Nostalgia / n / the desire to return to some earlier time in one’s life, or a fond remembrance of that time. The Chambers Dictionary, 10th edition
April has been deemed by Bidfood to be the month of nostalgic remembrance and so we’re getting sentimental and looking back over some favourite classic recipes, music and games. We’re asking you too, what makes you feel nostalgic?
Favourite foods
Many of our residents will recall the days of rations and have fond memories of the food that was lovingly prepared by their parents with simple ingredients.
Corned beef hash
A hearty, crispy dish that can be served with green vegetables and gravy, or baked beans and ketchup.
Just fry chopped boiled potatoes together with onions and a tin of crumbled corned beef. Press the mixture carefully with a masher so as to make a patty, without breaking the texture up too much. Sprinkle with Worcestershire Sauce, flip and crisp up – ready in just a few minutes!
Fried mashed potato can also be used to make bubble and squeak, a fantastic Monday tea using up the leftover vegetables from the Sunday roast…
Bread and butter pudding
Using up leftovers, and utilising ingredients that could keep for a long time was a running theme ‘back in the day’ and bread and butter pudding epitomises this ethos like no other.
Stale bread was spread with the last of the butter or margarine (often whipped to make it go further) and layered with raisins or sultanas (if you had them). Custard was then made up from a powdered product like Bird’s and poured over the whole dish before baking until the edges went golden brown.
Of course, these days, there are much more decadent recipes that use cream and egg yolks for the custard – no longer the ‘poor man’s pudding’!
Nostalgic music your mom and dad probably danced to
It’s not always easy to picture your parents as young people, dating – or courting… But we see faces light up when we go back in time with music.
Crooners and swing singers
The late 30s was known for big band and swing music from the likes of Glenn Miller, Duke Ellington and the Andrew Sisters. Perfect to get moving and work up an appetite to, or if you’re thinking of something a little more romantic, how about Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby or Ella Fitzgerald?
If you haven’t ever listened to music from the 30’s before, we recommend giving it a try, although you’ll probably ask your smart speaker to play it rather than dig out an old LP…
Time for family fun
Weekend fun and games
How old do you suppose Scrabble and Monopoly are? Yep, they’re both in their mid-90s and are perfect for quietly enjoying each other’s company, when memories and sentimentality may come to the forefront of conversation.
Other games that can get you moving gently are marbles, blow football and ring toss. All of which are on our activities list.
Or on fine days, how about a version of bowling or croquet in the garden?
How will you mark Nostalgia Month?
So, what makes you think back to your favourite days? Are there any treasured meals that mom or dad used to make that snap you right back to the family dinner table? Can you imagine what kind of music your future care home will be playing to invoke happy memories of your youth?!
Perhaps Ash Lodge will soon be stocking up on old computer games and ABBA…
Sometimes it’s nice to spend time in the past, how will you mark April as Nostalgia month this year?
