Childhood, Food, Recipes

Mom’s Shrimp Dip Reminds Me of the 70’s

Writer McWriterson

I have vague memories of the 1970s.
I say vague because I only remember bits and pieces of that decade because I was only ages 0-9 at the time.

But, thanks to photographs, I recall my father wearing a lot of plaid pants and my mother wearing owl necklaces, bandanas in her long hair, and a lot of bell-bottom pants. 😊

To say that my favorite memories revolve around food is an understatement.
My parents could have saved a lot of money on road trips and name brand cereal if they had known this when I was born.


My childhood kitchen

Almost every good memory I have as I’ve grown up is accompanied by an equally yummy recipe.

My mom and I in 1980

Christmas used to be synonymous with chocolate crinkle cookies and bacon-wrapped water chestnuts.
Halloween instantly transports me back to apple cider, homemade donuts, and hot macaroni and cheese.

I can smell the apples being cooked for the homemade applesauce made from orchard-picked produce, as well as the tomatoes being boiled in preparation for canning for homemade spaghetti sauce.

To this day, making waffles on a rainy Saturday morning transports me back in time so vividly that I can hear my father’s newspaper rustling in the other room.

My childhood Ohio kitchen

Because appetizers are one of my favorite foods, I plan an entire meal around them a few times a year.
Because appetizers do not require the same level of dedication as ham, meatloaf, or even grilled hamburgers.

Even if you prefer fancier appetizers like brie, simply place the cheese on a plate, insert a knife, and top with fancy crackers (or just Triscuits, as we do), and you’ve got yourself a meal.

My childhood kitchen

My mother’s shrimp dip was a childhood favorite appetizer.
When we had a get-together, we would all ask mom to make it.
It wouldn’t have been a party without it.

My baby shower?
Shrimp Dip.
Our rehearsal dinner?
Shrimp Dip.
Getaway weekend in Louisville, Kentucky?
Mom brought shrimp dip.

My husband and children, who are the pickiest eaters on the planet, love it as well.
Ella is oblivious that there are actual fish in the dip.

AND DON’T YOU DARE TELL HER.

We serve appetizers for dinner every year when we put up our Christmas tree.
We sit around the table and eat a variety of appetizers.
Dips, cheese balls, and mini corn dogs are served some years.
Other options include pizza rolls, chicken tenders, cheese, and crackers.
However, it always includes Mom’s shrimp dip.

With each bite, it transports me back to the sunken family room in suburban Chicago, Illinois, in 1976.
We are listening to Stevie Wonder sing Christmas songs while decorating our artificial tree with handmade ornaments and macrame Santas.
It’s amazing how food can transport you back in time.

A special thanks to Terrie, a family friend who approached me about writing this post.
She remembers the parties my parents threw in the 1970s and, of course, that delicious shrimp dip.

Mom’s Shrimp Dip

1 small can of shrimp ( drained and rinsed )
1/2 C. celery, chopped fine
1/4 C. green onion, chopped fine
1 1/2 Tbsp. lemon juice
1/2 C. Miracle Whip ( we substitute mayonnaise now)
1 small ( 3 oz. ) cream cheese, softened
Ritz crackers or Triscuit crackers

Chill everything except the crackers until ready to serve.

8 thoughts on “Mom’s Shrimp Dip Reminds Me of the 70’s”

  1. Just about every memory I have from childhood has a taste attached to it. I love your food memories, and that we are making some of our own together. Pie, anyone?

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  2. A) I know that sliding glass door B) If I come see you, will you make shrimp dip? C) Thank you…..brings me right back to many great memories, with the Stevie Wonder in the background…and some ABBA

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      1. I can’t remember my mom’s recipe exactly and I’ve seen many variations. I want to come as close as possible to hers.

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  5. Too funny. I recently found a few cans of Cream of Shrimp soup (Campbell’s of course) & it flashed me back to my mom’s parties with Shrimp dip. Only after I bought all three cans did I remember that the Campbell’s she used was a frozen “can”, similar to a concentrated juice can.

    But, I soldiered on and this week bought a package of cream cheese and added a can of the soup/ some finely chopped onion and celery/ and a healthy selection of fresh steamed NC shrimp (spiced with Old Bay).

    After chilling it, it was better than my first sampling of it. A bit thinner than I expected (likely from the fresh shrimp needing to be blotted more) but it actually tasted good. It wasn’t my mom’s or maybe it was – maybe tastes have grown more sophisticated or maybe taste buds are aging. What really amazed me was my finicky spouse actually ate some and said it was great/not to add a thing to it. That was a startling thing as he is somewhat a pill when it comes to viscosity. ( I figured he would find this “slimy”).

    So, discovering your flash back to the 70’s and Shrimp Dip along with the rest of your blog was great to read and perfect to have a bowl of Shrimp dip to eat as I read it. We’re in a bit of a different generation. My milestones of the 70’s were graduating from high school at the onset of the decade/college in ’74 and subsequent marriage and first child appearing on the scene in ’76. But shrimp dip and casseroles (the rice one with lipton soup and sausage/celery and piles of other stuff comes to mind) were surely a big part of that party scene.

    Thank you for a delightful, well-written flash to the past.

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    1. I’ve never heard of Cream of Shrimp soup and I’ve definitely never heard of frozen soup! How interesting! I will be sharing this story with my mom!

      Thank you so much for your kind comment. This dip recipe is still a family favorite. 🙂

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