✨Step into the charm of the 1950s with Mom’s Diner! 🍽️ Indulge in recipes inspired by the post-war era. Experience the rise of table settings and centerpieces, redefining family dining. Join us for a week of wholesome, 1950’s-inspired meals. #Vintage #FamilyDining #NostalgicEats

I have a deep appreciation for the 1950’s aesthetic – the concept of the nuclear family, the emphasis on faith, and the tradition of family meals. I love the wholesomeness of the whole “leave it to Beaver” scene. I realize that this perception may be somewhat idealized, but there are undeniably redeeming qualities of that bygone era.

In my article “Mom’s Diner: Great-Depression (1930’s & 40’s) Inspired Dinners,” I highlighted the best thrifty meals for the family table. In the post-war period, families experienced an overall increase in disposable income, stability, and food options.

Therefore, this article will explore more extravagant ingredients, such as fruity flavored marshmallows in an Ambrosia salad and Hawaiian Punch inspired Jello molds in contrast to the basic, budget-conscious poor man’s meal, or water pie typical of the Great Depression era. I invite you to pull up a virtual seat in Mom’s Diner for a week of delightful 1950’s-inspired meals. I have hyperlinked each of the recipes or provided my own recipe cards for the main entrees, deserts, and a few signature sides.

Table Settings in the 1950s

Another prominent feature that emerged in the 1950s was the rise of decadent table settings, complete with elegant tablecloths, proper place settings, and floral centerpieces. My husband’s grandmother has always maintained a beautifully adorned table that changes with the seasons. As a Xennial, I hadn’t fully appreciated these beautiful settings until now. I purchased a tablecloth, cloth napkins and rings on Amazon, some chargers at the dollar store, a faux succulent plant from a craft store, and utilized the best I had available – Corelle dishes and crystal-like bowls from the dollar store.

Chicken à la King Reigns Supreme

On night 1, we indulged in the delicious classic dish, Chicken à la King. This creamy and savory concoction typically consists of chicken breast, mushrooms, and onions, all smothered in a tangy, creamy gravy. The dish can be served over rice, pasta, or potatoes. It gained popularity in the 20th century, particularly in the United States, and continues to be a comforting and versatile meal. I served this main course over-top of leftover mashed potatoes, alongside brown sugar glazed carrots from our Christmas feast. Despite the potential increase in disposable income for families in the 1950s compared to the Depression era, the tradition of thriftiness endured, making leftovers a fair game for subsequent meals. To complete the feast, we savored made-from-scratch dinner rolls, iconic Southern sweet tea, and a delightful Ambrosia salad for dessert. There are a ton of Ambrosia Salad variations out there. I made mine the way my mom did, without a recipe. But I’ve put it all together on a recipe card just for you!

A 1950’s Style Brunch Experience

On Day 2, I opted for a 1950’s style brunch, knowing that we had an evening birthday to attend during supper time. Casseroles were all the rage back in the 50’s and for good reason – they’re easy and feed a whole family. For the first time ever, I tried my hand at a Baked Two-Cheese Grit Casserole. I omitted the bacon called for in the linked recipe. I also added 3/4 cups additional milk to achieve the desired consistency I enjoy with my grits. But let me tell you, the result was fantastic. If you love baked macaroni and cheese casserole, this one had all of that same ooey gooey cheese flavor over grits. Alongside the grits, I served toasted wonder bread with butter, turkey sausage patties, leftover Ambrosia salad, a pot of coffee, and orange juice. I even had the opportunity to include two new pieces of tableware, a trivet and bread plate from Israel, both Christmas presents from Artza.

A Southern-Inspired Fish Fry Complete with Cheesy Grits, Garden Greens, and Homemade Biscuits

Day 3’s meal was inspired by the abundance of fresh greens from my Autumn Garden waiting to be cooked, as well as leftovers from the cheesy grits casserole. To achieve the desired consistency, I reconstituted the grits with an additional 2 cups of broth. What better accompaniment to cheesy grits than classic southern fried fish? I’m talking about the traditional fried fish, coated in cornmeal and fried to a crisp, the kind you’d find in a 1950’s diner or church fundraiser. I also prepared made-from-scratch biscuits using the Martha White® “Hot Rize®” Biscuits recipe. Alongside the meal, I served up a delightful mix of purple kale and arugula fresh from my garden. I’ve included a recipe card below for my staple, Southern Garden Greens Blend, as well as a recipe card for Southern Fried Flounder.

New Year’s Day Tradition: Black-Eyed Peas, Collard Greens, and Cornbread

On New Year’s Day, which happened to be Day 4 of my 1950s-inspired meal plan, I prepared some traditional foods dating all the way back to the 1800s. The menu featured black-eyed peas, collard greens, and cornbread, believed by many to bring luck and prosperity. Personally, I don’t believe in luck; I believe in God’s sovereign will. I associate the foods more with Southern comforts like shared family meals.

To enhance the flavors of the greens and black-eyed peas, we opted for smoked, 100% beef sausage instead of the traditional pork. I cooked the greens according to my Southern Greens Blend recipe (see card above). I gave the classic Jiffy mix a flavorful twist by adding sweet cream-style corn in place of half of the milk. A tip for perfect cornbread: pre-heat a cast-iron pan with butter before adding the batter for a deliciously crispy bottom. Jiffy cornbread and muffin mix has been a quick and reliable staple since 1931.

In the table spread photo below, you may also notice that I replaced the snowflake napkin rings for wooden ones, found new placemats, and purchased glass serving dishes, all at great prices. Happy New Year!

Elevate Your Weeknight with a Quick and Savory Meal of Spaghetti

Weeknight Meal #5 – Before pasta sauces became widely commercialized, classic homemade spaghetti sauce was a staple in Italian kitchens long before the formation of America. I stumbled upon this simple, Savory Spaghetti Sauce while browsing through Taste of Home’s 25 Dinner Ideas from the ’50s Worth Making Today. I served it alongside an iceberg wedge salad, topped with finely diced tomatoes and cucumbers. Despite being a straightforward 30-minute recipe, the use of fresh herbs, combined with the elegance of a traditional table setting, transformed our usual weeknight spaghetti dinner into an elevated experience. You may notice we did skip the bread at this meal as we were carbohydrate’d out from the day and week in general. Otherwise, garlic bread sticks would have been a great accompaniment to this meal.

Nostalgic 50s-Inspired Kid-Friendly Classics: Tuna Casserole and Jello Molds

On the 6th evening of 50’s inspired meals, we opted for the kid-friendly classics of the era – tuna casserole and Jello Molds! This Best Tuna Casserole recipe was remarkably easy to put together. To cater to our preferences, we replaced the peas with broccoli florets and added 1/2 cup of milk to add extra moisture. The dish was a hit, baking to perfection in just 20 minutes. My son went back for thirds! I served it alongside leftover cornbread. Jello gained popularity in the 1950s, thanks to advertising companies. We made a Jello Mold using Knox gelatine combined with Hawaiian punch, invented in 1934, and set in the iconic Tupperware mold. It was a fun and novel experience, my daughter decided to make a second Jello Mold using Blue Hawaiian punch mixed with pineapple juice and diced pineapples, which have all turned green!

1950s Delights: Memories of Grandma’s Pot Pie and Pineapple Upside-Down Cake

On the 7th day, I completed the 1950s theme with a meal that brings me memories of Grandma Rose’s cooking. She is the queen of pot pie, almost always having one, or ten, on hand in her freezer. She was also the chief pie crust maker in her family. But she let me in on a little secret, Pillsbury pie crust! After years of perfecting the pie crusts, she switched to Pillsbury and if it’s good enough for her, it’s great for me. I used this Chicken Pot Pie Recipe for this evening’s dinner. It’s a pretty traditional one, complete with a homemade pie crust, if you’re interested in doing it completely from scratch. I rounded off the meal with Grandma Rose’s Pineapple upside down cake, also a 1950s classic. Grandma frequently made this easy dessert to take to get-togethers. It comes together easily, from a boxed mix, but looks beautiful adorned with pineapple rings, and maraschino cherries. It’s seriously easy. You just butter a 9X13 cake pan, evenly spread 1/2 cup oof brown sugar over the pan, add pineapple slices, drop a maraschino cherry into each pineapple ring’s center, and pour a prepared yellow cake mix over the top. Cook, allow to cool, and invert onto a platter. Easy Peasy, and oh so tasty!

Bonus Meal: HWY 55‘s 21st Century Spin on a 1950’s Diner Experience

From my prior experiences dining at Highway 55 restaurant, I fondly remembered it offering a nostalgic dining experience in a classic diner atmosphere. It was complete with 50s-style decor, music, and delicious burgers, shakes, and fries.

So, when I heard that a brand-new HWY 55 had opened in our area, I was excited to take the kids to complete our 1950’s inspired week of meals experience. I opted for the Americana burger and shared a vanilla shake with my daughter, while my son enjoyed a classic hot dog.

The food was as fresh as ever – the burger tasted homemade, the shake was rich, and the fries were crisp. However, I couldn’t help but notice the modernization of the new diner. The fun swivel barstools were replaced with standard counter height dining chairs, the iconic worker uniforms had given way to standard tees and pants, and the tables no longer resembled the classic diner style. It seemed as though much of the nostalgia had been lost in the remodel.

Concluding Thoughts: How Attention to Detail Transformed Our Family Dining Experience

I discovered that investing a little extra effort into small details can completely transform our family’s dining experience. Previously, we often overlooked the formal dining experience at our lovely farmhouse dining table, choosing instead to sit at the island bar. We would serve ourselves directly from the pots and pans on the stovetop, rushing through our meals and hurrying off to our next activities. However, this week, I decided to prioritize mealtime. Instead of leaving the food in the cooking pots and pans on the stovetop, I transferred everything into serving dishes and beautifully adorned the dining table. I took pride in the presentation, adding small details such as fresh herbs, lemon wedges, finely diced vegetables, and homemade bread to accompany most meals.

This resulted in my husband and kids enjoying the more elegant experience, and I noticed that everyone took the time to savor their meals and engage in unhurried conversations. It did mean extra dishes to wash, but it was truly worth it to savor the family dining experience. I also relished the nostalgia of reminiscing about childhood favorites and Grandma Rose’s table settings. Most of the recipes didn’t take too much time to prepare either. The fried fish meal took about an hour, the same time as it would have taken to order and wait for a pizza. The spaghetti meal was a quick one at 30 minutes, and the tuna casserole came together in no time and baked in just 20 minutes. Altogether, it was a worthwhile experience that I’d love to continue.

But wait, there’s more…

If you loved these recipes but are eager to achieve your health goals, you’ll be thrilled to discover that I’ve revitalized some of the classics and introduced exciting new ones in Cleaning Up Mom’s Diner: A Week of 1950s Inspired Meals & Recipes.