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Grandma's meatloaf, broken glass jelly and Weet-Bix slice.
Dishes like these are made from simple and cost-effective recipes. So, can they help families get ahead amid the cost-of-living crisis?
Jane Bowtell, the publicity officer for the Woy Woy Country Women's Association (CWA) branch, thinks so.
"The beauty of these recipes is you've usually got all the ingredients in the cupboard," she said.
"You don't need to go out and get something fancy that costs a bomb, and you'll only use it once."
This revived dish, "broken glass jelly", is made with gelatin, jelly crystals and condensed milk. (ABC News: Shauna Foley)
Ms Bowtell and other CWA members have been recreating dishes from decades-old cookbooks and sharing them on social media.
She hopes it will help families looking to save some money.
"We started [sharing the recipes online] during COVID because so many people couldn't access certain foods," Ms Bowtell said.
"But now so many people are feeling the cost-of-living pinch, it's needed now more than ever."
Jane Bowtell and other CWA members are reviving "old-school" recipes. (ABC News: Shauna Foley)
Tagged #recipeoftheweek, the CWA Woy Woy's social posts have proved extremely popular, sometimes reaching hundreds of thousands of people.
"It's the easy stuff, the basic stuff that people need," Ms Bowtell said.
"It's economical, which I think plays a big part in why it has been so successful."
CWA Woy Woy has been sharing old recipes on social media. (ABC News: Shauna Foley)
'Smells like my childhood'
Central Coast resident and fellow CWA member Suzie Roberts believes passing on these vintage cookbooks is a vital to preserving Australian history.
Ms Roberts grew up in rural Victoria, where the local grocery store had two shelves, primarily filled with canned food.
She said for her, the recipes brought on "a wave of nostalgia".
"It looks and smells like my childhood," she said.
Ms Roberts said the wartime recipes often made their way to the dinner table in her early years, when her mother would feed a family of six plus any stockmen working on their farm.
Ms Roberts said seeing the community recreate these dishes and save on their weekly shop has been fantastic. (ABC News: Shauna Foley)
"She was exceptional at rationing and cooking without much, and really knew how to extend and bulk out food to make it last extra meals — learning it all from her mother or these cookbooks," she said.
Ms Roberts said she had seen the benefits of reviving old dishes for families struggling with the rising cost of living.
Even for herself.
"It's been wonderful to hear from all these people potentially saving an arm and a leg during their weekly shop," she said.
"Because I've recreated many of these recipes, and they've really helped me stay on budget."
A step back in time
President Margy Ure owns century-old cookbooks that have been passed down through generations of her family.
Some recipes written within those pages have been replicated for the CWA Woy Woy social media page.
Margy Ure has kept old cookbooks that have been passed down for generations through her family. (ABC News: Shauna Foley)
She said it had been rewarding to share vintage recipes with a new audience.
"Some younger people might have never seen these [foods] before," Ms Ure said.
"I hope it can inspire a new generation to learn to cook."
"Especially during these challenging times when many families struggle to put food on the table."
Old recipe books often use simple, money-saving ingredients. (ABC News: Shauna Foley)
Ms Ure said uploading the recreated dishes has allowed her to 'step back in time' and is grateful for it.
"I see my mum, aunt, and grandmother in these recipes. They're right here," she said.
"It's a connection to our history and ancestors, which is so important that we preserve."
She looks forward to the initiative's future and hopes it can continue encouraging more people to cook 'old-school' dishes.