Common Baking Substitutions Real People Swear By

by Amber GuetebierJanuary 10, 2022

We’ve all been there: all set to bust out your favorite recipe or do some baking with the kids and you find yourself short on a key ingredient. Whether you’re looking for a baking soda substitution or you are in need of an egg substitution, or it’s just not practical (or safe) to go to the store, we’ve got a handy list for those just-in-case moments.

photo: cottonbro via Pexels

Baking powder: The following are equal to 1 tsp. baking powder.

1/4 teaspoon of baking soda + 1/2 teaspoon of cream of tartar

1/2 cup plain yogurt + 1 tsp. baking soda. Mix dry ingredients together first before adding yogurt. dded to dry ingredients. (Reduce amount of water or other liquids).

1/2 tsp. lemon juice + 1/4 tsp. baking soda.

1/4 cup of molasses + 1/4 tsp. baking soda.

1/2 tsp. vinegar + 1/4 tsp. baking soda.

Baking soda:

Baking powder at a 3x ratio (i.e. 3 tsp. baking powder = roughly 1 tsp. baking soda).

Brown sugar:

1 cup white sugar + 1 tbsp. maple syrup or molasses

Maple syrup, agave nectar or molasses at the ratio of 2/3 cup liquid to 1 cup of brown sugar. Reduce your other liquids in the recipe by 1/4 cup each.

photo: evita ochel via Pixabay

Butter: The following are the equivalent to 1 cup of butter:

1 avocado (mashed)

1/2 cup applesauce

1/2 cup pumpkin puree

3/4 cup vegetable oil

1/2 cup buttermilk

1 cup coconut oil

Buttermilk:

Add one tbsp. of white vinegar or lemon juice to 1 cup of milk.

Cake flour:

Add cornstarch to flour as follows: 1 cup of flour minus 2 tbsps. Sub in 2 tbsp. of cornstarch. Sift together well.

Cornstarch:

As a thickener, you can add in flour in place of cornstarch at a 3 to 1 ratio (3 tbsp. flour = 1 tbsp. cornstarch).

In baking you can substitute arrowroot powder on an even basis, but it’s not a very common ingredient.

Cream of tartar:

1 tsp. white vinegar or lemon juice for every 1/2 tsp. of cream of tartar

photo: skitterphoto via Pixabay

Egg: You won’t believe the things you can swap for an egg in recipes! The following are equal to one egg in a recipe:

1/4 cup of applesauce, avocado or pumpkin puree. (Go! Go! Squeeze to the rescue.)

1/2 of a medium-sized banana, mashed.

Baking soda + vinegar: 1 tsp. of baking soda to 1 tbsp. of vinegar

Chia or flax seeds, processes to a 1 tbsp. of powder. Mix with 3 times the water, use warm water and let it sit for several minutes.

1/4 cup of pureed tofu.

3 1/2 tablespoons of an gelatin blend made by using 2 tsps. of unflavored gelatin to 1 cup of boiling water.

Pectin: 1-2 tsps added directly to your mix.

3 tbsp. of nut butter.

1/4 mashed potatoes or 2 tbsp of (rehydrated) instant mashed potatoes.

1 tbsp. vegetable oil + 2 tbsp. water + 2 tsp. baking powder.

Aquafaba, aka bean water! This is the liquid leftover from canned beans. Use 3 tbsp. per egg. This is great to sub for whipped meringues or when a recipe calls for egg whites.

Flour:

It’s Pretty hard to sub out flour, but you can create your own flour from dried oats if you powder them. Other flours, such as almond flour or coconut flour, can be used on a 1 to 1 ratio but don’t expect the same results. Liquids bind differently with these flours, so if possible try for a half regular/half alternative flour recipe.

Half and half or heavy cream:

Add 2 tbsp. of cornstarch to regular milk.

Melt 1/4 cup butter into 3/4 cup regular or skim milk.

Lemon/lemon juice:

You can sub in vinegar, orange juice, lime juice or white wine in place of lemon juice.

Powdered sugar:

DIY your own powdered sugar by putting regular (castor) sugar into a food processor until it’s…well…powdered!

Sour cream:

Add 1/4 cup vinegar or lemon juice to yogurt.

Yeast:

There isn’t really a great substitute for yeast, but in a pinch you can try using equal parts baking soda + vinegar (or another acid like lemon juice) to create a leavening effect.

photo: calum lewis via Unsplash

Other Clever Substitutions

Sub a little of your water for vodka and your pie crust somehow comes out flakier. And now you have an almost-full bottle of vodka on hand. Just sayin…

If you run out of food coloring, Use Jello to tint decorative icing.

—Amber Guetebier

featured image: Gustavo Fring via Pexels

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Kraft Heinz Wants You to Play with Your Food

by Jennifer SwartvagherOctober 15, 2020

Kraft Heinz wants to bring delicious fun to family game night. In light of these unprecedented times as families spend more time at home Big G Creative has just released the new Kraft Heinz Variety Game Pack. This three-in-one boredom-busting set of games is inspired by iconic Kraft Heinz food brands HEINZ Ketchup, JELL-O Gelatin and KRAFT Macaroni and Cheese.

KRAFT Macaroni & Cheese Game: Satisfy your cravings with the KRAFT Macaroni & Cheese Game! Roll the dice to play matching noodle cards and push Cheesasaurus Rex piece up the Noodle Meter … but make sure you don’t run out of noodles!

JELL-O Jiggler Slap Game: This card game is a quick-thinking, hand-slapping treat. Be the first to slap the correct card on the JELL-O gelatin flavor that’s called out to win. You might even have to wiggle and jiggle for your favorite flavor!

HEINZ Ketchup Dice Game: It’s HEINZ ketchup or bust in this press your luck game of risk versus reward! Roll the dice and collect as much ketchup as possible to score 57 points. America’s Favorite Ketchup game is definitely worth the wait.

“For most families, more time at home means getting extra creative with day-to-day routines and seeking out fun experiences in between,” said Steven Anne, creative director at Big G Creative. “Kraft Heinz has always brought a playfulness to the dinner table, and now we’re thrilled to bring that same spirit to family game night.”

The fun with food starts from the moment families open the pack, as each game is packaged like the original food favorite. For example, the HEINZ™ Ketchup Dice Game comes in a bottle just like the classic condiment, which also acts as a dice-rolling cup.

“We are always looking for ways to surprise & delight consumers who love our brands, so we’re excited about this opportunity, especially with the extra time everyone is spending at home right now,” said Chris Urban, Vice President of Marketing at Kraft Heinz.

All three games are designed with inclusive play in mind — whether kids play while their parents cook dinner or the whole family joins in together. The games are easy to learn, fun to play, and only take about 20 minutes — or about the time it takes to whip up a box of KRAFT Macaroni & Cheese. Plus, the games accommodate families of all sizes, allowing two or more players ages 8 years and older to go head to head.

Big G Creative’s Kraft Heinz Variety Game Pack is now available exclusively at Target stores and at Target.com for a suggested retail price of $19.99. To learn more about the game pack and how each game is played, please visit BigGCreative.com.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

All photos courtesy of Big G Creative

15 Foods ’70s Kids Will Totally Remember

by Beth SheaJune 16, 2020

Everything about the 1970s was totally groovy––except perhaps the food. Was there even such thing as a picky eater in that decade? Judging by the food, probably not. From neon green jello salad with entrapped tuna and olives to the dawn of the TV dinner and spray cheese in a can, read on for ’70s food you’ll totally remember—and would definitely pass on today.

Introduced in 1971, Hamburger Helper was a mind-blowing concept to people used to having everything made from scratch.

Jello salads were all the rage during the '70s. We just really weren't down with the varieties that incorporated tuna, olives and beef into the gelatin.

We all loved the sizzle of orbiting orange, galactic grape, and cosmic cherry Space Dust Sizzling Candy on our tongues. It truly lived up to the slogan of being "far out!"

Your parents let you eat literally pink, frosted Pink Panther Flakes because the box said they had eight essential vitamins. Perhaps the good Panther's sneakiest coup—pulled off by breakfast time.

The '70s birthed the bizarre invention of Snack Mate cheese in a can. You loved spraying it out onto Ritz crackers in snazzy, flowery designs, but if you didn't have crackers, squirting it directly onto your tongue worked just fine.

Ah, casserole. Some were better than others, but if you stomached eating Spam casserole as a tyke, you have a mealtime horror story to share with your kids.

Parents loved Spaghetti-Os (mess-free pasta!). But the Spaghetti-O Jello takes things a bit too far. No one needs to be able to slice off a chunk of gelatinous pasta. However, if you lived through the '70s, you most likely did.

Anyone growing up in the '70s undoubtedly had a parent with a strong affinity for Tab. Bonus points if you recall watching your mom crack one open while floating on a raft in a swimming pool.

Making your own TV dinner as a kid was a rite of passage (oven mitts, no microwave!). But the Salisbury steak, mashed potatoes and the small square dessert of chocolate cake or apple or cherry pie made it all worth it.

Who could forget the tagline in the commercial for Freshen Up Gum "the gum that goes squirt: love that squirt"? Biting the gum sent a burst of minty or fruity gel into your mouth and promised fresh breath. We just thought it was fun.

Kids of the '70s were munching on homemade Chex Mix long before the pre-packaged version debuted in 1985. We bet you helped your mom stir the ingredients together into melted butter and then ate it all up before it even cooled.

Jell-O 1-2-3. You thought it was pure magic watching one mix separate into three layers to form a creamy top, mousse center and Jello on the bottom.

Remember turning Mug-o-Lunch into a dish of mac and cheese, spaghetti marinara or beef noodles by simply adding hot water and giving it a stir?

Libbyland Dinners. Who could resist those frozen meals with names like Safari Supper, Sea Diver's Dinner and Pirate's Picnic? The pop-up packaging that doubled as a plaything was cool, but chicken called "Fried Parrot" and artificially flavored grape applesauce made these meals barely edible!

You may have thought deviled eggs really were devilish party treats as a kid. Sometimes too flavorful, topped with olives, paprika and sometimes sardines, if we just rinsed off the top and ate the "white part" we were fine.

––Beth Shea

21 Random Snacks We Ate in the 1970s & 1980s

Food ’90s Kids Grew Up On

12 Art Projects That Double As Snacks

by Nikki WalshSeptember 20, 2017

Get ready to double down on pure parenting genius with a little edible art. We’re talking easy projects that kids can actually do (then eat, of course!). From jiggly JELL-O art to Picasso-style pizza, we’ve rounded up 12 super-creative projects that totally satisfy. Scroll down for the scoop.

photo: Sarah Zimmerman via Repeat Crafter Me

1. Crafty Cakes
These adorable rice cake owls are a hoot, plus they’re an easy snack the kids can make on their own. Grab a package of rice cakes, a jar of your crew’s favorite spread, and head over to Repeat Crafter Me for the details.

photo: courtesy Almost Unschoolers

2. Abstract Edibles
Give your kids a Kandinsky-esque art lesson with this color study recipe we spotted over at Almost Unschoolers. You’ll need plain cookie dough, food coloring, and butter knives for cutting and shaping the dough. Get the details over at Almost Unschoolers.

photo: Toddler Approved

3. Train Treats
We really like the fact little engineers can build and then eat this activity. It scores low on the messiness scale and can be made with pantry staples (think bananas and cheese slices). Roll on over to Toddler Approved for the details of this transportation creation.

photo: A Little Pinch of Perfect

4. JELL-OJigglers
A creative canvas that’s still scrumptious enough to eat? Sounds good to us! Drop food coloring on gelatin, and then watch your littles swish, swirl, and paint with delight. Let the canvas firm up, and then you can dish out a tasty treat. Get the details from Katie Pinch over at A Little Pinch of Perfect.

photo: Nikki Walsh

5. Painted Toast
Painted toast… it’s the greatest thing we’ve seen since sliced bread. This simple, edible artwork is easy to whip up; just pour milk into cups and add a few drops of food coloring! Your kids can mix the food coloring to make more colors (two blue + two red = purple). Paint, toast, and eat!

photo: Project Denneler

6. Artistic Expressions
Make your own photo face plates, which will add character and laughter to an afternoon snack all in one bite, with the easy step-by-step from Project Denneler. The best part? The result will be a different masterpiece every time. Go here for the tutorial.

photo: The Seasoned Mom

7. Art They Can Wear
Threading things on a string never looked so sweet. Your little artists will get to work on hand-eye coordination, and then they’ll enjoy wearing their snack. Get the details at The Seasoned Mom.

photo: Little Hiccups

8. Creative Cookies
We’re totally sweet on polishing our little Monets’ fine motor skills. Your adorable artist will get a laugh out of painting a face on his cookie and then gobbling it up. Sally Mason at Little Hiccups has the tutorial.

photo: Pink Stripey Socks

9. Poke ‘n’ Paint
Tortilla art? Who knew! This project is easy to set up—all you need is lettuce, a spoon, a straw and food coloring. Small hands can poke and paint without restraint, and you’ll appreciate the easy everyday kitchen food used as supplies. Leslie of Pink Stripey Socks fills in the details.

photo: How About Cookie

10. Cereal Critters
This bearishly sweet oatmeal is a great way to start the day. Just serve up sliced bananas and blueberries and watch your little cub create cute furry faces. Selena Khong at How About Cookie is the creative mind behind these appetizing animal critters—check out more of her ideas here.

photo: Weelicious

11. Patchwork Pizza
Kiddos will love to create and then eat their own masterpiece. You’ll be stoked about the extra helping of veggies. Collect pizza dough, sauce, cheese, and toppings, then head over to Weelicious for the finer points.

photo: Itsy Bitsy Foodies

12. Mr. Baked Potato Head
This craft, created by food whiz Kelsey Hills over at Itsy Bitsy Foodies, keeps finicky fingers active (it’s fine motor friendly) and makes food fun. Bake a few potatoes and cut up some green, red, and yellow veggies for facial features. It’s an easy activity that’s healthy too!

Will you try any of these projects? Share with us in the comments!

—Gabby Cullen & Nikki Walsh

11 Creepy, Crawly, and EDIBLE Creatures

by Lauren HillSeptember 27, 2015

Add a silly case of the heebie jeebies to your kiddo’s afternoon with 11 snack ideas we’ve dug up for Halloween. Inspired by some of nature’s creepiest creatures—from spiders to snails, worms and more—these sweet and savory treats are squirmy, slimy and simply yummy. Dish em’ out and your hungry ghouls and boos will be bugging.

photo: Bakerella

Spider Cake Pops
One bite of these creepy crawly cake pops and you might understand why the old lady swallowed the spider. Wriggle over to Bakerella to learn to make these eerily delicious arachnids. Hint: The placement is all about timing!

photo: Mel’s Kitchen Cafe

Jello Worms
Mel’s Kitchen Cafe used straws and a package of gelatin to make this squirmy Halloween treat. While they might gross out older ghosts, these squiggly creatures are sure to be a hit with your little goblins. Super easy to make, worm your way over to the blog for instructions.

photo: Cute Food for Kids

Chocolate Bugs
These chocolate bugs from Cute Food for Kids easily transform any meal into Halloween fare. From spiders to centipedes, add these insects to everything from Rice Krispies Treats to toast.

photo: Fraiche Nutrition via Jillian Harris

Parmesan Snake Breadsticks
Since no meal is complete without the sides, Tori from Fraiche Nutrition created these serpent breadsticks as part of Jillian Harris’ Halloween menu. Store-bought dough will do the trick, but if you’re feeling ambitious try making your own. Slither over to the blog for the recipe and how-to.

photo: Like Mother Like Daughter

Dirt and Worms Pudding Cups
We dig this easy-to-make dessert from Like Mother Like Daughter. Great for serving the kids at your Halloween party, find the supplies and how-to here.

photo: It’s Always Autumn

Mini Donut Spiders
It’s Always Autumn created this fun food craft to get her little arachnids into the Halloween spirit. All you’ll need is pretzels, mini donuts and colorful candies to recreate this squiggly snack. The hardest part is not eating the supplies before assembly! Find the how-to here.

photo: Jenny Hobick via Everyday Occasions

Spooky Bat Sugar Cookies
Jenny Hobick of Everyday Occasions promises this spooky Halloween treat only looks complicated! Fly over to her site to check out the recipe and how-to video, and enlist the help of your little pups to decorate these adorable nocturnal cookies.

photo: Curry and Comfort

Cinnamon Rolls Snails
If the kid’s aren’t fans of escargot, try serving these sweet snails with breakfast Halloween morning instead. Pick up your favorite store-bought cinnamon rolls, and slither over to Curry and Comfort to learn to make this adorable pastry.

photo: Chelsea’s Messy Apron

Spiders on a Log
Chelsea’s Messy Apron put a Halloween twist on the classic ants on a log. Shockingly healthy, it’s the perfect pre trick-or-treating snack to keep your little monsters energized. Crawl over to the super-easy how-to here.

photo: Brooklyn Limestone via HWTM

Chocolate Mice Cherries

This squeaky dessert created by Brooklyn Limestone for her “Carnevil” Halloween party doubles as delicious decor. Check out the rest of the haunted spread at Hostess with the Mostess.

photo: Hungry Happenings

Creepy Corn Dog Centipedes
Hungry Happenings transformed ordinary mini corn dogs into a creepy centipede for Halloween. Complete with ketchup eyes, head over the blog for the full tutorial.

What creepy, crawly treats will you be serving this Halloween? Share with us in the comments below.

— Lauren Hill

9 Glow-in-the-Dark Games Perfect for Summer Nights

by Gabby CullenJune 23, 2015

Have a glowing good time this summer with play that’s perfect for the dark. It can be outdoors or inside with the lights dimmed; the choice is up to you! Scroll down to see shiny stars, glowing games and even simple science.

These nine marvelous ideas for illuminating fun will keep your late-night adventurers giggling long after they’ve cleaned up and hit the hay.

diylitebright_crystalunderwood_stayuplate_national_redtricycle

Photo: Crystal Underwood via Growing a Jeweled Rose

1. Luminous Lite Brite
Did you have a Lite Brite as a kid? Then you remember how much fun it was to see pegs light up in the shape of your favorite cartoon character. Making one of your own isn’t tricky. Crystal of Growing a Jeweled Rose provides several tutorials, and our favorite is the one suggesting glow sticks as pegs! Find other new takes on this classic toy over at Growing a Jeweled Rose.

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Photo: Asia Citro via Fun at Home with Kids

2. Gleaming Gelatin Stars
Star light, star bright, first star we play with tonight. Put the light of the night sky into play time by whipping up a batch of glowing gelatin stars. They wiggle, jiggle and make the water glow brighter by the minute. Find out what you’ll need to get the groovy hue over at Fun at Home with Kids.

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Photo: Angie Holden via The Country Chic Cottage

3. Glowing Grass Games
We dig this glow toss game from The Country Chic Cottage. Easy to make and easy to store, it’s the perfect addition to family field day, a sleepover or neigborhood BBQ. Find out how to make your own version by visiting Angie over at The Country Chic Cottage.

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Photo: Epic Childhood

4. Glowing on an Egg Hunt
Anyone up for a little late night egg hunt? All of the excitement with none of the sugar overload, we adore this very simple but very awesome glow game. Works great indoors or out, hop on over to Epic Childhood to find out how to make these plastic orbs glow. Hint: it’s not glow sticks!

nighttimescavengerhunt_jodie_growingbookbybook_national_redtricycle

Photo: Growing Book by Book

5. Light up Letter Hunt
We love this idea from Growing Book by Book. Scavenger hunts let the kids hone their detective skills, learn a thing or two and have a blast at the same time! Do it in the dark and the fun factor goes sky high. Supplies are simple, you’ll probably have almost everything you’ll need right at home. For the complete list and ideas, head over to Growing Book by Book.

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Photo: Play at Home Mom, LLC

6. Glow-in-the-Dark Tarp
Kids love tents and bubbles. What if it was possible to make a cross between the two? Play at Home Mom has done it, and the results are worth the effort. Several different types of glowing gear will work with this set up, including sticks, coded labels and a blacklight. Pick and choose, or try them all! Find out how to keep the bubble blowing by grabbing the full tutorial over at Play at Home Mom.

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Photo: Andrea Patton via Our Little Women

7. Sidewalk Games Go Glow
If you’ve got ample floor space that can go dark in a flash, consider going black light with the classic sidewalk jumping game. If you don’t have the equipment, it’s also possible to grab glowing paint and make your own version; just be prepared for less radiance. Find out which color tapes glows the brightest (and other amazing ideas for a Black Light Party) over at Our Little Women.

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Photo: Crystal Underwood via Growing a Jeweled Rose

8. Bright and Shiny Science
The glow queen does it again! We know oil and water don’t mix, but we didn’t know how cool the combo would look in the dark. Head over to Growing a Jeweled Rose for several tutorials, including how to make the glowing water, and which oil works best.

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Photo: The Dating Divas

9. Brilliant Baseball
This night time version of America’s favorite pastime is a home run. Set up outside and prep your gear with plenty of glow sticks, then it’s game time! We love The Dating Divas idea of having teammates wear glow bracelets for easy i.d. abilities. Find more cool ideas for glow-in-the-dark play over at The Dating Divas.

Yum Alert! A New Vegan Sweet Shoppe Your Kids Will Love

by Chelsea LinNovember 2, 2014

‘Tis officially candy season—our favorite time of year—which starts with pilfered Almond Joys from our little goblins’ Halloween stash and ends with the last of the candy canes nibbled just before New Year’s resolutions. And it’s no coincidence that Michael Chinn and Crystal Rice chose now to open their new Phinney Ridge candy shop, Violet Sweet Shoppe. Specializing in a small, well-curated selection of vegan sweets, the duo clearly know their audience.

photo: Chelsea Lin

Twice as Nice
Chinn and Rice aren’t new to Seattle’s sweet scene—the couple own a Laurelhurst bakery, also called Violet Sweet Shoppe, that puts out some seriously stunning and delicious egg- and dairy-free treats. Think beautiful fruit tarts, expertly decorated cakes, giant cookies, and even milkshakes. You’ll spot some of these baked goods at the new Violet as well, though they’re limited to what can be easily packaged and transported across town. Keep in mind that Chinn says even though Violet is entirely vegan, most of their customers are not!

Bar Class
Not that there’s anything wrong with a Hershey’s kiss, but the bean-to-bar chocolates here are the star of the show, and of a caliber you won’t find going through that trick-or-treat bag. Chinn says he’s chosen bars produced by small companies from all over the country that make their own chocolate in-house. Mind you, some of these sell for $10 a bar but, as we’ve learned with wine, you generally get what you pay for.

photo: Chelsea Lin

A in Aesthetics
Rice has an eye for design that shows in the newest Violet. An assortment of vintage plates and glass jars are used to display the wares, some of the prettiest bird wallpaper we’ve seen lines the front counter, and there are bouquets of fresh flowers. Bonus: Seasonal displays like the assortment of black-and-orange Halloween goodies you’ll currently find, make this space extra sweet.

Milk It
There are gelatin-free gummy worms and fruit juice lollipops and all manner of naturally sweet treats, but the youngest chocoholics will adore the bars from Chocolate Hollow, a Vermont-based confectionery that specializes in vegan “milk” chocolate that uses dried soymilk rather than traditional milk powder. If you like Nutella—is there anyone who doesn’t like Nutella?—you’ll want to try the hazelnut truffle log.

Special Order
Got a party coming up? Violet does much of its business in custom cake orders out of its Laurelhurst bakery, which customers on the west side can now place and pick up from the Phinney Ridge location. Order 48 hours in advance—just look at these Frankencakes below! Check out the full menu on Violet Sweet Shoppe’s website.

photo: Violet Sweet Shoppe’s Facebook page

Violet Sweet Shoppe
6410 Phinney Ave. N.
Seattle, WA 98103
206-297-4441
Online: violetsweetshoppe.com or on Facebook

Hours: Wed.-Mon 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; Closed Tues.

What’s your favorite candy to indulge in this time of year? Be sweet and leave us a note in the comments below.

—Chelsea Lin

Baking powder: The following are equal to 1 tsp. baking powder.

Baking soda:

Brown sugar:

Butter: The following are the equivalent to 1 cup of butter:

Buttermilk:

Cake flour:

Cornstarch:

Cream of tartar:

Egg: You won’t believe the things you can swap for an egg in recipes! The following are equal to one egg in a recipe:

Flour:

Half and half or heavy cream:

Lemon/lemon juice:

Powdered sugar:

Sour cream:

Yeast:

Other Clever Substitutions

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Introduced in 1971, Hamburger Helper was a mind-blowing concept to people used to having everything made from scratch.

Jello salads were all the rage during the '70s. We just really weren't down with the varieties that incorporated tuna, olives and beef into the gelatin.

We all loved the sizzle of orbiting orange, galactic grape, and cosmic cherry Space Dust Sizzling Candy on our tongues. It truly lived up to the slogan of being "far out!"

Your parents let you eat literally pink, frosted Pink Panther Flakes because the box said they had eight essential vitamins. Perhaps the good Panther's sneakiest coup—pulled off by breakfast time.

The '70s birthed the bizarre invention of Snack Mate cheese in a can. You loved spraying it out onto Ritz crackers in snazzy, flowery designs, but if you didn't have crackers, squirting it directly onto your tongue worked just fine.

Ah, casserole. Some were better than others, but if you stomached eating Spam casserole as a tyke, you have a mealtime horror story to share with your kids.

Parents loved Spaghetti-Os (mess-free pasta!). But the Spaghetti-O Jello takes things a bit too far. No one needs to be able to slice off a chunk of gelatinous pasta. However, if you lived through the '70s, you most likely did.

Anyone growing up in the '70s undoubtedly had a parent with a strong affinity for Tab. Bonus points if you recall watching your mom crack one open while floating on a raft in a swimming pool.

Making your own TV dinner as a kid was a rite of passage (oven mitts, no microwave!). But the Salisbury steak, mashed potatoes and the small square dessert of chocolate cake or apple or cherry pie made it all worth it.

Who could forget the tagline in the commercial for Freshen Up Gum "the gum that goes squirt: love that squirt"? Biting the gum sent a burst of minty or fruity gel into your mouth and promised fresh breath. We just thought it was fun.

Kids of the '70s were munching on homemade Chex Mix long before the pre-packaged version debuted in 1985. We bet you helped your mom stir the ingredients together into melted butter and then ate it all up before it even cooled.

Jell-O 1-2-3. You thought it was pure magic watching one mix separate into three layers to form a creamy top, mousse center and Jello on the bottom.

Remember turning Mug-o-Lunch into a dish of mac and cheese, spaghetti marinara or beef noodles by simply adding hot water and giving it a stir?

Libbyland Dinners. Who could resist those frozen meals with names like Safari Supper, Sea Diver's Dinner and Pirate's Picnic? The pop-up packaging that doubled as a plaything was cool, but chicken called "Fried Parrot" and artificially flavored grape applesauce made these meals barely edible!

You may have thought deviled eggs really were devilish party treats as a kid. Sometimes too flavorful, topped with olives, paprika and sometimes sardines, if we just rinsed off the top and ate the "white part" we were fine.

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