The Badge Archive

Cook with a Senior Citizen

*Inspired by an activity choice in the GSUSA 1980s program for Across Generations

Cooking can help us travel back in time! By making a recipe that an older adult loved when they were young, we can learn about family traditions, favorite foods, and how kitchens have changed.

When you cook together, talk about how food was made in the past. Did they use different tools? Were some ingredients easier to find back then? Are there any steps they used that we skip today because of new kitchen machines?

Take Action

Cooking & Conversation Worksheet:

👵 Step 1: Choose a Senior and a Recipe

  • [ ] I cooked with:
    Name: __________________________
    Relation to me:
    ☐ Relative
    ☐ Neighbor
    ☐ Family Friend
    ☐ Other: __________________________
  • [ ] The recipe we made:
    Name of Dish: __________________________
    Type: ☐ Breakfast ☐ Lunch ☐ Dinner ☐ Dessert ☐ Snack
    What it tasted like: __________________________

💬 Step 2: Ask Questions While Cooking

  • When did you first eat this recipe?
  • Was it made for a holiday or special time?
  • What ingredients were easy to find then?
  • Are any ingredients harder to find now?
  • What tools or machines did you use in the past?
  • What’s different in kitchens today?

🍴 Step 3: Reflect & Share

  • Something I enjoyed about cooking this dish:
  • Something that surprised me:
  • [ ] I shared what I learned with my troop or group
  • [ ] I wrote or drew something about our cooking time

Senior Citizens Cooking on YouTube

If you cannot cook with a senior citizen in person, you could watch a cooking video made by an elder online. Choose one where the elder shares a recipe they loved growing up and talks about how cooking has changed. Cook a dish inspired by their story, then reflect on what you learned.

Clara Cannucciari is a beloved nonagenarian who became a YouTube sensation with her series Great Depression Cooking. Clara shared recipes she grew up with during the 1930s, often while recounting stories from her childhood. Her videos were filmed by her grandson and became a treasured archive of frugal, flavorful meals and family history.

Fun Fact! A nonagenarian is a person who is between 90 and 99 years old

Here are some of her episodes:

  1. Great Depression Cooking – The Poorman’s Meal
    Clara prepares a simple dish of potatoes, onions, and hot dogs while sharing memories of how her family stretched ingredients during hard times.
  2. Great Depression Cooking – Pizza
    Clara makes a Depression-era version of pizza, using what was available and affordable at the time.
  3. Great Depression Cooking – Egg Drop Soup
    A humble soup made with just a few ingredients, showing how even the simplest meals could be comforting.
  4. Great Depression Cooking – Depression Breakfast
    Clara shares her morning routine from the 1930s, including sugar cookies and coffee made with care.

Clara passed away in 2013, but her videos remain a heartfelt and educational resource. Her stories and recipes offer a powerful lens into how cooking, tools, and ingredients have evolved.

Tia Kennard