Enter Now: Here’s How You Could Win a $500 Target Gift Card

The holidays are here, and while they’re joyful, they can be tough on your wallet. Could you use a little financial assistance this season?

Here’s What You Could Win

As a total movie buff, I’m excited to share this! You could win a $500 Target gift card – perfect for holiday decorations, grabbing gifts for everyone on your list, or even just treating yourself to a cozy night in. Seriously, who couldn’t use a little extra something this season?

Here’s How You Can Get In To Win

Enter the contest by completing the following steps! Starting November 3rd and running through December 31, 2025, you can increase your chances of winning by liking, sharing, and following – each action earns you more entries.

This contest is open to legal residents of the 48 contiguous United States who are 18 years or older. A single winner will be chosen from all eligible entries received on January 2, 2025.

LOOK: Popular Dinners Americans Don’t Make as Often Anymore

Ambrosia Salad

This overly sweet dish, despite being called a “salad,” was a strange combination of marshmallows, canned fruit, and coconut, all swimming in a heavy, sugary dressing. It wasn’t good.

Chicken Cordon Bleu

This dish was really trendy, especially in the 1980s and 90s when French cooking was all the rage. It was a clever and modern creation – think of it as a cheesy, ham-filled chicken roll-up. It was considered very cool at the time!

Tuna Casserole

This dish is probably the most classic, comforting family meal of the last half-century. It was cheap to make, incredibly satisfying, and tasted just as good warmed up. Though combining fish and cheese might seem strange now, it surprisingly worked perfectly. Just enjoy it!

Jell-O Layered Salad

This bright and cheerful dish was a popular addition to farm gatherings and summer parties. It typically included shredded carrots and marshmallows, but surprisingly, wasn’t a hit with children.

TV Dinners

TV dinners were incredibly convenient, even though they took a while to heat up before microwaves were common. Kids especially loved the separate sections on the tray. Paired with a TV tray, watching Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color on television, and a cold RC Cola, it was the ideal evening.

Chicken à la King

Creamy chicken with mushrooms and peas, served over noodles or rice – it’s a classic comfort food! Think of it as a chicken pot pie, but without the crust. And that’s perfectly okay – it’s delicious!

Fondue

Fondue offered a fun, hands-on dining experience. Dipping bread in cheese or fruit in chocolate always felt warm and inviting, like relaxing in a cozy Alpine chalet.

Chicken Divan

Though inspired by the name of a French restaurant in New York City, Divan Parisienne, this dish didn’t really taste French. It was a comforting, old-fashioned combination of chicken, broccoli, a creamy cheese sauce, and a crispy breadcrumb topping – a real comfort food classic.

Liver and Onions

Liver and onions, often called L&O, isn’t as common a dish anymore. But it used to be a popular and healthy meal in many American homes, and grandmothers always made sure everyone knew it was good for them!

Ham With Cherries and Pineapple

This dish, often enjoyed during celebrations and special meals, was a popular throwback combining salty and sweet flavors. It wasn’t complete without maraschino cherries and canned pineapple!

Hot Roasted Beefsteak

When you need a quick and easy meal, a hot, roasted beefsteak can be really satisfying – especially if it’s cooked to have a nice, crispy outside.

Salisbury Steak

This meal was a classic, both as a convenient frozen dinner and a home-cooked favorite. I remember my family making it when we were out of hamburger buns – it was a great way to use the patties! The gravy was typically made from a powdered mix that came in a can.

Chicken (or Turkey) Tetrazzini

This dish was another typical, bland casserole, made with dry chicken, cream, butter, and a little parmesan cheese. It was often made after Thanksgiving or Christmas as a way to use up leftover turkey.

Deviled Ham

Deviled eggs are popular right now, so why not deviled ham? This old-fashioned spread was a tangy, creamy appetizer that used to be a party staple.

Beef Stroganoff

Rich and comforting, with a touch of Russian flair, this was international cuisine in our day.

LOOK: Remember Staying Home Sick in the ’80s? These Memories Hit Hard

That Vicks VapoRub High

It really works – there’s no question about that. As a kid, you’d remember your mom rubbing this on your chest and neck, covering you with towels, and suddenly your congestion would clear up, letting you breathe easily for days.

Vicks Cough Drops – the “Medicine” Candies

Honestly, these lozenges were really good, but I only liked the cherry flavor! They were so tasty, they almost made feeling sick bearable. They were sweet like old-fashioned candy, but had a little kick that made my parents think they were helping my sore throat.

The Dual-Purpose Green Tupperware Bowl

Most American families owned a well-worn, green Tupperware bowl that seemed to have a dual purpose: it was quickly put into service as a makeshift sick bucket, but then just as quickly became the go-to bowl for popcorn during family movie nights. And everyone accepted this without question.

The “Medicinal” Orange Popsicle

As a kid, I swear I thought these things actually healed you. I mean, a split orange popsicle pressed against your forehead felt amazing when you had a fever, and my mom always said the vitamin C was helping. Looking back, of course, it was just a cold, sugary treat, but the power of suggestion – and a good chill – definitely made me feel better.

Campbell’s Chicken and Stars

If you were ever feeling sick, this was the one food that always hit the spot – warm, salty, and simple enough to settle your stomach. But after seeing the movie ‘Weapons,’ you might think twice about eating it again. Those who’ve seen it will understand.

Saltine Crackers

These crackers were the perfect comfort food when you were sick. They were great crumbled into soup, or, as you started to feel better, spread with peanut butter for a simple sandwich. You could happily eat a whole box of these plain but satisfying crackers and be perfectly content for days.

A Can of Canada Dry (in a Coffee Mug)

Canada Dry seemed to only appear when we were sick, because that’s when Mom would always get it. It was sweet, a little spicy, and easy on a sensitive stomach—and she’d always serve it in a coffee mug, supposedly to help with your grip… just in case you needed to grab a bowl quickly. Ah, Canada Dry!

Your Mom’s Old Afghan Blanket

Yes, it was incredibly itchy, but also surprisingly comforting. That old, worn blanket – full of holes – was really the first weighted blanket. It was warm enough to feel cozy, yet breathable enough to keep you cool even when you had a fever.

‘The Price Is Right’

It’s become a familiar saying, but Bob Barker had a way of making even bad days feel a little better. You didn’t need to worry about prices or possessions; just watching everyday people excitedly guess and win a car was surprisingly comforting—it was as effective as any over-the-counter medicine.

‘Sally Jessy Raphael’

Sally had a unique presence on daytime TV – think a relaxed, yet confident, substitute teacher. She wasn’t afraid to discuss difficult topics, but she always made learning feel approachable and comfortable.

Watching ‘General Hospital’

If Mom was around, you knew what to expect: feigning disinterest in whatever was happening, while secretly being completely hooked. Later, back at school, you might casually bring up Luke and Laura during dinner, just to see how things were going with them.

That Large Box of the “Nice” Tissues

You were a baby who drooled a lot, so Mom always kept tissues handy. She had a big box right nearby to save the couch – and her favorite blanket! If your family liked nice things, you probably got the soft, lotion-soaked tissues.

The Old-School Glass Thermometer

This wasn’t a high-tech test—just a delicate glass tube placed under your tongue while your mother carefully checked for a faint red line. You knew kids on TV pretended to be sick with lightbulbs, but you were too afraid to try it yourself.

Actually Reading Your Scholastic Book Fair Haul

After being stuck inside sick for days, and getting tired of watching TV, you rediscovered some old favorites – like Dynamite magazines, Choose Your Own Adventure books, or maybe even Garfield or Calvin and Hobbes comics. It turned out they were exactly what you needed to feel better and pass the time.

That Weird Feeling of Actually Missing School

It’s difficult to describe, but there was always that feeling – typically around 3 in the afternoon – when you’d watch your friends head home and suddenly feel a strange sense of missing out. That’s when it hit you: you were finally feeling better, and able to leave.

2025-10-31 14:30