124 old recipes

Cold dilly beans are crisp pickled green beans canned with garlic, fresh dill, and a hint of cayenne in a cider vinegar brine. A snappy, shelf-stable summer pickle ready in two weeks.

Chilled zucchini soup with marjoram, finished with cream just before serving. A silky, pale green summer soup that uses up the season's overgrown zucchini.

Curried cold asparagus soup with chicken broth, egg yolks, and cream, lightly spiced with curry powder and brightened with a squeeze of lemon. Elegant chilled spring soup for first courses.

Cold sesame noodles with a creamy peanut butter and sesame oil sauce, lightly spiced with hot sauce and soy. Quick lunch or potluck pasta salad ready in 15 minutes.

Cold asparagus side dish with a blended sesame-ginger vinaigrette made from toasted sesame seeds, rice vinegar, fresh ginger, and orange juice.

Velvety cold peaches and cream soup with amaretto and a whisper of nutmeg. A brilliant way to use overripe peaches, and just as good made with canned peaches in winter.

Cold vermicelli tossed in a creamy lemon-garlic tahini dressing with olive oil. A 30-minute Mediterranean-inspired noodle salad that works as a side or light vegetarian main.

Creamy chilled zucchini and leek soup with herbs, potatoes, and a splash of Worcestershire, pureed smooth and finished with heavy cream. A garden-fresh cold soup for warm weather.

German Kalter Kartoffelsalat: cold potato salad dressed with vinegar, mustard, and dill seed. No mayo, the starchy potato water creates a creamy emulsion.

Chilled chicken soup with ground walnuts, celery, garlic, and yogurt, made from scratch with homemade stock. A creamy, nutty cold soup with Georgian-inspired flavors.

Grilled herbed mushrooms marinated in garlic, olive oil, and red pepper flakes, served with a cold tomato dressing of shallots, sherry vinegar, and fresh herbs.

Seasoned tempeh aspic: grated tempeh browned with tamari and paprika, set in an agar-based vegetarian aspic with dill pickle and bell peppers. A meat-free spin on old-world cold cuts, served with rye and mustard.

Here is a recipe that is mainly a dip, since the shrimp are either grilled or eaten raw with the rest of the ingredients.

Cold green vegetable soup with poached fish. Source: Olga Gorechev, St. Petersburg, Russia

J.L. Hudson's cheese bread: a legendary Detroit department-store recipe with extra-sharp cheddar, eggs, and a rich yeast dough. Bread machine easy, nostalgic flavor guaranteed.

Mashed carrot casserole baked with sharp cheddar cheese, grated onion, buttered bread crumbs, and parsley. A creamy vegetable side dish that converts even the pickiest carrot skeptics.