When it comes to retro recipes, there are some classics we love to revisit…and some we never want to see again!
As I reflected over 40 years of cooking, I remember the Prawn Cocktails, Beef Wellington, Chicken Kiev, Steak Diane and Coq au Vin that graced the ‘dinner party’ table.
I also recall the many requests I had at the Gas Cookery Service for recipes for Tuna Mornay, Shepherds Pie, Chicken Vol au Vents, Porcupine Meatballs and Quiche Lorraine.
Chatting with my Gas Gal friends, the old fashioned favourites of Bread and Butter Pudding, Golden Syrup Dumplings, Jam Roly Poly Pudding, Lemon Delicious, Apple Crumble, Baked Custard and Trifle are still comforting sweets that bring out smiles all round.
Many of these recipes are still much loved to this day, and when done well, perhaps with a little twist, are great family recipes to please a crowd.
But there were also horror recipes that are best left in the past – moulded Tuna Mousse, ghastly Surf n Turf variations, Spinach Dip in a Cob loaf, Ham and Banana Hollandaise, and bizarre Jello Salads of salad ingredients set in lime or strawberry jelly!
Probably the most popular retro recipe that home cooks would turn to for an easy, tasty meal was Apricot Chicken. It was so simple. Just toss chicken pieces in flour, place in a baking dish and cover with a can of apricot nectar mixed with a packet of French Onion soup, and bake until tender! This recipe sold lots of cans of nectar and packets of soup, and I daresay, still does today. (Although I’m not sure about the version that uses Coke instead of nectar?!)
I was recently inspired to revisit this, and a few other retro recipes, so, Apricot Chicken has developed into Ginger Apricot Chicken with Coriander and Almonds; and below are also my recipes for Bacon Mac n Cheese Pots and Moroccan Porcupine Meatballs.
Here are a few other twists I like to use to revamp a retro favourite:
- Try Steak Diane using thin venison steaks
- Turn Seafood Chowder into Pies
- Add some spinach and mushrooms to Chicken Stroganoff
- Rethink Beef Wellington to make Prosciutto and Porcini Beef Fillet
- Pop blueberries into your Lemon Delicious
- Blend two favourites together for Peach Melba Trifles
Enjoy a nostalgic meal on me!
* Jello image above from Kraft Heinz Company
