
Recipes Kept
Yellowed recipe cards with stains and creases and notes written in cursive contain the most delectable memories we have as a collective species: what food brought us together. If you want a taste of the dishes that made yesteryear delicious, I’ve kept them here. If you’ve lost a family recipe, perhaps you’ll find something similar.
Recipes Kept began with my grandmother’s recipe tin. I’ve started to archive her recipes here in the “Roma’s Recipes” collection. Since then, I’ve expanded Recipes Kept to include recipes from tins I’ve purchased at thrift stores and estate sales so they don’t become lost to time. You can view them by collection or search for a specific dish. I’ve archived everything from cakes to casseroles and much, much more.
Below, you can view the collections by opening a recipe tin or you can search the entire collection for just about any dish you can think of.
Open a recipe tin to view by collection
Search the entire Recipes Kept collection
Sour Cream Cookies
These sweet and tangy sour cream cookies are a tasty treat. The batter works up quick and after an overnight chill in the fridge, you can cut them into any shape you like - a super fun kitchen project to do with your little ones. I love using my fluted round cookie cutters for simple cut cookies like this one. The consistent size and shape means a consistent, quick baking time.
The Roma’s Recipes Collection
This is my grandmother’s recipe box. Roma’s Recipes are a collection of all the recipes from my childhood that she saved over the decades from her time as a homemaker, from her mother, and more. Nearly every recipe is handwritten in her beautiful script, and it’s an absolute privilege for me to have her recipe tin.
The Marietta Long Box Recipes Collection
The recipes in this collection come from a beautiful wooden recipe box I found at an estate sale in Marietta. It caught my eye because I’d never seen a box quite like this one. It’s a double wide recipe box that fits 4x6” recipes cards side by side in two compartments. It’s absolutely gorgeous and in incredible condition. Inside, there are many handwritten recipes, as well as some newspaper clippings and photocopied recipes that the original owner kept.
Sweet Muffins
This simple sweet muffin recipe comes together quick and is a versatile staple in the kitchen. Add frozen blueberries, raspberries, or strawberries to make a tasty breakfast treat or enjoy them plain as part of a balanced morning meal.
Garbage Soup
Phyllis Diller said, “This is a rare delicacy of the civilized world. It is an old-world custom to have a big pot on the back of the stove where you throw all the ‘usable’ garbage.”
Wild Rice Hot Dish
A hearty and comforting wild rice hot dish, perfect for a family dinner. This recipe combines ground beef, rice, and vegetables, all baked together for a flavorful and satisfying meal ideal for chilly Midwest winter nights.
Layered Enchilada Pie
This layered enchilada pie is a delicious and easy-to-make Mexican-inspired dish. Layers of tortillas, seasoned meat, and cheese create a flavorful and satisfying meal.
Quick Chop Suey
A quick and easy chop suey recipe, perfect for a speedy dinner. This dish combines luncheon meat with fresh vegetables and a savory sauce, served over rice or noodles for a satisfying meal.
Spanish Noodles
This Spanish Noodles recipe is a hearty and savory dish, perfect for a quick, cozy family dinner. The combination of noodles, hamburger, and vegetables is filling and affordable.
Pork Chop Hot Dish
This classic Pork Chop Hot Dish is a hearty and comforting meal, perfect for those chilly evenings. It's a dish that brings back fond memories of Grandma Roma cooking pork chops in the countertop electric skillet. I always loved how warm and inviting the kitchen smelled when she made this hearty meal.
Cinnamon Rolls
There’s nothing more comforting than warm cinnamon rolls on a dreary Saturday morning. This cherished recipe brings back memories of cozy mornings and family gatherings. Each roll is a warm embrace, filled with the comforting flavors of cinnamon and sugar.
Mister Rogers’ Peanut Butter Sandwich
In 1993, my grandmother captured this recipe from episode 1612 of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, in which Mr. McFeely makes his “McFeely Family Snack” to share with Mister Rogers.
DIY Homemade Bubbles | Easy & Fun Summer Craft for Kids
Is there anything more nostalgic than blowing bubbles on a warm summer day? This recipe works best when the mix is warm and the weather is humid. Simply leave your (sealed) container of bubbles outside to warm it in the sun.
Easy Homemade Play Dough
Homemade play dough was a staple of my childhood. My grandmother would fold in whatever color I chose to dye the dough, and then I would wait (im)patiently for it to cool so we could play together.