TikTokers Re-create 20th Century's Strangest Recipes in Viral Trend

Ever wondered how a Jell-O salad really tastes? These TikTokers might have the answer. A growing trend on the platform has creators cooking the dishes of bygone eras—and seeing how they hold up against 2021 standards.

Shawna Jones, known on the platform as @shawnasideas, created one such series, in which she tries out recipes from a 1953 Better Homes and Gardens cookbook.

As Jones explained to Newsweek, she has "always been fascinated by all things midcentury" and has "long been drawn to food history and how people used to eat and consume." After the TikTok creator found herself unemployed during the pandemic, she "stumbled upon this intersection between those two interests" while browsing through her collection of old cookbooks.

In one clip posted last week, for example, Jones documents her attempt at making a dish called "Sunshine Salad."

"You know, I've been making a lot of really decadent foods lately, so I decided maybe it's time for a salad. But unfortunately for me, in 1953 the term 'salad' was very loosely-defined," said Jones, a hint of sarcasm in her voice. Meanwhile, the camera shows her combining powdered, lemon-flavored Jell-O with hot water, syrup from a can of pineapple, vinegar and salt.

The recipe then calls for grated carrots, crushed pineapple, and chopped pecans—all of which Jones adds before letting the mixture set. Finally, the finished product is plated with lettuce and a dollop of mayonnaise.

While the Sunshine Salad wasn't a winner, it seems that other recipes documented on Jones' page have been more successful. One such example, a recipe for macaroni and cheese, combines condensed cream of mushroom soup, American cheese, milk, onion and cooked pasta for a final dish that she says is "so good."

Jones' videos have found a wide audience on the app, attracting viewers of all age groups. "Younger people seem interested in understanding more about the era and the 'grossout' factor of the weirder foods, and older people really enjoy the nostalgic quality of remembering how foods used to be," she explained. "The 50s will always be a unique time to look back on, and I think people appreciate the way I'm holding onto it and trying to breathe some new life into it as well."

Jones isn't the only creator to have thrived in this particular culinary niche: the TikTok account Sandwiches of History features Barry Enderwick making recipes from a 1909 publication, The Up-to-Date Sandwich Book, along with other 20th-century cookbooks.

Ranging from the familiar to the bizarre, even the simplest of recipes re-created by Sandwiches of History feature a unique twist. A seemingly standard ham and tomato sandwich from 1941, for example, actually uses a paste made of minced ham, onion juice, mace and butter, rather than the standard sliced ham we know today.

Enderwick told Newsweek that his favorite sandwich of the ones he's tried was the "Tomato Royal"—featuring "Roquefort, butter, tomato and lettuce"—from 1941's 500 Tasty Sandwiches. His least favorite? An oyster sandwich recipe from 1909. "I love raw oysters, but eating them chopped up with olive oil on lettuce between bread was just gross," he said.

According to Enderwick, he attributes his popularity to the fact "that people are genuinely curious about what was considered tasty back in the day," citing the rise of similar creators like B. Dylan Hollis and The Sandwich Dad. Sharing these often-forgotten recipes combines nostalgia, shock value and cooking into one, and offers viewers a small glimpse into mid-century American life.

Meanwhile, the supportive community of followers he's found on TikTok has left him "surprised and humbled."

"I'm just a goofball making sandwiches from yesteryear," he told Newsweek. "I had this as an Instagram account a couple years ago and it went [nowhere]. TikTok came along and I thought maybe it'd find a home there. Turns out it did."

As a result of his account's wild popularity, Enderwick started a potato-chip-review account, called @InTheChipswithBarry. It doesn't stop there: Enderwick is also launching another account, called @IceCreamOClock, "where [he'll] be making odd sounding ice cream—first up Cacio e Pepe!"

"It's fun to try out different food combos, even if you think you might not like it," he said. "You never know!"