Saltines, milk and sugar

Growing up, a lot of us had those unique family meals that seemed perfectly normal… until we found out nobody else was eating them. Many of these “odd” recipes were born from frugality, hand-me-down dishes from the Depression era, wartime, or simply budget-stretching kitchens. And honestly? Some of them were surprisingly delicious.

From sweet-and-savory mashups to pantry-staple creations, these quirky comfort foods remind us how creative families could be with what they had on hand. If you ever traded your lunch at school only to hear “What is that?”, this post is for you.

Let’s turn back time…

I remember my grandmother serving me this often when I visited. I did really liked it, she made it seem special, it was the only time I ever ate it.

What is it exactly? It’s warm milk, with saltines and sugar.

Yep, totally simple, easy to make, and most have those items in the house!

It really tastes like a savory cereal, which is one reason I might not like that sugary stuff, I never have. Although I recall eating some cereals, it was never my favorite.

Coffee Soup (or Coffee Sop): When consumed with coffee instead of milk, it was sometimes referred to as “coffee soup” or “coffee sop”.

Milk toast: This refers more broadly to bread and milk, but suggests a historical context where simple warm dairy dishes were common

It’s a real quick, poor version of bread pudding! Add bread or dried fruit to switch it up.

We called it saltines in milk, but some call it Soaky!

When conversations of foods we ate as kids come up… what were you served as a kid, that others may not have had?

It could be as simple

My son’s favorite is from my mom… she served him an English muffin, butter, applesauce, and cinnamon (which is still a favorite, especially if he’s not feeling well)

One friend told me, as I was heating tortillas for dinner, that flour tortillas with butter and cinnamon sugar was the item his mom served his family on repeat.

I recall many days having toast with butter and cinnamon-sugar! Tortillas weren’t popular where I grew up, and seeing fresh tortillas wasn’t popular until he 80s.

Whether you still like the food or not today is always a hot topic, from frozen dinners of Salisbury steak with the tiny cobbler or a pot pie from Banquet (always very affordable) to tuna noodle casserole with stewed tomatoes, some had peas.

I’ll never forget watching the movie Angie, and she made English muffin pizza with spray cheese and ketchup… I gasped!

Here are a few odd-but-often-loved childhood foods you might recognize:

• Ketchup Sandwiches
  Bread + ketchup = lunch. No cheese, no meat, just straight-up tomato sugar paste between slices of Wonder Bread. Michelin star? No. Cheap and oddly comforting? Absolutely. (I have never had this, but I hear it was popular)
• Butter & Sugar Sandwiches
  Because who needs frosting when you’ve got margarine and a spoonful of sugar? It was like a DIY Pop-Tart—without the tart. (Who doesn’t LOVE Butter!)
• Hot Dogs in Everything
  Mac and cheese? Add hot dogs. Spaghetti? Add hot dogs. Just hot dogs on a plate? Dinner is served. (Check out these other Hot Dog options here and here.
  
• Fried Bologna Sandwiches
  The fancy version of lunch meat: fry it until the edges curl, slap it on white bread, and call it gourmet
• Tomato Soup (aka “Ketchup Soup”)
  If you were really broke, you might have had soup made with hot water and ketchup packets. It was basically Depression-era ramen.

• Banana & Mayo Sandwiches
  Don’t knock it ‘til you’ve tried it. Creamy, tangy, weirdly good. (Or maybe it was just childhood hunger talking.)
• Cornbread & Milk in a Bowl
  Some families swore by this as dinner. Basically dessert if you added enough sugar.
• Leftover Mystery Mash
  Anything in the fridge + a frying pan = dinner. Potatoes made frequent appearances, naturally.

What felt like “normal food” as a kid was often born from resourcefulness, creativity, and making something tasty out of whatever was in the pantry. While some of these dishes might make others raise an eyebrow, they carry a lot of nostalgia—and maybe even deserve a comeback.

Some thought these meals were just what people ate, only to grow up and realize other kids were having actual lasagna while we were over here eating bread with condiments.

But honestly? Looking back, those quirky, cheap eats are part of what made childhood memorable—and maybe even made us a little more creative in the kitchen today.

Some rely on the blue box of mac and cheese… I never had that as a kid (and I really don’t like it), make this great creamy cheesy mac and cheese!

My mom cooked well… I know I was blessed. The only meal I recall not liking she ever made was Liver and Onions!

Not everything from childhood was a ketchup sandwich—thankfully. Alongside those oddball meals that made us question our parents’ choices, there were the classics that still make our mouths water today: bubbling baked ziti, melty meatball subs, flaky blueberry pie, and creamy baked custard that could rival any bakery.

It’s funny how food tells the story of where we came from. Some meals were pure survival mode, some were hand-me-down traditions, and others were mom’s way of making sure we felt spoiled, even on a budget.

So whether your childhood dinners were a little quirky, a lot comforting, or somewhere in between, they all left their mark. And let’s be honest—we’d probably still eat half of them today, even if it’s just for nostalgia (looking at you, fried bologna).

Because in the end, those odd foods weren’t just meals… they were memories. And that’s the best recipe of all.

Some of my favorite recipes inspired by my mom are:

• Zucchini Italiano
• Chicken and Dumplings
• Baked Ziti
• Meatball Sub
• Baked Beans

And my favorite desserts my mom made

• Baked Custard
• Pecan Lassies
• Blueberry Pie
• Rice Pudding
• Chocolate Cake

So here’s to childhood foods—equal parts questionable and unforgettable.

If you’re looking to save money, try making your favorite take-out items at home. I have a whole slew of recipes for you to try here.

Do you have a food from childhood you later found out most people didn’t eat?

Let me know in the comments, I’d love to hear about it.

This sauce is great on ice cream, and I bet your wouldn’t expect it!