The Armed Forces Recipe Service, or AFRS.

The AFRS contains all of the recipes used by the US Armed Force’s culinary professionals. The recipes are printed on large index cards and each prepares 100 portions of an item, which makes it easy to adjust the yield up or down. The cards live in a large wood or metal box, two boxes actually, one for the main dining facility and the other for the bakery. As far as I know, they are still used in many military dining facilities.

Here’s the recipe for grilled cheese sandwiches:

This is the recipe box I remember:

You can download the most current version of the AFRS, all of it, by clicking this link:

If you’re adventurous, try a recipe or two. They’re all easy to prepare and the recipes work. They’re tested extensively before they make it into the AFRS. Just remember each recipe is for 100 portions, so you’ll have to convert them, unless you’ve got 99 friends coming over.

Try the Savory Baked Chicken. It’s pretty damn good.