Have you ever noticed that recipes really change sometimes? From popular foods to ingredients and seasonings that are trendy, when you take a look at some of the older recipes that your grandparents enjoyed, you see a lot of big differences.
Maybe in some way, our busy lifestyles and transitioning away from slow home cooked meals is something that we need to change. One of the most educational things you can do, is head to a thrift or used bookstore and pick up some recipe books from the 1950’s or the 1970’s if you can find them. Not only will you get some fresh ideas and recipes, but you will also learn some of the longer preparation methods that take more time but create really delicious results.
Because our family has lived in Florida for generations, we’d like to preserve some of these heritage beef and local produce recipes that are part of our culture. So, we did a little digging and found some really interesting historical American and Floridian recipes that you might want to try at home.
1. 7-Layer Ground Beef Casserole
This unusual but seemingly delicious recipe doesn’t require you to pre-cook the ground beef. If you are one of those people who love the flavor and texture of ground beef in one-pot meal, but not the part where you have to brown it in a frying pan, this might be a great heritage recipe for you to try with your family.
We are more than a little intrigued by the bacon strip layer also. Photo: chronicallyvintage.com
2. Souped Up Ground Beef Meatloaf
One of the interesting things about researching vintage American ground-beef recipes, is that in previous decades our relatives really did spend more time making food look beautiful. So, when you compare a modern meatloaf to this culinary work of art, its hard not to show some appreciation.
Like many classic meatloaf recipes, this one utilizes onion soup mix for some extra flavor. But what struck us as a little unusual, was the use of crushed corn chips in this recipe. Intrigued? We are. And we’d probably serve it on a bed of mashed potatoes and pour some hot gravy on top. Yum!
Photo: clickamericana.com
3. Ground Beef Grand Style (Biscuit Casserole)
In our search for some vintage Americana ground-beef recipes, we found some that were so unusual we had to share them anyhow. Like this one for a biscuit like casserole called “Ground Beef Grand Style”. We’re not sure if it is the sliced olive garnish that seems a little strange, or the questions in our head about the likelihood of soggy biscuits, but it’s interesting and apparently it was trending for a long time in the 1950’s and 60’s as a consummate party appetizer.
Photo: recipecurio.com
4. Flaky Baked Meatloaf Dumplings
Do you think you would enjoy a personal portioned meatloaf that was wrapped in a flaky puff pastry? We have to admit that we’ve never seen this variation of the traditional American meatloaf recipe, but it is interesting a little more elegant than the typical loaf. It might be a fun entrée when you have family and friends over. Gravy on top, or on the side as a dipping sauce?
Photo: clickamericana.com
5. Porcupine Meatballs
This advertisement from the 1950’s must have been before meatballs were a mainstay of the American dinner repertoire. Notice how Campbell’s presents three exotic recipes for families. If you are wondering why they called it the Porcupine Meatball, it is because long grain white rice is used as a starch in the meatballs and mixed throughout the ground beef for that texture.
This is also a nod to the classic Italian recipe for Rice Balls or Arancini. The rice ball recipe however is more rice (with a stuffing of cooked ground beef, marinara sauce and mozzarella) encased in sticky rice, and then bread crumb coated and deep fried, served with hot marinara and parmesan cheese.
Photo: Pinterest.com
If you are tired of the same recipes that everyone else is making, check out Pinterest or do a Google search for ‘vintage ground beef recipe ad’s’ and you are going to at the very least, enjoy a blast from the past and maybe some new tasty and unusual recipe ideas you can try at home.
When you are choosing healthy and more nutritious options at the grocery store, consider upgrading your ground beef to Florida Raised. Available exclusively in the state of Florida and sourced from local ranches that adhere to pasture raised methods of production, our fresh (never frozen) grass-fed ground beef is hormone and antibiotic free. It’s natural and tastes the way ground beef should always taste; rich and flavorful no matter how you cook it.
For more information regarding our grass-fed Florida Raised beef products (or for a list of locations that distribute our products email us at info@floridaraised.com.