35 Vintage Recipes for an Old-Fashioned Ladies Luncheon (2024)

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35 Vintage Recipes for an Old-Fashioned Ladies Luncheon (1)Cathryn Jakicic

35 Vintage Recipes for an Old-Fashioned Ladies Luncheon (2)Katie BandurskiUpdated: Mar. 24, 2024

    These ladies luncheon recipes are elegant enough to keep the occasion special, but relaxed enough to keep the gathering fun.

    The Best Quiche Lorraine

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    Nestled in a buttery, rustic crust, this quiche is filled with sweet onions, bacon bits and cheese. It’s truly the best quiche Lorraine recipe. Serve it for brunch or at a ladies luncheon. —Shannon Norris, Cudahy, Wisconsin

    Rosemary-Lemon Shortbread Sandwich Cookies

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    These beautiful shortbread sandwich cookies are always a welcome addition to our annual ladies holiday tea luncheon. The distinctive rosemary flavor, paired so well with the tangy lemon curd, has made them a favorite in our group for years! —Jamie Jones, Madison, Georgia

    Asparagus Crepes

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    I love serving these tender crepes with their light lemony sauce in spring. But my husband would eat them any time of year at all. In fact, it’s the only way he’ll eat asparagus! This dish is also lovely for luncheon or brunch. —Carol Hemker, Phenix City, Alabama

    Pina Colada Fruit Salad

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    Give friends a taste of the tropics on warm summer days with this refreshing fruit blend. For a little extra punch, you might add a splash of coconut rum. —Carol Farnsworth, Greenwood, Indiana

    Chicken Salad Party Sandwiches

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    Taste of Home

    My famous chicken salad arrives at the party chilled in a plastic container. When it’s time to set out the food, I stir in the pecans and assemble the sandwiches. They’re a hit at buffet-style potlucks. —Trisha Kruse, Eagle, Idaho

    Smoked-Almond Cheese Toasts

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    I created my recipe for appetizer toasts while planning the menu for a friend’s bridal luncheon. Smoked almonds add a special touch to the chunky cheese spread.—Laura Murphy, Columbus, Mississippi

    Ginger Mint Julep

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    TMB studio

    Mint juleps aren’t just for Kentucky Derby day! Enjoy one while gathering with friends for baby shower or luncheon. —Ellen Riley, Murfreesboro, Tennessee

    Classic Cobb Salad

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    Making this ham cobb salad is a lot like putting in a garden. I plant everything in nice, neat sections, just as I do with seedlings. —Patricia Kile, Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania

    Berry Tartlets

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    Bring spring flavors together in these delectable miniature tarts. Raspberries and blueberries both work well with the whipped cream and lemon curd mixture—or choose your favorite berries instead. These sweet treats are great for a ladies tea, brunch or spring holiday celebration. —Mary J. Walters, Westerville, Ohio

    7-Layer Gelatin Salad

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    Here's an eye-catching salad that my mother makes for Christmas dinner each year. You can choose different flavors to make other color combinations for specific holidays or other gatherings. —Jan Hemness, Stockton, Missouri

    Shrimp Salad Appetizers

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    Taste of Home

    This refreshing hors d'oeuvre has gained a big following since a friend shared her family recipe with me. My son says it best: The celery and shrimp are so good together. —Solie Kimble, Kanata, Ontario

    Black Bottom Brandy Bites

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    Taste of Home

    The idea for these bite-sized tarts started with little chocolate bottles of brandy. For an extra dash of fabulous, I place chocolate in the bottom of each pastry cup. —Arlene Erlbach, Morton Grove, Illinois

    Sweet Potato Crostini

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    For party time, I turn this sweet potato side dish into an appetizer by serving it on slices of a French baguette. — Steve Westphal, Wind Lake, Wisconsin

    Creamy Chive Rings

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    When I brought this savory ring to an extension luncheon, club members let me know how much they enjoyed it. Next meeting I had to bring copies of the recipe for everyone there! —Pamela Schlickbernd West Point, Nebraska

    Broccoli Quiche Cups

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    Make this crustless quiche in muffin cups or in a regular-size pie tin. Either way, there's plenty of bacon-y, cheesy goodness to go around. —Angela Lively, Conroe, Texas

    Pear Waldorf Pitas

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    Here’s a guaranteed table brightener for a shower, luncheon or party. Just stand back and watch these sandwiches vanish. For an eye-catching presentation, I tuck each one into a colorful folded napkin. —Roxann Parker, Dover, Delaware

    Strawberry Riesling Wine Spritzer

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    Nothing says spring like strawberries and wine spritzers. The tarragon and black pepper in this refreshing cocktail complement the strawberry flavor and really make it taste special! The syrup is also delicious in lemonade, iced tea, club soda, and gin and tonics. —Zoe Ann McKinnon, St. Louis, Missouri

    Aunt Marion’s Fruit Salad Dessert

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    Aunt Marion, my namesake, is like a grandma to me. She gave me this luscious salad recipe, which goes to all our family reunions, hunt club suppers and snowmobile club picnics…and I go home with no leftovers! —Marion LaTourette, Honesdale, Pennsylvania

    Potato Chowder

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    Taste of Home

    One of the ladies in our church quilting group brought this savory potato soup to a meeting, and everyone loved how the cream cheese and bacon made it so rich. It's easy to assemble in the morning so it can simmer on its own all day. —Anna Mayer, Fort Branch, Indiana

    Hash Brown Breakfast Casserole

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    This savory, scrumptious hash brown breakfast casserole uses an egg substitute for lower fat and cholesterol. Serve with fresh fruit for a morning meal that’ll keep your family going strong until lunch! —Cindy Schneider, Sarasota, Florida

    Sauteed Radishes with Green Beans

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    I’ve heard radishes are the only vegetable you don’t cook, but a cookbook from the 1950s disagrees. Green beans and wax beans round out this dish. —Pam Kaiser, Mansfield, Missouri

    Poppy Seed Chicken

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    This simple yet delicious dish is terrific for dinner, but the leftovers are a bonus for lunch. It reheats really well in a microwave, so you may want to double the recipe. —Janet Zoss, Jackson, Michigan

    Yellow Squash Soup

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    Taste of Home

    Delicate and lemony, this yellow squash soup recipe would set the stage for a memorable ladies' luncheon. It's the best of late summer in a bowl. —Heidi Wilcox, Lapeer, Michigan

    Creamy Chicken Vol-au-Vent

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    My friends and I have been getting together for "ladies lunches" for years. These vol-au-vents are the perfect no-fuss fancy food; they look complicated, but are actually simple and fun to make. Whenever I think of good friends and good company, I think of these savory pastries. —Shauna Havey, Roy, Utah

    Lemon-Lime Bars

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    Taste of Home

    This easy lime bar recipe is a dessert that will wow your guests. I baked these bars for a luncheon on a hot summer day. A gentleman made his way to the kitchen to compliment the cook who made them. —Holly Wilkins, Lake Elmore, Vermont

    Herbed Tuna Salad

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    Cooking for two is a challenge for us, since my husband and I do not care for leftovers. This well-seasoned salad with distinctive dill flavor is my favorite lunch recipe. —Rebecca Schweizer, Chesapeake, Virginia

    Artichoke and Onion Frittata

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    Taste of Home

    Fresh flavors make this pretty egg bake a delightful entree for a special occasion brunch or light luncheon. —Joyce Moynihan, Lakeville, Minnesota

    Almond-Bacon Cheese Crostini

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    Taste of Home

    For a change from the usual toasted tomato appetizer, try this baked crostini recipe. If you like, slice the baguette at an angle instead of making a straight cut. —Leondre Hermann, Stuart, Florida

    Rainbow Quiche

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    With plenty of veggies and a creamy egg-cheese filling, this tasty quiche gets rave reviews every time I make it! —Lilith Fury, Adena, Ohio

    Mini Chocolate Wafer Cakes

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    I first made these cakes for a friend when I lived in the dorms at college and had no access to appliances. Little did I know I would be making them 20 years later for my children! —Lara Pennell, Mauldin, South Carolina

    Pina Colada Molded Salad

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    My gelatin ring gets a tropical twist from coconut, pineapple and macadamia nuts. It's a wonderful anytime treat. Now that I'm retired from teaching, I have more time for kitchen experiments. —Carol Gillespie, Chambersburg, Pennsylvania

    Cucumber Canapes

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    I always get requests for the recipe for these canapes whenever I serve them. They're delicate finger sandwiches with a creamy herb spread and festive red and green garnishes. —Nadine Whittaker, South Plymouth, Massachusetts

    Originally Published: April 11, 2022

    35 Vintage Recipes for an Old-Fashioned Ladies Luncheon (34)

    Cathryn Jakicic

    Cathy Jakicic has written about everything from business and bacteria to beads and baking in her career —but she greatly prefers the last two. She is a baker and a crafter and loves to try new recipes for both.

    35 Vintage Recipes for an Old-Fashioned Ladies Luncheon (35)

    Katie Bandurski

    As Senior Shopping Editor, Katie connects Taste of Home readers with the best gifts, deals and home products on the market. An avid foodie and a holiday enthusiast, Katie is an expert at cultivating meaningful moments.When she’s out of the office, you’ll find her exploring Wisconsin, trying out new vegetarian recipes and watching Christmas movies.

    35 Vintage Recipes for an Old-Fashioned Ladies Luncheon (2024)
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