Another Round of Culinary Crimes That Should've Stayed in the Past

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John Summers • Contributor
Mar 12, 2025 8:00 PM EDT

Let's be honest here—some foods from the past only look horrifying because of how they were photographed. Back in the day, capturing delicious images was genuinely difficult, thanks to clunky cameras, questionable lighting setups, and the kind of printing technology that made everything look oddly glossy and slightly radioactive. I get that it's easy to poke fun at vintage culinary presentations, especially since modern food photography has spoiled us with its bright colors and perfect arrangements.

But with that disclaimer out of the way, let's talk about these dishes because... yikes! Even acknowledging the limitations of old-school photography, there's no universe in which I'm willingly taking a bite of any of these culinary monstrosities. And believe me, I am no food snob—far from it. I'll happily devour a cold slice of pizza at midnight, and if the fridge is looking particularly grim, I'm not above cracking open a can of tuna and eating it straight from the tin. But when confronted with atrocities like a jellied salmon loaf or sardine-stuffed tomatoes, there's no negotiation. I'm leaving immediately, possibly without even bothering to politely excuse myself. Some culinary crimes are just too severe to overlook, and these dishes definitely make the list.

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  • 01
    Tomatoes stuffed with sardines
    via Vintage recipe cards
  • 02
    SWEET-SOUR CROWN ROAST SUPPER DISHES 2 CARD 12 Photograph by courtesy of Tabasco Pepper Sauce TA
    via Vintage recipe cards
  • 03
    Snails, Cauderan style
    via Vintage recipe cards
  • 04
    Convenience Fish 10 MOUSSE OF SALMON Weight WatchersⓇ Recipe Cards
    via Vintage recipe cards
  • 05
    CARRIER INTERNATIONAL COOKERY CARD 16 English Spring Pudding
    via Vintage recipe cards
  • 06
    CARRIER INTERNATIONAL COOKERY CARD 10 Carré d'Agneau
    via Vintage recipe cards
  • 07
    ENTERTAINING ON A SHOESTRING 23 SAUSAGE-BEAN CASSEROLE The Betty Crocker Recipe Card Library
    via Vintage recipe cards
  • 08
    REFO DANIEL O CONNELL 2-7 The 2 in 1 International Recipe Card Collection Bourbon & Irish 89 Wild-Eyed Rose 1½ jiggers Irish whiskey 1/2 jigger grenadine 1 tablespoon lime juice Club soda Pour Irish, grenadine, and lime juice into Old Fashioned glass; add 1-2 ice cubes and stir; fill up with soda; garnish with red-eyed lime. Red-Eyed Lime: Slice maraschino cherry in half crosswise and in- sert into lime slice.
    via Vintage recipe cards
  • 09
    CHICKEN SUPREME POULTRY AND GAME CARD 18
    via Vintage recipe cards
  • 10
    HAKE WITH TOMATO AND CAPER SAUCE CASSEROLE DISHES 2 CARD 11 Photograph by courtesy of White Fish Kitchen
    via Vintage recipe cards
  • 11
    JELLIED SALMON LOAF 11-CC DEPENDABLE DO-AHEADS 14 The Betty Crocker Recipe Card Library
    via Vintage recipe cards
  • 12
    7 Homard à la crème (Lobster with cream sauce)
    via Vintage recipe cards
  • 13
    IMPROMPTU PARTY FARE 4 CHIPPED BEEF IN POPOVERS 9-T The Betty Crocker Recipe Card Library
    via Vintage recipe cards
  • 14
    OUR FAMOUS RESTAURANTS 19b SHRIMP REMOULADE McCall's Great American Recipe Card Collection
    via Vintage recipe cards
  • 15
    BUDGET STRETCHERS 4i BAKED TUNA-STUFFED POTATOES McCall's Great American Recipe Card Collection
    via Vintage recipe cards
  • 16
    GROUND BEEF TO THE RESCUE 13 OATS 'N PEANUTS MEAT LOAVES 11-AA The Betty Crocker Recipe Card Library
    via Vintage recipe cards
  • 17
    Cheezburger Image 10478941952
    via Vintage recipe cards
  • 18
    Sherried Prunes Desserts, Puddings in Jelly and Ice Creams Card 27 22 MCMLXXXIV MY GREAT RECIPES. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. PRINTED IN HOLLAND
    via Vintage recipe cards
  • 19
    Rhubarb and Desserts, Puddings Card 6522 Yogurt Flummery and Ice Creams Card 65. MCMLXXXIV MY GREAT RECIPES. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. PRINTED IN HOLLAND
    via Vintage recipe cards
  • 20
    CARRIER INTERNATIONAL COOKERY CARD 17 Salmon Mousse
    via Vintage recipe cards
  • 21
    GOOD HOUSEKEEPING MAIN COURSE-1st set 32 DEVILLED GAMMON WITH PINEAPPLE
    via Vintage recipe cards
  • 22
    Main Dishes in Minutes SHRIMP-STUFFED TOMATOES 17 Weight Watchers Recipe Cards
    via Vintage recipe cards
  • 23
    CRABBY JOES Mainstays Without Meat 345 Cook and stir celery in butter until the celery is tender. Stir in soup, crabmeat, sour cream, lemon peel and bitters. 12 Betty Crocker's Step-by-Step Recipes
    via Vintage recipe cards
  • 24
    Salads Hot and Cold MOLDED ASPARAGUS SALAD 18 Weight Watchers Recipe Cards
    via Vintage recipe cards

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