Lists

12 Summer Camp Throwbacks

August 11, 2014

There are some foods that just stick in your mind, and most have to do with summer: the first bite of a lobster roll on the annual family beach trip; the cherry stains all over the counter; the soft-serve with chocolate sprinkles after weeknight dinners.

Summer camp food has all of that sensory power, plus the added allure of being consumed in close proximity to a lake. Most of it wasn't that great, but the woodsy setting and the communal eating at family-style tables managed to make stars of unlikely suspects. In the thick of July, Choco Tacos went from lame freezer dessert to coveted dining hall currency, and grilled cheeses won cheers that belonged at the Beatles' early concerts. The spirit of summer is still alive and well, and we're bringing it back -- if only for tradition's sake.

Aretha Frankenstein's Waffles of Insane Greatness by Genius Recipes

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Aretha Frankenstein's Waffles of Insane Greatness

 

Mable's Texas Sheet Cake by Gibson2011

Mable's Texas Sheet Cake

 

Gabrielle Hamilton's Grilled Cheese Sandwiches by Genius Recipes

Gabrielle Hamilton's Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

 

Ima's Challahby Rivka

Ima's Challah

 

Barbara Lynch's Spicy Tomato Soup by Genius Recipes

Barbara Lynch's Spicy Tomato Soup

 

Peanut Butter Cookies by Merrill Stubbs

Peanut Butter Cookies

 

Hot Dog and Hamburger Potato Buns by erinmcdowell

Hot Dog and Hamburger Potato Buns

 

Almond Joy Candy Bars by Kristen Rosenau

Almond Joy Candy Bars

 

Martha Stewart's Macaroni and Cheese by Genius Recipes

Martha Stewart's Macaroni and Cheese

 

S'mores by Brette Warshaw

S'mores

 

Choco Tacos by molly yeh

Choco Tacos

 

Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream Pops by Jestei

Strawberry Shortcake Ice Pops

See what other Food52 readers are saying.

  • Posie (Harwood) Brien
    Posie (Harwood) Brien
  • Johnna Carreno Green
    Johnna Carreno Green
  • molly yeh
    molly yeh
I'm a former Food52 Julia Child Food Writing Fellow now studying law so I can make food fairer, more delicious, and more sustainable for everyone. I was born and raised in Montreal (mostly on poutine and matzoh ball soup), but in my heart I am an Italian grandma—I live on pizza and make a mean eggplant parmesan.

3 Comments

Posie (. August 11, 2014
this is the best, makes me crave a hot Vermont day, grilled cheese for lunch, and drippy ice cream cones from tiny corner stores
 
Johnna C. August 11, 2014
If you want a great Paleo/Gluten free waffle recipe click on this link - http://www.inallofhersplendor.com/2014/08/11/fitspiration-lindseys-8-weeks-to-body-back-week-1/
 
molly Y. August 11, 2014
many friday nights in my childhood were spent in the dining hall, ripping out the doughy innards of loaves upon loaves of challah and building up mountains of crust in the center of our table. oh how i wish that were socially acceptable these days...