My great aunt's 'secret' meatloaf ingredient was just a packet of onion soup mix

I was going through my mom's old recipe box from the 80s, you know the one with the little cards in plastic sleeves. I found the family meatloaf recipe that everyone raves about at reunions. It was written in my great aunt Betty's handwriting and said 'add the special seasoning' with a little star. I always thought it was some blend of herbs she made. Turns out, I called my mom to ask and she laughed. She said, 'Honey, that's just a packet of Lipton onion soup mix. She thought it sounded fancier to call it a secret.' I've been making it for a decade thinking it was this guarded family trick. Has anyone else had a family recipe mystery turn out to be something totally simple like that?

2 comments

2 Comments

terrywilson19d ago

Was your great aunt also the type to call margarine "oleo" like it was some fancy French thing? That soup mix trick was everywhere back then. My grandma's famous "herb crusted" pork chops were just shake and bake with extra pepper. I feel like that whole generation had a pact to make everyday stuff sound magical. The real secret was just not having to chop onions, lol.

jennifer_mitchell5318d ago

Omg yes, that fake fancy naming was everything! My mom's "gourmet" green bean casserole was just canned soup and those fried onions from a can. They really did have a gift for making cheap shortcuts sound like a big deal.