accompaniment to any meal.

  • Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
  • Combine cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a bowl.
  • Cut in shortening.
  • Mix the egg and milk and add to the dry ingredients with a few swift strokes.
  • Bake in a pan for minutes.

Buttermilk Biscuits

Fluffy and tender biscuits, Buttermilk Biscuits are a Southern staple.

  • Blend flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda in a medium-sized bowl.
  • Cut in shortening with a pastry blend or two knives until the mixture resembles coarse cornmeal.
  • Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients; add buttermilk all at one time.
  • Stir with a fork.
  • Gently form the dough into a ball and put it on a lightly floured surface.
  • Knead lightly with fingertips times.
  • Roll out the dough to thickness.
  • Cut with a floured cutter or knife using even pressure to keep the sides straight.
  • Place the dough on a baking sheet close together for soft-sided biscuits or apart for crusty sides.
  • Brush the tops lightly with milk.
  • Bake at 450 degrees for minutes or until the biscuits are golden brown.

Potato Bread

A soft and flavorful bread, Potato Bread is a delicious alternative to traditional white bread.

  • Cook potato in a small amount of boiling water for minutes or until tender; drain and reserve liquid.
  • Mash potato and measure ; set aside.
  • Add enough water to reserved liquid to make . Cool to 105 to 115 degrees.
  • Dissolve yeast in potato liquid in a large mixing bowl.
  • Add butter and stir well.
  • Stir in sugar, salt, milk, mashed potatoes, and of flour.
  • Gradually stir in enough of the remaining flour to make a stiff dough.
  • Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic .
  • Place in a well-greased bowl, turning to grease the top.
  • Cover and let rise in a warm place, free from drafts, for hour or until doubled in bulk.
  • Punch the dough down and divide it in half.
  • Shape each half into a loaf.
  • Place in two well-greased loaf pans.
  • Cover and let rise in a warm place, free from drafts.
  • Bake at 375 degrees for minutes or until loaves sound hollow when tapped.

Parkerhouse Rolls

Soft and buttery rolls, Parkerhouse Rolls are a classic addition to any dinner table.

  • In a large mixer bowl, combine flour and the yeast.
  • In a saucepan, heat milk, sugar, salt, and butter or margarine until warm and butter is almost melted; stir constantly.
  • Add to flour mixture; add eggs.
  • Beat at low speed using an electric mixer for minute, scraping the sides of the bowl constantly.
  • Beat minutes at high speed.
  • Stir in as much of the remaining flour as you can mix in with a spoon.
  • Turn out onto a lightly floured surface.
  • Knead in enough of the remaining flour to make a moderately stiff dough that is smooth and elastic .
  • Shape into a ball. Place in lightly greased bowl; turn once to grease surface.
  • Cover; let rise in warm place until double .
  • Punch down; divide dough in half. Cover and let rest minutes.
  • On a lightly floured surface, roll each half of the dough to thickness.
  • Cut with a floured round cutter.
  • Brush with melted butter. Make an off-center crease in each round.
  • Fold so the large half overlaps the small half slightly.
  • Place rolls, with large halves up, side by side in a greased baking pan.
  • Cover and let rise until nearly double .
  • Bake in a 375-degree oven for minutes or until done.

Ham Loaf

A savory and flavorful loaf, Ham Loaf is a perfect main dish for any occasion.

  • Mix all ingredients and form a loaf.
  • Cover with a can of tomato soup, then sprinkle brown sugar over the top of the soup.
  • Bake for 2 hours at 350 degrees in a pan of water.

Head Cheese

A traditional dish made from various parts of the animal, Head Cheese is a unique and flavorful delicacy.

  • Put the meat in a large kettle and cover with water, then simmer for or hours until the meat is very tender.
  • The meat is then taken from the liquid and separated from the bones.
  • Cut the meat into cubes.
  • Add the seasonings and measure of the liquid in which the meat was cooked.
  • Mix the whole thing thoroughly until the seasonings are worked into the meat.
  • The meat is then put into hog paunches or beef straight and laid out to cool.

Old Fashion Turkey

A classic Thanksgiving dish, Old Fashion Turkey is a centerpiece for any holiday celebration.

  • Chop the onions and celery medium fine.
  • Brown sausage, then saute onions and celery in sausage drippings.
  • Cut dried fruit into quarters.
  • In a very large bowl or pot, add one bag of bread cubes with envelope of seasoning. Add some sausage, onion & celery mixture, sliced apples, and each type of dried fruit, raisins, and walnuts.
  • Add the next bag of bread cubes and repeat the layering.
  • Do this until all the dry ingredients are used.
  • Add the melted butter followed by chicken broth or turkey broth and mix the dressing until you obtain the desired texture or moisture you like.
  • Stuff the turkey. Place extra dressing in a casserole dish and bake.
  • Put the apple cider and butter in a saucepan and warm the cider until the butter melts.
  • Stir the mixture before basting.
  • Baste every until the turkey is done.
  • Make turkey gravy in usual manner.

Emigrant’s Stew

A hearty and flavorful stew, Emigrant’s Stew is a perfect meal for a cold winter day.

  • Brown beef cubes in shortening.
  • Place browned beef cubes and drippings into a large, heavy pot.
  • Add red onion, salt, pepper, and dry mustard.
  • Stir in flour and add canned tomatoes with juice.
  • Cover and cook slowly for about 1 hour or until meat is tender.
  • Add vegetables and water.
  • Cover and simmer for at least 1 to 2 hours until the vegetables and potatoes are tender.

These old fashioned recipes are more than just a list of ingredients and instructions; they are a connection to the past, a celebration of culinary traditions, and a reminder of the simple pleasures of home-cooked food. Try them and savor the flavors of a bygone era.

Compiled and edited by Kathy Alexander/Legends of America, updated April 2025.

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