A vintage spread.

                         

Image scanned from Betty Crocker's Picture Cook Book.

Still planning the menu for our upcoming retro party.  

We've asked everyone to bring their favorite classic dish, with a modern twist... Tossing formality to the wind, and celebrating a simpler time - a time of Cadillacs & ranch houses, typewriters & record players, pin-ups & ponytails.

I'm getting a kick outta rummaging through this cook book, but keeping it simple is proving to be quite a challenge.  Really.  The ideas are just endless.  Pigs in blankets... Deviled eggs De luxe... Meat balls - Meat loaves - Meat pies... Casseroles... Cocktails... Canapés.  Clearly not a calorie/carb-counting generation.  Rather, a meat-lover's delight.

                                     

Another cook book- The Comfort Table, by Katie Lee, gave me some great ideas.  There's an entire "retro cocktail party menu" included- classic dishes with a modern twist... and right on point with Betty's original.  Just like most of her recipes, they're simple & no-fuss, with a tad of flair.

Image scanned from The Comfort Table cook book.

I did a little recipe testing last night... Meatloaf Sliders & Oven-Fried Chicken Satay.  And because I am counting carbs & calories, I appreciated her suggestions on slimming a couple of these menu items down.

                                       

Both were very tasty, but only the sliders will make their way onto the menu.  The chicken strips "satay" were simple (but a little time consuming, as each are coated with Dijon), crispy, and flavorful, but I'd like to go a little less on the modern, and more on the classic... Maybe another recipe in her menu- a more fattening option, of course- the Sausage Balls??  Looks like I have more "experimenting" to do.

If you'd like to do a little tasting yourself, here's the recipe for the sliders...

                 

{This is the version in the cook book.  For the lightened up version- as well as the Oven-Fried Chicken Satay (titled "Faux-Fried Chicken" in this article), click the "suggestions" link above.}