Rediscover the warmth of Nanna’s kitchen with these 21 old-fashioned recipes that stand the test of time. These recipes aren’t just about food; they’re a journey back to cherished traditions that have been passed down through generations. Let your kitchen be a haven, a place where the essence of homestyle cooking wraps around you like a familiar, comforting hug. Take a breather from the chaos of modern life and let the soothing aroma of these dishes transport you to a simpler, more heartfelt time.
Chicken Salad with Cranberries & Walnuts
This chicken salad with cranberries and walnuts brings a unique twist to a classic dish. The pairing of tender chicken with tangy cranberries and crunchy walnuts creates an explosion of flavors. The recipe is a remarkable example of successfully combining contrasting flavors. Each serving is a delightful experience that adds a special touch to any gathering.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Salad with Cranberries & Walnuts
Egg Salad
The simplicity of this egg salad doesn’t compromise its tasteful experience. Its creamy and smooth texture coupled with comforting flavors makes it an all-time favorite. This egg salad radiates the humble charm of classic home cooking. It’s a testament to how a straightforward array of ingredients can be turned into a truly satisfying meal.
Get the Recipe: Egg Salad
Salisbury Steak with Mushrooms
The Salisbury steak with mushrooms is a heartwarming dish that never fails to please. The blend of juicy steak, earthy mushrooms, and a rich gravy creates a perfect melody of flavors. Each bite is a hearty mouthful reminiscent of heartily prepared home-cooked meals. It’s a timeless recipe that continues to captivate and feed many hungry souls.
Get the Recipe: Salisbury Steak with Mushrooms
Homemade Corned Beef
The enticing aroma of slow-cooked homemade corned beef fills the house with an unmatched sense of comfort. Layered with rich flavors and tender textures, it’s a recipe to cherish in festive gatherings. The dish is a testament to culinary prowess and love for hearty, homemade food. It’s a timeless tradition that transcends generations with its delectable taste.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Corned Beef
Pecan Butter Balls
Pecan butter balls are sweet delights synonymous with festive cheer. The blend of crunchy pecans and smooth buttery dough creates an irresistibly pleasant contrast. This vintage recipe brings sweet nostalgia to many a holiday gathering. Each bite is a testament to the power of simple ingredients combined with affectionate preparation.
Get the Recipe: Pecan Butter Balls
Bourbon Balls with White Chocolate
Imagine Nanna sneaking a smile while savoring Bourbon Balls with White Chocolate—those little sweet bombs with a splash of nostalgia. It’s like dessert from the good ol’ days, a mix of boozy bliss and smooth white chocolate. Nanna knew her treats, and these would’ve been a hit at any family gathering. Give ’em a try, and you’ll feel like you’ve just unlocked a delicious time capsule.
Get the Recipe: Bourbon Balls with White Chocolate
Sausage Rolls
Ah, the heavenly scent of Sausage Rolls baking in Nanna’s kitchen—flaky pastry, seasoned sausage, and a hint of simplicity. They’re like handheld bites of comfort that Nanna would’ve served up without any fuss. Just grab one, take a trip down memory lane, and relish the flavor of old-fashioned snacking.
Get the Recipe: Sausage Rolls
Shepherd’s Pie Bites
Shepherd’s Pie Bites are like Nanna’s way of saying, “Here’s a little piece of comfort.” Picture seasoned meat, veggies, and creamy mashed potatoes, all bundled up in a bite-sized package. It’s like the classic Shepherd’s Pie, but in a convenient pop-and-go format. Nanna would’ve appreciated the cleverness and heart in each of these little bites.
Get the Recipe: Shepherd’s Pie Bites
Cheese Toasties
Cheese toasties, reminiscent of carefree summers and simple suppers, might be a dish that Nanna would approve of without a doubt. Melty, comforting, and nostalgic—all wrapped up in a deliciously crisp package. Including Nanna, everyone’s got a story to share about these humble toasted sandwiches, and it’s your turn to add a chapter to your own family’s story.
Get the Recipe: Cheese Toasties
Broccoli 3-Cheese Impossible Quiche
The broccoli 3-cheese impossible quiche is a testament to the wonderful meals made by folks like Nanna, who understood the importance of shared, home-cooked food. Though simpler times may be behind us, the appeal of such genuinely satisfying dishes Nanna would have approved of remains. Bring a touch of that nostalgic magic to the table and keep the tradition alive.
Get the Recipe: Broccoli 3-Cheese Impossible Quiche
Potato Cheese Bread
No doubt, potato cheese bread has the power to take us back in time with just one taste, as Nanna could probably attest. It’s a classic dish that inspires fond memories, of warm kitchens like Nanna’s, and shared catch-up sessions around the kitchen table. Recipes like this remind us why these classic dishes deserve a revival.
Get the Recipe: Potato Cheese Bread
Baked Scotch Eggs
Remember the satisfying combination of meat and egg that made up the classic Scotch eggs? Well, the baked version carries the Nanna-approved tradition forward—healthier, yet just as delightful. Rest assured, every bite into these baked Scotch eggs is a nod to the past, a glimpse into a time when meals were unhurried and full of hearty goodness.
Get the Recipe: Baked Scotch Eggs
Nanna’s Apple Cake
The thought of an ancestral apple cake recipe warming in the oven is enough to stir emotions. Nanna’s apple cake adds another chapter to her legacy—the comforting aroma, the sweet taste, they preserve the past while creating new memories. Undoubtedly, Nanna would have been proud of how this cake brings people together.
Get the Recipe: Nanna’s Apple Cake
Pot Roast with Bacon
Nanna would have undoubtedly appreciated the pot roast with bacon, a dish that continues to make our special occasions memorable and ordinary days extraordinary. All you need to do is sink your teeth into this delectable dish to experience a rush of nostalgia. It’s a throwback to times when the flavors were rich, the ingredients were simple, and the vibe was warm and familiar.
Get the Recipe: Pot Roast with Bacon
Beef Stew
The good old-fashioned beef stew is a staple that’s stood the test of time, something Nanna might have known all too well. This hearty dish, rich with beef and fresh veggies, draws you back to the easy days of childhood. One taste of this, and you’ll agree that it still embodies the same comfort and familial warmth it always has.
Get the Recipe: Beef Stew
Southern Green Beans
Southern green beans are more than just a dish, they are like a time capsule carrying the essence of shared family meals from long ago, including those Nanna herself enjoyed. These beans, slowly simmered until tender, act as ambassadors from days past, showcasing the beautiful simplicity of the beloved culinary traditions we still enjoy today.
Get the Recipe: Southern Green Beans
Ribs and Sauerkraut
Ribs and sauerkraut are another Nanna-approved dish that has stood proud through the annals of home-cooked family meals. The combination of juicy ribs and tangy sauerkraut never fails to bring everyone together in a way that you can imagine happened in a similar fashion generations ago. Keeping the tradition alive, this dish is an edible bond uniting generations.
Get the Recipe: Ribs and Sauerkraut
Blueberry Grunt
Savor the traditional blueberry grunt, a scrumptious creation that takes you on a delightful journey back to long, lazy summer afternoons of yesteryears. This tribute to the past, likely approved by Nanna, is a balance of fruit and fluffiness, a heartwarming dessert that has been delivering smiles across generations. Eating it is like listening to an old folks’ taled culinary story.
Get the Recipe: Blueberry Grunt
Baked Acorn Squash with Maple Syrup
The pure simplicity and exceptional flavor of baked acorn squash with maple syrup would surely have received a nod of approval from Nanna herself. Perfect for the autumnal season, this dish is still a timeless favorite—a beautiful reminder of the pleasures of simple, home-cooked meals.
Get the Recipe: Baked Acorn Squash with Maple Syrup
Chicken & Corn Chowder
Chicken and corn chowder is a cozy blast from the past that Nanna likely cherished as well, filling one up with not just delicious soup, but also lovely memories. This comforting bowl of Nanna-endorsed goodness can make anyone long for simpler times, reminding us of the warmth, flavor, and love baked into age-old family recipes.
Get the Recipe: Chicken & Corn Chowder
Ham & Cheese Impossible Quiche
Ham & cheese impossible quiche—just saying it puts one in mind of Nanna bustling around in her traditional kitchen where smells, tastes, and stories were shared. After all, Nanna could have easily had this very dish deftly whisked together for her loved ones, warming bellies and creating memories that linger quite like the quiche itself.
Get the Recipe: Ham & Cheese Impossible Quiche