Your Friendly photographer and vintage recipe collector.
About & FAQs
✦ 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.
Follow me on my new Flickr Account for recipes & photography.
Meet Vintage by the Bite
✦ Sharing 40s 50s & 60s Vintage Home Style Recipes With Some Made And Tested Along The Way ✦
✦Meet Joan
Joan is the illustrated mid-century kitchen mascot for Vintage by the Bite, inspired by the everyday home cooks of the 1940s–1960s. She appears throughout the site as a small nod to the era and the women who shaped home cooking during that time.
✦ Practical vintage recipes that can be incorporated into your everyday menus
We’re a small but mighty retro food blog on a mission to keep vintage recipes alive so they don’t fade away with the pages of our old, well-loved cookbooks.
From fizzy drinks to Sunday suppers, we dish out fresh content every week on the blog, Instagram Stories, and Pinterest.
✦ Vintage by the Bite features over 150 nostalgic recipes on the blog and recipe library, plus more than 1,800 vintage recipes tucked inside Grandma’s Recipe Drawer on Pinterest.
✦ Vintage Vibes Not Vintage Values
Vintage by the Bite preserves, shares and tests mid-century recipes and food traditions. Our focus is culinary history, preservation, and practical cooking.
✦ Frequently Asked Questions ✦
✦ Vintage Recipes✦
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: Can I contribute my own vintage recipes?
A: Absolutely! I love hearing from fellow vintage recipe collectors. You’re welcome to share your family favorites or old cookbook gems through the contact section on my site. They may even be featured in a future post or club collection!
Q4: Can I request a specific vintage recipe to be featured on the site?
A: Yes! If there’s a mid-century dish or dessert you’d love to see revived, send your suggestion through the contact form I’m always on the lookout for retro recipes worth rediscovering.
✦ 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.
