19 vintage favorites your grandparents used to make and love

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Step into a delicious time machine as we whisk you back to the days of chrome-lined countertops and checkered tablecloths with 19 vintage favorites your grandparents used to make and love.

Two slices of meatloaf on a plate with mashed potatoes and carrots.
Cracker Barrel Meatloaf. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Crock Pot Ham and Potato Soup

Ham and Potato soup in a gray and white bowl with a spoon.
Crock Pot Ham and Potato Soup. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Let’s take it slow with Crock Pot Ham and Potato Soup, where spuds and ham cozy up in a slow cooker for hours. The result? A creamy, dreamy soup that’s like a warm hug from your granny.
Get the Recipe: Crock Pot Ham and Potato Soup

Pea Salad

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

Pea Salad is the unsung hero of the salad world, bringing a creamy, tangy, and sweet punch to any table. It’s the kind of side dish that is at home at any potluck. Plus, it’s a make-ahead marvel – your fridge does half the work!
Get the Recipe: Pea Salad

Amish Cinnamon Bread

Loaf of cinnamon bread sliced to show the ribbon of cinnamon inside.
Amish Cinnamon Bread. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Amish Cinnamon Bread is the stuff of sweet, cinnamon-y legends, ready to rival any fancy bakery loaf. It’s the kind of treat that fills the kitchen with smells that’ll have neighbors knocking. And it’s so easy, even the most baking-challenged can whip it up.
Get the Recipe: Amish Cinnamon Bread

Baked Manicotti

Baked manicotti in a cast iron skillet.
Baked Manicotti. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Dive fork-first into Baked Manicotti, where pasta shells become cozy beds for cheese and get tucked in with ground beef and marinara. It’s like lasagna’s fun cousin that only comes around for special family dinners. It’s cheesy, saucy, and oh-so-comforting.
Get the Recipe: Baked Manicotti

Amish Macaroni Salad

Bowl of Amish macaroni salad with some on a spoon.
Amish Macaroni Salad. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Amish Macaroni Salad is where sweet meets savory and everything creamy in one delightful dish. It’s the side that shows up at every potluck, and there’s never leftovers. A spoonful of this, and you’ll understand why it’s a favorite that never goes out of style.
Get the Recipe: Amish Macaroni Salad

Icebox Cake

Icebox cake with raspberries, blueberries and strawberries on a pink plate.
Icebox Cake. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Keep your oven mitts off; Icebox Cake is in town with its no-bake, cool-whip charm. Graham crackers, berries, and whipped cream play layer-up in this chill dessert. It’s like a dessert lasagna that skips the baking and heads straight for your belly.
Get the Recipe: Icebox Cake

Cracker Barrel Meatloaf

Two slices of meatloaf on a plate with mashed potatoes and carrots.
Cracker Barrel Meatloaf. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Cracker Barrel Meatloaf is the dish that’ll make you forget you’re not actually at Cracker Barrel. It’s seasoned just right and has a comfort factor of 100%. One bite and you’ll be transported to a rocking chair on a country porch.
Get the Recipe: Cracker Barrel Meatloaf

Salt Potatoes

Salt Potatoes drizzled with melted butter.
Salt Potatoes. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Take a trip to upstate New York with just one bite of these creamy, buttery Salt Potatoes. They’re bite-sized, they’re tasty, and they’re begging for a butter bath. It’s the simple side that’ll steal the show at your next gathering.
Get the Recipe: Salt Potatoes

Italian Ricotta Cookies

Ricotta cookies with icing and colored sprinkles on a cooling rack and on the counter.
Italian Ricotta Cookies. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Italian Ricotta Cookies are the soft, cakey treats that Nonna always had on the counter. They’re a holiday staple, sure, but who needs a holiday for cookies this good? Every bite is like a mini Italian getaway.
Get the Recipe: Italian Ricotta Cookies

Peanut Butter Bread

Slice peanut butter bread on a cutting board with a jar of raspberry jam and knife.
Peanut Butter Bread. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Move over banana bread, Peanut Butter Bread is the old-fashioned favorite here to switch up your quick bread game. It’s nutty, it’s fluffy, and it’s got breakfast or snack time written all over it. Best part? No yeast, no fuss, no problem.
Get the Recipe: Peanut Butter Bread

Slow Cooker Pork Chops

Slow Cooker Pork Chops on a plate covered with a creamy mushroom gravy and served on mashed potatoes.
Slow Cooker Pork Chops. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

These Slow Cooker Pork Chops with mushroom soup are the set-it-and-forget-it wonder dish. The pork chops come out so tender, they practically ask you to eat them. Mushroom soup turns into a creamy, flavorful sauce that’s the cherry on top!
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Pork Chops

Deviled Eggs with Pickle Relish

Holding a deviled egg sprinkled with paprika.
Deviled Eggs with Pickle Relish. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Deviled Eggs with Pickle Relish are the vintage appetizer that gets the party started. They’ve got just the right amount of pickle pizzazz. It’s the kind of appetizer that makes you want to eat just one more… six times.
Get the Recipe: Deviled Eggs with Pickle Relish

Pistachio Fluff Salad

Pistachio salad topped with nuts and cherries.
Pistachio Fluff Salad. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Pistachio Fluff Salad, also known as Watergate salad, is a five-ingredient wonder that’s as easy as it is fluffy. It’s the kind of dessert that Grandma made with love. Make it ahead, and watch it disappear at your next gathering.
Get the Recipe: Pistachio Fluff Salad

Slow Cooker Creamy Chicken

Slow Cooker Creamy Chicken on a white plate on rice topped with parsley.
Slow Cooker Creamy Chicken. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Who doesn’t love coming home to the aroma of Slow Cooker Creamy Chicken after a long day? It’s got spices, it’s got creamy sauce, and it’s got tender chicken. Just set it, forget it, and come back to a meal that’ll make your day.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Creamy Chicken

Texas Caviar Dip

Texas caviar on a tortilla chip.
Texas Caviar Dip. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Texas Caviar Dip, also known as Cowboy Caviar, is the fresh and colorful salad that’s a fiesta in a bowl. It’s a sweet and tangy mix of black-eyed peas, beans, and veggies that’ll lasso your taste buds. This classic recipe is the belle of the ball at any BBQ or potluck.
Get the Recipe: Texas Caviar Dip

Lime Jello Salad

Piece of lime jello salad topped with whipped cream and a cherry.
Lime Jello Salad. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Lime Jello Salad is that funky green dessert that’s part side, part sweet, and all parts fun. It’s a jiggly joy that’s been brightening up family meals for generations. If you’re looking to add a splash of color to your spread, this is your go-to.
Get the Recipe: Lime Jello Salad

Utica Greens

Top view of Utica Greens in a skillet with breadcrumbs and cherry peppers.
Utica Greens. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Utica Greens are the Italian-American veggie dish that’ll make everyone eat their greens. Packed with escarole, hot peppers, and garlic, it’s a flavorful way to get your green on. This dish is a taste of tradition with a spicy kick.
Get the Recipe: Utica Greens

Cherry Salad

Cherry fluff salad in blue bowls with whipped cream.
Cherry Salad. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Cherry Salad is the retro dessert that’s the life of the party. It’s cool, it’s creamy, and it’s ready in five minutes flat. Just six ingredients, and you’ve got yourself a spoonful of classic nostalgia.
Get the Recipe: Cherry Salad

Refrigerator Bread and Butter Pickles

Top view of a jar of bread and butter pickles.
Refrigerator Bread and Butter Pickles. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

These Refrigerator Bread and Butter Pickles are the homemade heroes of the pickle world. They’re quick, they’re easy, and they’ll make your sandwiches sing. No canning, no fuss, just crisp, tangy perfection.
Get the Recipe: Refrigerator Bread and Butter Pickles

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