Hi there! I’m Lanie, The Vintage Cook. I treasure hunt for the greatest, most delicious vintage recipes. These recipes bring back memories, spark conversation, and often taste even better today than they did years ago.
I launched TheVintageCook.com in 2009 as a hobby. Since then, it has become my home base for modern spins on nostalgic favorites. I research the history behind classic recipes and update them with today’s ingredients, appliances, and techniques. The familiar, made new.
Living in Kansas has given me room to breathe and space to create, but my roots run deep through the South and up the Eastern Seaboard. That mix of places and memories weaves its way into every recipe I write, blending comfort with charm, and old-fashioned flavor with new life.
Cooking Contests - Where It All Began
I entered my first cooking contest when I was 20-years-old, (Pillsbury Bake-Off) but it wouldn't be until 2007 that I won a spot at The National Cornbread Cook-Off.
Over the years, I’ve had the joy of competing in cooking contests across the country. Along the way, I’ve created winning recipes like Blueberry Almond Baklava with Orange Blossom Honey Syrup! I've made lasting friendships, and even met a few famous chefs.
Want to see where I’ve competed and what I’ve won? You can view the full list at the bottom of my How To Win A Cooking Contest page.
A Library of Taste and Time
I’ve been collecting cookbooks since I was eight-years-old. My collection now includes over 2,500 vintage and antique cookbooks. Each one is a piece of culinary history. Every time I find a new or old gem, I feel that same little twinkle in my heart.
People often ask, “How old does a book have to be to be considered vintage?” The answer is 20 years. That means anything published before 2005 qualifies. My sweet spot is mid-century to the 1990s. The casserole era, the JELL-O salad days, and the church supper classics.
My Recipes
All of the recipes on this blog are inspired (in some way) by vintage originals. Sometimes they are found on old recipe cards, newspapers, or cookbooks. I take these classic recipes and bring them up to date.
Many vintage recipes were written for home cooks who already knew their way around the kitchen, so they often left out important details. I rewrite them with modern ingredients, equipment, and clear instructions that make them easier to follow, more flavorful, and practical for today’s kitchen.
I do my best to track down original sources. In keeping with Fair Use, I generally offer only one recipe per book and always provide full credit/attribution when it’s available.
My Mission
I created The Vintage Cook to preserve, revive, and reimagine classic recipes for today’s home cook. My goal is to make forgotten flavors unforgettable again.
My Background
- B.A. in Broadcast Mass Media, Washburn University, Topeka, Kansas (2010)
- Certificate in Fine Pastry, The French Pastry School, Chicago, Illinois (2007) -trained under master pastry chefs Sébastien Canonne, M.O.F., and Jacquy Pfeiffer.
As an entrepreneur and creative home cook, I’m always interested in new opportunities and helping people feel joyful in the kitchen.
Always Classic, Always Home,
Lanie, The Vintage Cook™
To Collaborate and request my media kit, visit Collaborate.
Featured or Mentioned On
- The Barnes & Noble Cookie Bake-Off Cookbook
- Bob’s Red Mill
- Betty Crocker’s Big Book of Weeknight Meals
- Jayni’s Kitchen (TV appearance)
- KSNT-Topeka, Channel 27
- Topeka Capital-Journal
- The Oregonian
- The Food Channel
- Cooking Contest Central
- MarxFoods.com
- CountryLiving.com
- AlternativeMedicine.com
Thank You For Stopping By! Don't forget to follow for new recipes on Youtube.
Follow on Pinterest or Youtube!
About The Author
Lanie Smith is the creator of TheVintageCook.com, a vintage recipe blog founded in 2009. She has over 25 years of experience in home cooking and recipe development and has won national cooking contests. She holds a B.A. in Broadcast Media and a Certificate in Fine Pastry from The French Pastry School. Her work has been featured in national publications and television programs.