My son asked for something nostalgic today.
By Marie Coyle
@MarieCoyle (60592)
May 21, 2026 5:53pm CST
When my son was young, for a time his great-grandparents lived next door to us. We planned it that way, so that they would have our help, but for some time they helped us, too. Son was very close to his great-grandfather, and the apple of great-grandma's eye, too--he was the only great grandson for many years. He ate a lot of lunches with them after they retired, and they were the best cooks, ever. Homemade everything, fresh vegetables out of the garden, delicious pies...they did it all and they did it well.
One of the old-time dishes they made sometimes was sort of a depression-era dish--macaroni and tomatoes. Never heard of it? They made it back then when times were tough. It consisted of chopped, home canned tomatoes, cooked macaroni of any type or shape, salt, pepper, and a spoonful of sugar. Sugar? Yes, sugar. If they had bacon drippings, a spoonful of that went into the pot.
People who make in now, often jazz it up a lot more than they were able to during the depression. Now there are recipes to add meats, cooked bacon, onions, etc. And of course, so many people also toss cheese on everything now, too. But son just wanted it ''how Grandma Lucy fixed it!'' so that's what I made. I left out the bacon drippings, we neither one wanted that. He has had a really bad week, has barely eaten anything for days...but he ate this! Two bowls full.
I call it a win, he asked for it, and he ate it and had a second helping. He wondered why it went out of style and people don't really make it anymore, but palates have advanced a lot, as well as ingredients. I couldn't believe how much he enjoyed this. Go figure, he usually likes dinners that require me to do a lot more involved cooking than this!
Sometimes, old school, simple things do taste really good.
**I forgot to take a picture of mine, so this is from Pinterest.
18 people like this
19 responses
@MarieCoyle (60592)
•
22 May
One of my favorites was the homemade coffee cake both grandmothers made--they were a bit different, but not a lot. All full of cinnamon with a brown sugar crunchy topping, served warm..oh, so good!
Like the macaroni dish, and your apples...they were simple treats, made with love in a simpler time. I still love them and I know you do, too.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (385141)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 May
@MarieCoyle My mother would make a cake with a sugar and cinnamon topping. That was yummy too.
4 people like this
@MarieCoyle (60592)
•
22 May
@JudyEv
My kids and I all love pretty much any dessert that has cinnamon in it, so good.
4 people like this
@MarieCoyle (60592)
•
22 May
The pasta I used looked like this and it was the same shape, but a bit smaller. I forget what name they gave it on the box. Son loves penne pasta for a lot of dishes.
Of my four kids, this son and his older sister are the two that are the most sentimental. And of course, Mom is sappy sentimental, I can't help it.
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (504928)
• Italy
22 May
@MarieCoyle - My husband also loves sentimental dishes, I made a Mediterranean chicken last evening, his Mom used to make it for him.
3 people like this
@MarieCoyle (60592)
•
22 May
@LadyDuck
Yes, men are often sentimental, and many times they don't show that side of themselves to anyone other than close family or friends.
3 people like this
@snowy22315 (210956)
• United States
22 May
So glad son enjoyed. Just walhat the doctor ordered..Has he been nauseated, or just not hungry?
3 people like this
@snowy22315 (210956)
• United States
22 May
@MarieCoyle 
Maybe they will be temporary.
Maybe they will be temporary.2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (60592)
•
22 May
@snowy22315
He did eat once today so far. He had a bowl of homemade chicken noodle soup, and he ate a peanut butter sandwich with it, which he asked for and fixed himself. About 5 PM I asked him about dinner. He said he wanted to eat about 7 or a bit later. (We often eat dinner late). So maybe he’s got his appetite back again.
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (60592)
•
22 May
He has been having some new symptoms and also been nauseous, so he hasn't been eating much.
3 people like this
@MarieCoyle (60592)
•
22 May
I hadn't made that in years...I had a little bowl of it, too. I forgot how good it tasted!
3 people like this
@rakski (158526)
• Philippines
22 May
@MarieCoyle
So true. I sometimes prefer eggs over those complicated dish
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (60592)
•
22 May
@rakski
I know I need to remind myself that simple can be really good!
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (60592)
•
22 May
Things don’t always have to be complicated to be good and satisfying,. I need to remind myself that more often. Thank you!
3 people like this
@JudyEv (385141)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 May
@MarieCoyle Hopefully next week will be better. I hope so.
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (60592)
•
22 May
@JudyEv
Judy, I hope so, too. He scared me. And I don't scare easily. But he seemed better this evening. Thanks so much, Judy.
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (60592)
•
22 May
It's not been the best week for him, I was just glad he thought of something that sounded good to him. You are right, many times, simple is the best.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (170198)
• United States
22 May
Yes, that is a win. I have a hard time getting Bob to eat, but he enjoyed the Krupsa and the lasagna, although he only ate twice yesterday. I never had macaroni and tomatoes. Mom did not think pasta was good for a person. I suspect she had some gluten sensitivities. Her sister developed celiac. You just keep on listening and finding things he is hungry for. That is all you can do.
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (60592)
•
22 May
He usually enjoys his food, at least most of the time. But for the last 10 days or so he has not been well at all, nor did he feel like eating anything. I guess that’s why I was surprised he thought of the macaroni dish. But it was a definite hit, he said he wanted to have it again sometime. I did some thinking and made a short list of some old favorites we haven’t had in awhile, I am going to ask him if any of those things sound good to him.
Being a caregiver seems to require using the imagination or being creative at times, I think.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (60592)
•
22 May
They were the sweetest people. They dearly loved having us next door to them and we did,too. Ah, memories!!
2 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (137701)
• Marion, Ohio
22 May
Glad he ate it. Simple things are the best
2 people like this
@RasmaSandra (99228)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
22 May
Talking about strange combinations I learned from a pioneer book to fry up apples and onions and that is always a great and delicious combination,
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (60592)
•
22 May
Fried apples and onions is an old German dish. None of my family was German, but one of my grandmothers occasionally made it. She said it was a really good accompaniment for pork, and she was right, it’s delicious!!
2 people like this
@Marilynda1225 (91631)
• United States
22 May
Glad your son was happy with that simple dish. Looks so good and we used to eat simple dishes like that too. Even now I'm happy with something simple. My grandmother was a wonderful cook and she had that can of bacon grease in the refrigerator.
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (60592)
•
22 May
I don’t hardly cook bacon anymore. We eat some in the summer because there is nothing better than a summertime BLT made with fresh garden tomatoes!! And yes, I have a little jar of bacon drippings I keep in my freezer, about twice a year I make fried potatoes for both of my sons when they are together. They love them and it’s a big treat!!
1 person likes this
@Deepizzaguy (123448)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
22 May
I am in agreement with you that old school simple things have great tastes like food.
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (60592)
•
24 May
I am just appreciative when I can fix him something he likes and it tastes good. And yes, old school is delicious!!
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (60592)
•
22 May
That sounds good, too. Funny how the simple and tasty things stick in our memories and still taste good.
2 people like this
@LindaOHio (223765)
• United States
22 May
I like a lot of simple foods too. I'm glad your son enjoyed the macaroni and tomatoes so much.
2 people like this
@LindaOHio (223765)
• United States
23 May
@MarieCoyle Hubby loved macaroni and beef with a tomato sauce. Simple but satisfying.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (60592)
•
23 May
@LindaOHio
I have made the macaroni and tomato dish with ground beef before. But he wanted it plain, so that's how I fixed it.
1 person likes this
@luisadannointed (11962)
• Philippines
26 May
Cool, you cook good food when you are depressed.
But anyway, great-grandson? Wow! That's a great blessings from above.
1 person likes this
@luisadannointed (11962)
• Philippines
26 May
@MarieCoyle I mean this "sometimes was sort of a depression-era dish--macaroni and tomatoes." , sorry, maybe it is a language barrier... English is not my native language, sorry.
I think that's normal, my cousins who are my grandmother's favorites, still cry every time they think of her, they even kept my grandmother's old cabinet and dresses. But I hope your son lights up a bit.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (60592)
•
26 May
@luisadannointed
I did not mean to sound overly harsh, I definitely just thought you were saying I was depressed. I get it now…yes, from what my own grandmothers told me, people ate a lot of meatless meals during the Great Depression. And you are fine, when we don’t speak each other’s language it can get a bit confusing at times!
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (60592)
•
26 May
I’m not sure just where you got the impression that I am depressed? I’m not. I just am not a depressed person. My son was a bit down for sure, he was not feeling well.
His great grandparents are all deceased now, he misses them.
@FourWalls (87817)
• United States
23 May
I like "cheap eats." Tonight I had rice and Ragu chunky pasta sauce mixed together for dinner. It was excellent!
Glad he ate a lot!
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (87817)
• United States
24 May
@MarieCoyle — and starchy carbohydrates are starchy carbohydrates! 
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (60592)
•
23 May
About a week ago, son asked for homemade rice pudding. I made it for him, and had a small dish of it...I forgot how good it tastes. I will have to make that again soon!!
Your rice with the sauce sounds like a fine dinner to me. Quick, easy and tasty--can't beat that!!
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (60592)
•
24 May
@FourWalls
And sometimes, carbs are just good food and make us happy. Everything in moderation...yep.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (129199)
• Gainesville, Florida
24 May
That's awesome that he honors his grandparents by craving a meal that they made. And I bet that no one else in the world can make it as good as the grandparents did (sorry, you may come close, but it's not the same). I still remember special meals I shared with my grandma as a kid, and wished for just a moment that I could share a meal with her again.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (129199)
• Gainesville, Florida
24 May
@MarieCoyle Now there's something you don't hear that often about people making! It's probably a lost art these days. My mom used to make homemade ice cream, and it was some of the best ice cream I ever had.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (60592)
•
25 May
@moffittjc
I am hoping to try to make some this summer. I know I can borrow an ice cream maker, and the son would love that.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (60592)
•
24 May
I don't know if I can match the grandma on this one, but son said I nailed it. That was all that mattered, haha!
One of the grandmothers had a sister, she was my kid's great aunt. She made the best ice cream in the world. It was simply incredible...we don't even try to duplicate it. I don't think we could.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (60592)
•
22 May
Yes, they can. I know I really like pasta with little tomatoes and a bit of Parmesan, simple and delicious.
2 people like this
@BACONSTRIPSXXX (18503)
• Torrington, Connecticut
2 Jun
It’s also interesting how recipes shift over time, but the originals still hold a kind of emotional weight that newer versions can’t really replace.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (60592)
•
4 Jun
I have to agree. Some things do just taste better made the way we learned to like them.
1 person likes this
