recipes from the 80s

[Jake&IzzyLand]

For those of you who either cooked or ate in the 80s, what were your favorites?

My mom always made sweet and sour meatballs for new year's eve, she no longer has the recipe though. I love those things!!

I remember other things like pizza with a bisquick crust, cheesecake bars, and peach Knox bars.

My kid's don't know what they are missing, they live in the time of kale and quinoa.

And cereal, remember king vitamin? So sad you can't buy it anymore. They were amazed when I told them there were always prizes in every box!

I want to make them some good old fashioned 80s food.

Have any recipes to share?

 

[antmaril]

I have a recipe that I make only on Christmas Eve and have done so for many, many years. It is similar to many recipes for sausages and meatballs, but is slightly different. I use Eckrich Original Smok-Y Links (not cocktail sausages - I don't think they are as flavorful). I cut the links into thirds. Take one jar of Red Currant Jelly and add at least two heaping tablespoons of horseradish sauce. Heat gently until the jelly and horseradish sauce are combined and then add the smoky links. Taste the sauce to make sure there is enough "kick". If not, add more horseradish sauce. Heat until the sausages are hot. People have been asking me for this recipe for years. So simple and so yummy.

 

[usnuzuloose]

For those of you who either cooked or ate in the 80s, what were your favorites?

My mom always made sweet and sour meatballs for new year's eve, she no longer has the recipe though. I love those things!!

I remember other things like pizza with a bisquick crust, cheesecake bars, and peach Knox bars.

My kid's don't know what they are missing, they live in the time of kale and quinoa.

And cereal, remember king vitamin? So sad you can't buy it anymore. They were amazed when I told them there were always prizes in every box!

I want to make them some good old fashioned 80s food.

Have any recipes to share?

You can get the King Vitamin off Amazon.

 

[Arkansan]

I graduated HS in 1988. Do you have any old fundraising cookbooks? I have copies of my HS band's, 4-H club's, and church's cookbooks from that era. Some of the recipes rely heavily on cool-whip, but some are really great. My kids love a pumpkin cake (bar) from my former band cookbook. I make it every Thanksgiving and usually 1-2 other times during the Fall/holiday season. Try to get some old cookbooks. You may discover some new family favorites.

 

[usnuzuloose]

I bet you could find a bunch of cookbooks in the thrift stores as well. Or even searching online for recipes under the 1980's. I worked so much back then I did not cook much.

 

[Jake&IzzyLand]

You can get the King Vitamin off Amazon.

Awesome! I'm checking now.

 

[Jake&IzzyLand]

I graduated HS in 1988. Do you have any old fundraising cookbooks? I have copies of my HS band's, 4-H club's, and church's cookbooks from that era. Some of the recipes rely heavily on cool-whip, but some are really great. My kids love a pumpkin cake (bar) from my former band cookbook. I make it every Thanksgiving and usually 1-2 other times during the Fall/holiday season. Try to get some old cookbooks. You may discover some new family favorites.

I don't have any from the 80s. I do have some from my grandmother though.

 

[diznygirl]

I'm trying not to let that fact that you guys are reminiscing about the 80's like it was sooooo long ago bother me!

 

[Poohforyou]

I'm trying not to let that fact that you guys are reminiscing about the 80's like it was sooooo long ago bother me!

I know, I thought the same thing!!

 

[usnuzuloose]

I'm trying not to let that fact that you guys are reminiscing about the 80's like it was sooooo long ago bother me!

Well OP could have asked for recipes from the 60's or 70's…

 

[AppleDumpling]

Not sure if the sweet and sour meatballs you're thinking of are the ones my family loves but this is how we make them. I make small meatballs with ground beef, egg, a little milk, breadcrumbs and a bit of minced onion. Or you can buy a bag of frozen pre-made meatballs. Mix a 10 oz. jar of grape jelly and a 12 oz. bottle of chili sauce in a pan and heat it until the jelly melts and the mixture is smooth. Pour that over the meatballs. They're a big hit with my family and friends.

I ate King Vitaman too; I think it came out in the early 70's. I think it was similar to Captain Crunch, but was marketed as being more nutritious than other cereals. Also Quisp and Quake; from what I recall they all tasted pretty much the same and had way more sugar than today's version. Some of the cereals even had sugar in the name, which would be un-PC now...Sugar Pops, Super Sugar Crisp, etc.

 

[Lilacs4Me]

the 80's claims ownership on food??!! LOL

This reminds me of the long-standing debate -

When in Mexico or China, do you ask for Mexican or Chinese food? Or will they get your point if you just say "food"?

Because back in the 80's if I was hungry, I just asked for food. My mom knew what to do from there.

Sorry....couldn't help it

 

[usnuzuloose]

How fun this thread is, I was just looking up on google and finding all kinds of recipe's from the 80's. Might have to make some.

 

[CdnCarrie]

I didn't realize that there were any foods specific to the 80s. Not sure how the 1980s = old fashioned.

I was a teen/college student in that decade and don't recall anything we ate that was different than now.
Maybe something microwavable as microwaves were new technology in most homes.

 

[Christine]

It's probably more of a "remember your childhood food" which, I guess for the OP was the 80s? I have memories of those weird, processed foods/snacks but mine come from the 70s. Easy meatballs, lots of Cool Whip desserts, instant puddings, etc.

 

[daughtersrus]

Anyone remember no-bake banana split cake? My mom and aunt would make it for every family party. I still have the hand written recipe card from my aunt. She passed in 82. One of the ingredients listed is oleo

 

[Christine]

Anyone remember no-bake banana split cake? My mom and aunt would make it for every family party. I still have the hand written recipe card from my aunt. She passed in 82. One of the ingredients listed is oleo

My cousin has been making it every year since the late 70s/early 80s.

 

[denisem]

Anyone remember no-bake banana split cake? My mom and aunt would make it for every family party. I still have the hand written recipe card from my aunt. She passed in 82. One of the ingredients listed is oleo

That was my requested dish for family reunions each year. (I was 30ish in the 80's, LOL)

 

[ckay87]

Are Jello Jigglers still a thing? They used to have them at every function when my boys (now 20 and 23) were little. My work friend who has a toddler has never heard of them. It occurred to me that maybe people just don't make them anymore. I'm living more of a Jello shot kind of life now, haha.

 

[Kellykins1218]

Are Jello Jigglers still a thing? They used to have them at every function when my boys (now 20 and 23) were little. My work friend who has a toddler has never heard of them. It occurred to me that maybe people just don't make them anymore. I'm living more of a Jello shot kind of life now, haha.

Jigglers weren't even a thing when I was a kid...it was called finger jello.