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June 16, 2025
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1940s

Welcome to a journey through the food developments, cookbooks, and recipes that defined the culinary scene of the 1940s in the United States. Step back in time to an era shaped by the challenges and triumphs of World War II, where food played a crucial role in sustaining the nation. From rationing and victory gardens to innovative cooking techniques, the 1940s witnessed remarkable adaptations and innovations in American cuisine. Explore the influential cookbooks that guided home cooks, discover the significant food developments of the decade, and savor the recipes that captured the flavors of this transformative era. Join us as we delve into the pages of history and uncover the enduring legacy of 1940s American cooking.

1943 WWII Victory cooking booklet.;two women stretching meat budget.
1940s / Cookbooks and Booklets

1943 Betty Crocker stretches the meat budget

1943 Betty Crocker stretches the meat budget Seymour
Ida Bailey Allen, circa 1928.
1920s / 1930s / 1940s / Biographies

Ida Bailey Allen: first TV cooking show

Ida Bailey Allen: first TV cooking show Seymour
Home Economist Irene Ady of Texas.
1940s / Biographies

Beyond the Mills: Texas Heart and Soul of Irene Nevill Aby

Beyond the Mills: Texas Heart and Soul of Irene Nevill Aby Seymour
holding a large avocado.
1940s

1949 Avocados – Calavo and Hass

1949 Avocados – Calavo and Hass Seymour
1940s

1945 Fish & Game Sportsmen’s Cook Book

1945 Fish & Game Sportsmen’s Cook Book Seymour
1940s

WWII Women’s Roles in World War II – Revisited 1943 Cooking Booklet

WWII Women’s Roles in World War II – Revisited 1943 Cooking Booklet Seymour
Sisters working at a low kitchen table in the 1940s.
1940s / Historic Kitchens

1940s rural kitchen

1940s rural kitchen Seymour

Vintage Cakes &c.

1935 Blue ribbon winner from Hero, Vermont for Sno-Sheen flour.

1935 Winner of the Pillsbury Blue Ribbon, Ella Way

September 4, 2023November 7, 2023

Dainty Dishes booklet by Maria Parloa.

Maria Parloa COOKBOOKS and BOOKLETS

August 31, 2023October 25, 2023

Watermelon Cake.

1930s New Party Cakes for All Occasions – Gold Medal – Watermelon Cake, etc. – Betty Crocker cake recipe booklet

March 23, 2023October 9, 2023

Boy and a girl eating sandwiches.

The Versatility of Baker’s Yeast: Uncovering Forgotten Uses from Yeast Booklets on eBay

August 2, 2022August 15, 2023

c. 1920: A Selection of Choice Recipes

January 5, 2014August 25, 2023

Kitchen Stories

training a cook, first day luncheon.

Eureka! Cottage Life, Part II: Teaching the Cook, 1880s

September 19, 2023September 20, 2023

Davy Crockett's Tennessee log cabin.

Meal to Meal with Davy Crockett

August 13, 2023August 18, 2023

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