History in the Kitchen

This month's menu is going to be posted a little late, but this is what we ate for our Labor Day supper. It was a quick meal that is bound to be familiar to many of you. The menu came from the May 1940 issue of Woman's Day. The article was a round up of prize-winning reader-submitted recipes that included cheese as an ingredient....

First Monday Menu: Combination Cheese and Weiner Rolls This month’s menu is going to be posted a little late, but this is what we ate for our Labor Day supper. It was a quick meal that is bound to be familiar to many of you. The menu came from th…

Over the past week I watched movies from the summers of 1942 and 1943. All three got rave reviews when they came out in theaters and all are easily found online today. I wanted to see if I would give them great reviews in 2023. The red title links take you to Amazon, but all were available on several streaming services or YouTube....

Summer Movies Over the past week I watched movies from the summers of 1942 and 1943. All three got rave reviews when they came out in theaters and all are easily found online today. I wanted to see if I would gi…

Here are links to a bunch of the cold drink recipes I've tried over the past few years. The Two-Tone Fruit Drinks are fun and look fantastic. The Frosted Chocolate Soda is a nice alternative to a root beer float. If you like pineapple, try the Cranberry Pineapple Ale or the Pineapple Fizz. Of course, you can never go wrong with a…...

Cold Drinks! Here are links to a bunch of the cold drink recipes I’ve tried over the past few years. The Two-Tone Fruit Drinks are fun and look fantastic. The Frosted Chocolate Soda is a nice alternative …

We've had so many days in a row of 100+°F temps that I've really been searching for new cool treat ideas. I found this recipe for Grape Lime Ice in the very back pages of the July 1943 issue of Woman's Day magazine. It was hidden in a corner among some advertisements and some fiction conclusions. It wasn't mentioned in the table of contents....

Grape Lime Ice We’ve had so many days in a row of 100+°F temps that I’ve really been searching for new cool treat ideas. I found this recipe for Grape Lime Ice in the very back pages of the July 1943 …

I'm always on the hunt for interesting wartime cookbooks. This one caught my eye because of the intended audience. Come and Get It was published in 1942 by the General Foods Corporation. The introduction states that the cookbook was meant to be useful for mess officers, camp dietitians and institution managers who needed help with meal planning. The book would give them solid advice as well as almost 200 recipes that each made 100 servings....

Come and Get It: Cooking for Large Groups I’m always on the hunt for interesting wartime cookbooks. This one caught my eye because of the intended audience. Come and Get It was published in 1942 by the General Foods Corporation. The …

What better way to celebrate five years of History in the Kitchen than by putting up a new roundup of my favorites after a long absence. Life has a way of getting really busy, and before you know it, weeks have flown by. This blog is entirely for fun and is based off of some of my research. I'd like to try to keep to a better schedule for the rest of the year....

Celebrating Five Years of History in the Kitchen! What better way to celebrate five years of History in the Kitchen than by putting up a new roundup of my favorites after a long absence. Life has a way of getting really busy, and before you know i…

I don't often post recipe fails here. Every once in a while I share one because I have learned something from the failure. Sometimes I show those fails because they end up tasting so amazing that I have to share them anyway. (Talking about you, Gold Nugget Cake!) Today I am showing you a failed recipe just so you can have the recipe and do better than I did....

Valentine’s Day I don’t often post recipe fails here. Every once in a while I share one because I have learned something from the failure. Sometimes I show those fails because they end up tasting so amazing …

This little booklet seems pretty tame on the outside, but look at the illustrations on the inside! Plus, the entire booklet is about Jell-O products! Women in the 1940s used Jell-O much differently than we do today, so I was really excited to find this gem of a cookbook. This small cookbook is 26 pages and was published in 1944 by the Consumer Service Department at General Foods Corporation....

Dessert Magic This little booklet seems pretty tame on the outside, but look at the illustrations on the inside! Plus, the entire booklet is about Jell-O products! Women in the 1940s used Jell-O much differently…

About a week ago, I found a 1943 cookbook called Redbow Recipes in an antique store. It's a 48 page booklet that is full of recipes for the dried vegetables Redbow sold. I researched Redbow and only found their trademark application. The first time they used their name was in 1924. They applied for the trademark in 1937 and again in 1977....

Victory Croquettes About a week ago, I found a 1943 cookbook called Redbow Recipes in an antique store. It’s a 48 page booklet that is full of recipes for the dried vegetables Redbow sold. I researched Redbow a…

Hello again after a much needed break. I took some time off of blogging and social media over the last quarter of 2022 and am feeling refreshed and ready to take on another year of History in the Kitchen. I pulled out my 1943 edition of the Better Homes and Gardens New Garden Guide because I want to add a few more garden related posts this year....

Greenhouse Planning Hello again after a much needed break. I took some time off of blogging and social media over the last quarter of 2022 and am feeling refreshed and ready to take on another year of History in the K…

I wanted to add this extra link this weekend because this was one of my favorite posts ever. I'd love to hear your special holiday memories, too. Thanksgiving: Coffee, a How-To Guide for Home Front Housewives

Holiday Coffee I wanted to add this extra link this weekend because this was one of my favorite posts ever. I’d love to hear your special holiday memories, too. Thanksgiving: Coffee, a How-To Guide for Home…

My day job has been requiring more of my time lately, and I've sadly neglected my cooking and baking here at History in the Kitchen. This is my favorite time of year, though, especially when it comes to the foods we eat around the holidays. I'm looking forward at joining you here again with some new recipes to add to our old favorites....

Thanksgiving Roundup My day job has been requiring more of my time lately, and I’ve sadly neglected my cooking and baking here at History in the Kitchen. This is my favorite time of year, though, especially when …

These drop cookies are so addictive! The fact that they are small makes them easy to pop in your mouth. (Unfortunately it makes them easier to eat by the handful, too!) They are from the 1942 edition of The New American Cook Book. Recipe is on my blog. Link’s in my bio.

This simple drop cookie recipe comes from the 1942 edition of The New American Cook Book. It's an everyday recipe that can be used as the foundation for numerous cookie experiments. Add your favorite ingredients. Frost with your favorite icings. Or you can eat them plain, just as we did today. Results These cookies were slightly sweet and, while having a biscuity texture, were not too dry....

Drop Cookies This simple drop cookie recipe comes from the 1942 edition of The New American Cook Book. It’s an everyday recipe that can be used as the foundation for numerous cookie experiments. Add your …

This post is a little late, but I still wanted to add a menu this month. Our house has been busy with back to school preparations and planning. September is always such an exciting time here and this summer seems to have passed especially fast. This menu is from the September 1940 issue of Woman’s Day. This cover is striking to me....

First Monday Menu: September 1940 This post is a little late, but I still wanted to add a menu this month. Our house has been busy with back to school preparations and planning. September is always such an exciting time here and th…

Here is just one of the examples of 1941 hair tutorials that I have on my blog today. I am fascinated by how people dressed, accessorized, and wore their hair in the past, so step-by-step instructions like these are some of my favorite things. You can head over to my blog to see more. Link’s in my bio.

I am endlessly fascinated by how people dressed in the past, so I find the articles in women's magazines about fashion, hair, and makeup very interesting. I like trying some of the hairstyle tutorials. Here are some from the August 1941 issue of Woman's Day that you also might enjoy trying. Scroll down to find larger images.

1941 Hairstyles I am endlessly fascinated by how people dressed in the past, so I find the articles in women’s magazines about fashion, hair, and makeup very interesting. I like trying some of the hairstyle …

I have some recipes planned for later this week. After a horrible, dry summer we finally got a lot of rain. Being rained in makes trips to the grocery store hard, so they will have to wait until I can venture back into civilization. Until then, here are two hamburger recipes from the August 1941 issue of Woman's Day that will breathe new life into that household staple.

Help with Hamburger: Two Ways to Serve It in 1941 I have some recipes planned for later this week. After a horrible, dry summer we finally got a lot of rain. Being rained in makes trips to the grocery store hard, so they will have to wait until I …

It's been a while since I've done a book post. Since this week brought us National Book Lover's Day, I thought I'd add a post with some books the home front housewife might have been reading in 1940. All are still available today. Books For Whom the Bell Tolls, Ernest Hemingway You Can't Go Home Again, Thomas Wolfe Native Son…...

Books, Books, and More Books: 1940 It’s been a while since I’ve done a book post. Since this week brought us National Book Lover’s Day, I thought I’d add a post with some books the home front housewife might …

Since today is National Book Lover’s Day, I’m hoping you will share your favorite vintage cookbooks with me. They don’t have to be from the 1940s. Any decade will do. I want to see the ones you reach for again and again. Why are they your favorites? Do they have recipes that you love that you use over and over? I want to hear from you! The American Woman’s Cook Book is one I often pull from my shelf when I am looking for ideas.

National Book Lover’s Day Since today is National Book Lover’s Day, I’m hoping you will share your favorite vintage cookbooks with me. They don’t have to be from the 1940s. Any decade will do. I want to see the ones you rea…

The American Woman’s Cook Book is one I find myself reaching for again and again. Since today is National Book Lovers Day, I’d love to hear what your favorite vintage cookbooks are. They don’t have to be from the 1940s. Any decade is fine. What are your favorites and why? Do you have a favorite recipe from them? I’d love to hear from you!

I recently acquired some paper samples from 1945, and this nearly perfectly preserved shelf liner was my favorite! Look how wonderful it is! I remember lining ours as a kid in the 1980s, but the paper we used was adhesive backed. Do you line your shelves today? Did you in years past? I'd love to know!

Shelf Liners in 1945: Your Kitchen Cabinet’s Best Friend I recently acquired some paper samples from 1945, and this nearly perfectly preserved shelf liner was my favorite! Look how wonderful it is! I remember lining ours as a kid in the 1980s, but the pa…

Today makes exactly four years since my first post here at History in the Kitchen. To celebrate, here are a few favorites from the past year, as well as link to previous year's favorites. Enjoy! Potato Salad, 1944 Pear Cake with Dutch Hard Sauce Hearty Corn Chowder, 1944 Cherry Dessert Muffins First Monday Menu: Feeding Your Family in 1942…...

Celebrating Four Years of History in the Kitchen! Today makes exactly four years since my first post here at History in the Kitchen. To celebrate, here are a few favorites from the past year, as well as link to previous year’s favorites. Enj…

Earlier this week I posted about the US Bureau of Home Economics' diet guides that were mean to help a home front housewife plan low cost meals that were healthy and filling. This set of menus is from Plan B, a group of meals with more grains and vegetables than Plan A or Plan C. You can see the first two posts in this series…...

http://historyinthekitchen.com/2022/07/07/more-meal-planning-1942/

More Meal Planning, 1942 Earlier this week I posted about the US Bureau of Home Economics’ diet guides that were mean to help a home front housewife plan low cost meals that were healthy and filling. This set of menu…

Last week I posted a chart put out by the U.S. Bureau of Home Economics in 1942. This chart was to help the home front housewife create healthy meals for her family at a low cost. Woman's Day magazine created a week's worth of menu's that fit with the Plan A chart. You can read more about the charts here: …...

http://historyinthekitchen.com/2022/07/04/first-monday-menu-feeding-your-family-in-1942/

First Monday Menu: Feeding Your Family in 1942 Last week I posted a chart put out by the U.S. Bureau of Home Economics in 1942. This chart was to help the home front housewife create healthy meals for her family at a low cost. Woman’s Day…

In 1942, the Bureau of Home Economics, part of the US Department of Agriculture, released this chart to help guide a home front housewife through low cost meal planning. The May 1942 issue of Woman's Day included the chart and a week's worth of meal plans. Using the chart was fairly straight forward. Figure out where each of your family members fall on the chart, and use that information to help figure out the minimum amount of food each person should eat per week....

http://historyinthekitchen.com/2022/06/30/meal-planning-with-the-government/

Meal Planning with the Government In 1942, the Bureau of Home Economics, part of the US Department of Agriculture, released this chart to help guide a home front housewife through low cost meal planning. The May 1942 issue of Woman…

It's been so unbearably hot this summer. I found this ad for General Electric room conditioners while looking for recipes. What a relief it must have been to have something like this available after a lifetime of dealing with the heat. Air conditioning was becoming more common, but the demand for air conditioners really picked up during the housing boom of the late 1940s and early 1950s....

http://historyinthekitchen.com/2022/06/27/cooling-off-in-the-summer-of-1941/

Cooling Off in the Summer of 1941 It’s been so unbearably hot this summer. I found this ad for General Electric room conditioners while looking for recipes. What a relief it must have been to have something like this availabl…

I thought you might enjoy this Peter Pan Peanut Butter ad from June 1942. Scroll down for related recipes. I have a copy of a Peter Pan free recipe book. One of the recipes in it is for a peanut butter dessert sauce. I think that might be pretty close to what the company suggests to use on waffles. I’ll include that here for you. If you are interested in a sandwich spread recipe similar to the one mentioned in the ad, you might try this Chili Peanut Sandwich Filling.

http://historyinthekitchen.com/2022/06/23/peter-pan-peanut-butter-june-1942/

Peter Pan Peanut Butter, June 1942 I thought you might enjoy this Peter Pan Peanut Butter ad from June 1942. Scroll down for related recipes. I have a copy of a Peter Pan free recipe book. One of the recipes in it is for a peanut bu…

I don't know about where you live, but this summer has been extra hot, extra early in the season here. I thought I would add two more cold drink recipes for you today, and I'll link last year's Drink Roundup for several other great options for cooling off, 1940s style. These two recipes came from the June 23, 1944 issue of…...

http://historyinthekitchen.com/2022/06/21/two-more-cold-drinks/

Two More Cold Drinks I don’t know about where you live, but this summer has been extra hot, extra early in the season here. I thought I would add two more cold drink recipes for you today, and I’ll link las…

Here are two of the cold summer drink recipes I have on my blog today. You can find last year's drink roundup in the post, too, and that link is in my bio. These are both from the June 23, 1944 issue of The Family Circle and would be refreshing on a hot day like today! Let me know if you try them.

Here are a few movies that were in theaters during the month of June in 1942, 1943, and 1944. Most of them are easily found on your favorite streaming services so you can watch the same movies the home front housewife and her family would have seen those summers. There are lots of war movies here, but considering war was on everyone's mind at the time, I am not surprised....

http://historyinthekitchen.com/2022/06/13/lets-go-to-the-movies-june-1942-44/

Let’s Go to the Movies: June 1942-44 Here are a few movies that were in theaters during the month of June in 1942, 1943, and 1944. Most of them are easily found on your favorite streaming services so you can watch the same movies the …

My youngest daughters and I are gardening this year. We are looking forward to having our own fresh fruits and vegetables, and we are hoping to have enough of some things to can later this year. You don't have to have your own garden to make delicious homemade jams. A trip to your local grocery store or farmers' market can provide you with all the goodies you need to can your own jams and jellies....

http://historyinthekitchen.com/2022/06/08/jam/

Jam! My youngest daughters and I are gardening this year. We are looking forward to having our own fresh fruits and vegetables, and we are hoping to have enough of some things to can later this year. Yo…

Here is an entire week of menus for you to look at from the May 1941 issue of Woman's Day. They are for a family of four with two school-aged children. Can you imagine feeding a family of four for only $10.75 a week? The cost was based on the average supermarket prices at the time of writing. I really like that there are suggestions for each day to help adjust the menus for your needs or to make things easier to plan.

http://historyinthekitchen.com/2022/06/06/first-monday-menu-june/

First Monday Menu: June Here is an entire week of menus for you to look at from the May 1941 issue of Woman’s Day. They are for a family of four with two school-aged children. Can you imagine feeding a family of fou…

This spring 1942 ad for Ann Page Salad Dressing has a recipe for a strawberry cheese ring salad. I'm trying to bring myself to be brave enough to try it. Ann Page Foods was a brand sold only at A&P Food Stores. A&P was the largest retail grocery store chain in the United States from 1915 to 1975. The company started in 1859 and the final store closed in November 2015....

http://historyinthekitchen.com/2022/06/01/strawberry-cheese-ring-salad/

Strawberry Cheese Ring Salad This spring 1942 ad for Ann Page Salad Dressing has a recipe for a strawberry cheese ring salad. I’m trying to bring myself to be brave enough to try it. Ann Page Foods was a brand sold only …

My youngest girls and I were reading Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder around the time I stumbled onto this article in the May 1942 issue of Woman's Day. I thought it was a fun coincidence that it was written by Wilder's daughter, Rose Wilder Lane. I wanted to share the images with you since it is an interesting look at a real home in 1942....

http://historyinthekitchen.com/2022/05/30/rose-wilder-lanes-country-home/

Rose Wilder Lane’s Country Home My youngest girls and I were reading Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder around the time I stumbled onto this article in the May 1942 issue of Woman’s Day. I thought it was …

These Cherry Dessert Muffins are from the 1944 “Pillsbury’s Diamond Anniversary” cookbook. I’m including the recipe here so you can try them, but they are also over on my blog today. I’d double the recipe—you are going to want seconds of these. The top part is very biscuit-like, but the bottom is like a honeyed cherry dream muffin. So, so yummy. If you are looking to sweeten things up even more, I’d drizzle some honey over the top. And a little ice cream never hurts anything.

It's been a while since I have tested a wartime recipe. Spring on a ranch gets pretty busy, and sometimes fun stuff like baking tasty muffins just doesn't get done as often. I was really happy to get to try this cherry dessert muffin recipe for you. This muffin recipe comes from Pillsbury's Diamond Anniversary Recipes cookbook. Pillsbury published this book in 1944 to celebrate their 75th anniversary, to showcase some recipes from the past, and to introduce new recipes like the…...

http://historyinthekitchen.com/2022/05/11/cherry-dessert-muffins/

Cherry Dessert Muffins It’s been a while since I have tested a wartime recipe. Spring on a ranch gets pretty busy, and sometimes fun stuff like baking tasty muffins just doesn’t get done as often. I was reall…

I forgot to post about this month’s First Monday Menu! If you head over to my blog, I have an entire week of menus to help “dress up” meat dishes a little during the war years. The menus are from the May 1943 issue of The American Home. This victory scrapple recipe is one in one of the breakfast menus. Let me know if you try it.

This set of menus is from the May 1943 issue of The American Home. The folks at The American Home realized that meal planning was even more stressful than ever due to meat rationing and shortages that were changing the way women cooked for their families. These menus were to help "dress up" meat dishes to make them more exciting and/or appealing....

http://historyinthekitchen.com/2022/05/03/first-monday-menu-dressed-up-meat/

First Monday Menu: Dressed Up Meat This set of menus is from the May 1943 issue of The American Home. The folks at The American Home realized that meal planning was even more stressful than ever due to meat rationing and shortages t…

It’s April First Monday Menu time! This is from Margaret Hewett’s 1939 book “Party Menus and Recipes”. Two of the recipes are on my blog today. The Melon Ring Salad is a curious combination of honeydew melon, grapes, strawberries, and pineapple mixed with mayonnaise and topped with a French dressing made with olive oil and lime juice. I don’t think it sounds good, but it is similar to other fruit salad recipes I have found from this time period.