329 school recipes

Old-school dark fruitcake soaked overnight in brandy and orange liqueur with figs, apricots, currants, walnuts, and pecans. Makes four loaves; ages beautifully.

Crispy fried crab croquettes seasoned with cayenne, white pepper, and garlic, served with a cream of wine sauce. Old-school Southern entertaining at its finest.

Pennsylvania Dutch-style liver cakes made from ground beef liver, onion, egg, and flour, wrapped in bacon and pan-fried until crisp. A classic farmhouse recipe with old-school charm.

Original red velvet cake with old-school ermine frosting: tender buttermilk crumb tinted deep red, finished with the cooked-flour boiled milk icing that came before cream cheese took over.

Classic French Nantua sauce built from live crayfish, cognac flambé, mirepoix, tomato, and cream, reduced to a velvety finish. A masterclass in old-school French technique.

Aplets are a great bar cookie for summertime or school lunch boxes.

Beef and ham chili browns cubed beef and ham in rendered suet with onions, garlic, cumin, oregano, and red chile pulp. Old-school Texas-style bean-free chili, deep and rich.

Round steak pounded with flour, browned, then slow-baked with sliced onions, tomatoes, and Worcestershire until fork-tender. Old-school comfort food over rice or mashed potatoes.

New England clam chowder ready in 20 minutes. Canned clams, diced potatoes, onion in butter, and milk warmed just under a boil. A splash of sherry for the old-school finish.

Traditional Southern roast possum with bread crumb stuffing, onion, bacon drippings, and a kick of red pepper. Old-school Appalachian cooking using black iron and patience.

Classic yellow mustard pickles with cucumbers, gherkins, pearl onions, cauliflower, and red peppers in a turmeric-mustard brine. Old-school preserving-kettle recipe that stocks a pantry.

Classic pecan pie from Dear Abby columnist Abigail Van Buren, built on corn syrup, brown sugar, and whole pecans scattered across the top instead of stirred in. The old-school Southern holiday standard.

Old-school Southern fried chicken soaked in a rich cream-and-egg bath, dredged in paprika-spiked flour, and fried in a trinity of bacon drippings, shortening, and butter.

Easy Salisbury steak with ground beef patties seasoned with ketchup and Worcestershire, browned, and baked in cream of mushroom gravy. Old-school weeknight comfort food.

Peanut butter chiffon pie set with gelatin and aerated with whipped egg whites for a cloud-like texture. Proper old-school technique for the lightest peanut butter pie possible.

Halloween rice crispy treats loaded with candy corn, mini chocolate chips, and candy pumpkins. Dyed bright orange, these no-bake bars are a hit at school parties.