inspired by vintage advertisements of canned foods from the 1950's, I wanted to create a fun kitschy vibrant picnic featuring an array of delights such as elaborately moulded jello, chiffon pie, and shrimp cocktail. Of course no picnic would be complete without ELLIE B'S BAKE BEAN CASSEROLE SPARKLER.

One of my favorite parts about vintage food advertisements are the strange recipes included alongside the ad, so I just had to come up with a whacky dish to accompany my new fictitious bean brand! Of course you can alternatively eat Ellie B's beans straight from the can, and be sure to bring extra to share with the ants!

When my oldest son was younger, this was the recipe we'd make together. It was one of the first ones we made together as a family dinner. Calling it "Cowboy Dinner" made it fun for him to pretend that we were all cowboys eating a meal after a long day. The yummy, smokey scent that filled the house, paired with cornbread always has made for a special memory even now that my little boy is a young man.

Kitschy, I know, but this is the recipe that reminds me of being a kid. We had a limited rotation of meals when I was growing up as my mom wasn’t much of a cook and relied heavily on simple recipes she pulled from magazines. Beans ’N Wieners Waikiki was one of those recipes. My sisters and I would always be excited when it was bubbling in the oven. It was a fun meal and a departure from much of what we ate, such as liver and corned beef. This is the kind of meal that harkens back to a different time and it is always a crowd-pleaser, particularly with kids. It is the first dish that comes to mind when I think of beans, in this case, navy beans. This sweet and simple dish will always have a special place in my heart, and I hope my illustration expresses the joy of childhood that it evokes in my memories.

My granny would make this soup for us when we would come over to her home and I loved it! I especially loved the way the weenie's were cut with slits and the neat bowls that she would serve it in. She also loved Weiner dogs also I had to include them in the illustration too.

For a taste of the Second city, follow this description. Create a Chicago style hot dog.

Food Geometry

The unofficially official hot dog of Maine, definitely of Portland, and certainly of Great Diamond Island. According to my father, it's best paired with a grape soda and a Clark bar. In short, a hot pink summertime staple.

Baked Beans and mini hot dogs make a great meal for a camping trip.

This is a deep south recipe invented by my great grandfather and handed down to me through my father! Making this breakfast with him are some of my fondest memories, as you can see in the photos.

CCAD Illustration Student

Launch your taste buds into space with this vintage recipe featuring an other-worldly combination.

I'm a CCAD student and This is my version of Pigs in a Blanket Recipe because I can't eat bread

Great addition to all of your spooky celebrations!

Easy, simple...

Kent State University student

A recipe my mom used to make me for lunch when I was little. CCAD