Shy; reserved; modest

Allrecipes email editor Taylor Boeser’s family had one of those dishes. The only recipe she recalls her father cooking—except for when he was commanding the outdoor grill—was a creamy tuna dish served over shoestring potatoes. Imagine how pleased she was when she found a similar recipe here on Allrecipes known as“It’s funny to me that it’s called Hard Times Creamed Tuna because it was always a treat,” says Taylor. “He learned the recipe from his mom, who was a homemaker when he was growing up in the '70s and '80s. His version included canned peas in the mixture and was always served over Pik-Nik shoestring potatoes.” (Pik-Nik shoestrings are a type of hard, crunchy potato sticks.)

“He was always so excited to make this for me even though others didn't love it as much (it's a pretty polarizing dish), and I have so many memories of it that I hold near to my heart, which makes it even better!” she says. “I imagine his love for it was in part from some of the memories he had with his mom, too.”If you’re familiar with—jarred dried beef cooked in a creamy sauce and usually served over toast, but sometimes served over

—then you’ll understand the concept behind Creamed Tuna.The tuna version is made with milk, butter, and flour with a can of chunk light tuna. Quick, easy, and inexpensive, it's also usually served on top of toast. There’s no mention in this recipe of spreading butter on the toast. Butter can sometimes be a luxury, so it makes sense that a recipe with “Hard Times” in the title doesn’t include any more butter than is necessary.

Taylor is not the only one in our Allrecipes community who has fond memories of this dish. Over 100 members have given it a 4.5-star review, and many have shared memories of how their families prepared the recipe and put their spin on it.

There seem to be endless ways to customize this inexpensive comfort food that makes Taylor feel nostalgic, even though it’s less than picture perfect. “The appearance of creamed tuna over shoestring potatoes alone is enough to scare people off,” she says, “but I would give anything to have it for dinner one last time with my dad.”, the 12.4-mile Karkonosze Express) are much easier and suitable for family trips.

for a 28-mile epic, passing peat bogs and lofty Dead Man’s Curve (Zakręt Śmierci) with its panoramic observation deck atop 3,471 foot-high Wysoki Kamień mountain.is a real crowd-pleaser with 24 miles of mostly gravel tracks and glimpses of the Izera and Karkonosze Mountains. If you’re on either route, it’s worth stopping at

-century settlement — formerly the home of Carlsthal glassworks — where picnic benches and refreshments await the weary and worthy. You can even spend the night here out among the tightly packed pine trees, with the option of shared or private rooms and camping pitches. It’s recommended that guests book ahead for peak seasons.is another pretty and convenient base for cyclists exploring Lower Silesian trails. Records indicate that the town dates to the 10th century, and there are remnants of its medieval fortress walls. The area is home to a number of ornate historical buildings, such as the 17th-century town hall and the baroque Exaltation of the Holy Cross Church. From the town centre, those with more mountain-bike experience can bounce along the Olbrzymy singletracks.