Your Friendly photographer and vintage recipe collector
✦ Shelly | Vintage by the Bite ✦Fun facts: I had an amazing time managing a 1950s malt shop in an antique mall with a soda fountain, swivel stools, and all!
Today I’m the vintage recipe preservationist behind Vintage by the Bite, The Diane Blogs, and the Vintage Everyday Recipes Club, where we explore mid-century recipes and the stories they tell.
You can also find me on my new Flikr account, where a real human (me) shares recipes and photography - :)
Meet Vintage by the Bite
Vintage by the Bite takes a fresh look at classic recipes from the 1940s, -1970s you can still use today. Alongside step-by-step instructions and original photography, you’ll find storytelling blogs, firsthand recipe testing and a vintage gift shop.
We’re an active, independent boutique-style retro food blog on a mission to keep vintage recipes alive so they don’t fade away with the pages of our well-loved old cookbooks. Some recipes are preserved exactly as written; others are made and tested along the way.
From fizzy drinks to Sunday suppers, fresh content is shared regularly on the blog, Instagram Stories, and Pinterest.
✦ We feature over 150 nostalgic recipes on the blog and recipe library, along with more than 1,800 vintage recipes preserved inside our Grandma’s Recipe Drawer on Pinterest.
I believe readers should be able to browse our vintage recipes the way you might flip through a favorite old cookbook clean landing pages without endless pop-ups, clutter, or distractions.
✦ Vintage Vibes, Not Vintage Values
The site shares, and tests mid-century recipes and food traditions, with a focus on culinary history, recipe preservation, and practical home cooking.
✦ Frequently Asked Questions ✦
Q1: Are these recipes authentic vintage or modern interpretations?
A: Most recipes on the site are true mid-century originals, sourced from vintage cookbooks, clippings, community booklets, and brand pamphlets. When an original version is available, I keep it completely intact and note the source, year, or publication whenever possible.
I also share vintage-inspired recipe blogs. These are modern creations that capture the flavor, style, or spirit of the era. Every recipe on the blog whether original or inspired is personally tested, photographed, and styled here in my retro kitchen, unless clearly noted as archival content.
✨ Look for my labeling system at the bottom of each recipe so you’ll always know what you’re reading:
✔️ Authentic Vintage Recipe
(Includes year and source when available)
✔️ Vintage-Inspired Original Recipe
(Modern originals that feel mid-century but aren’t pulled from a booklet or clipping)
✔️ Archival Content
(Shared for historical reference and preservation)
✔️ Tested or Untested Entry
(Clearly noted on recipe)
Q2: You’ve mentioned you test recipes - what exactly does that cover?
A: When I test a vintage recipe, I always keep the original recipe completely intact.
My testing focuses on how it behaves in a modern kitchen, not on changing it. In the notes, I’ll share things like whether a recipe sets up the way it’s meant to, if an ingredient is no longer made or has changed over time, how the texture holds together, and whether cooking temperatures or timing need close attention.
These observations provide helpful context while still honoring the recipe exactly as it was written.
Q3: Where are these vintage recipes coming from?
A: Most of the recipes on the blog come from my personal collection. I’m drawn to quirky, interesting, and lovely little gems that deserve to be remembered.
The recipes in the library are a mix of selections from my collection and public domain sources.
✦ Printable & Shop Help ✦Digital Downloads
Q1: What kinds of digital downloads do you offer?
A: My shop features vintage recipe cards, retro kitchen printables, and themed binder pages all designed in the signature Vintage by the Bite style.
Q2: How do I access my downloads after purchase?
A: Once your order is complete, you’ll receive a confirmation email with an instant download link so you can start printing right away.
Vintage By the bite Blog Categories
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