In the first couple decades of the 20th century, many women worked primarily in the home, taking care of children and making meals that took a lot of time to prepare. But when World War II hit, many women took on new positions once reserved for men, and therefore, cooking changed…permanently. With less time to cook, making many of the traditional recipes was out of the question, so quick and easy dishes became the new norm.
As a kid, I heard my grandmother talk about the interesting “new” recipes of the ’40s—and I started chatting with a lady at the nail salon about these dishes just last week. I decided to give some of them a try!
Using Meat Loaf to Stretch Ingredients
Though I’m not a fan of anything with the word “loaf” in it, my husband loved the traditional meat loaf I made. With simple ingredients including ground beef, bread crumbs, onions and ketchup, this is a quick and easy meal to cook. Many of the 1940s meat loaf recipes I found included the option to use onion soup if onions weren’t readily available, meaning you could easily have all of the ingredients on hand for a flavorful, protein-packed meal for your family.
Bringing Back the “Oslo Meal”
In the 1940s, people were concerned that children might lack nourishment due to the scarcity of fresh foods available. The Oslo meal was an experimental meals meant to ensure kids got enough nutrients, and it consisted of lettuce, cheese, cucumber, carrots and bread (served separately). It was served as a school lunch. And it worked!
Parents, I’ll be frank: This is basically what toddlers eat. Mine refused the cucumber and tomato, but it was still a super quick and easy meal because no preparation was necessary!
Using Up Leftovers in a Farmhouse Scramble
I’ll be honest, I waste leftovers and sometimes toss out food that goes bad. But as my grandmother said, a 1940s homemaker would never let anything go to waste. Her farmhouse scramble is super healthy, as you scramble eggs and then toss in leftover veggies (and cheese if you have it). Quick, easy, delicious and perfect for using up everything in the refrigerator.
Making Waste Not Soup
Speaking of wasting food, I talked to a few people raised in the ’40s and they remembered their moms just tossing food scraps in a pot and making soup out of it. The woman at the salon lovingly referred to it as “waste not soup.” I tried this with some ingredients I had that would have also been available to women in the 1940s. Using ground beef, chicken broth, tomatoes and veggies, I tossed these items together, and the result was really yummy and, again, healthy!
This experiment lead me to realize that I’m not all that different from women of the 1940s. I’m a working mom with a hectic schedule, but I’m still eager to get dinner on the table for my family. Overall, I learned that cooking a nutritious meal doesn’t have to be expensive or time-consuming to be delicious. Because the thing we’re really after is more time with the ones we love.
Find More Vintage Recipes You'll Love Today
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Sugar Cream Pie
I absolutely love Indiana sugar cream pie; especially the one that my grandma made for me. Here, we serve it warm or chilled and call it "Hoosier" sugar cream pie. —Laura Kipper, Westfield, Indiana
Classic French Onion Soup
Enjoy my signature French onion soup the way my granddaughter Becky does. I make onion soup for her in a crock bowl complete with garlic croutons and gobs of melted Swiss cheese on top. —Lou Sansevero, Ferron, Utah
Amish Sugar Cookies
These easy-to-make, old-fashioned sugar cookies simply melt in your mouth! I've passed the recipe around to many friends. After I gave it to my sister, she entered the cookies in a local fair and won the best of show prize! —Sylvia Ford, Kennett, Missouri
Contest-Winning Broccoli Chicken Casserole
This delicious chicken and broccoli casserole is a twist on chicken divan that came from an old boss. It’s quick, satisfying comfort food. —Jennifer Schlachter, Big Rock, Illinois
Creamy Grape Salad
Everyone raves when I bring this refreshing, creamy salad to potlucks. For a special finishing touch, sprinkle it with brown sugar and pecans. —Marge Elling, Jenison, Michigan
Easy Vanilla Buttercream Frosting
After trying a few buttercream frosting recipes, this easy buttercream frosting takes the cake with its unmatchable homemade taste. With a few simple variations, you can come up with different colors and flavors. —Diana Wilson, Denver, Colorado
Chicken and Dumplings
Perfect for chilly winter nights, this main course is speedy, low in fat and a delicious one-dish meal. —Nancy Tuck, Elk Falls, Kansas
Sour Cream Pound Cake
Because I'm our town's postmaster, I can bake only in my spare time. When I do, I especially like pound cakes. This one tastes great as is, or tucked under ice cream and chocolate syrup like a hot fudge sundae! —Karen Conrad, East Troy, Wisconsin
Never-Fail Scalloped Potatoes
Take the chill off any blustery day and make something special to accompany meaty entrees. This is the best scalloped potatoes recipe ever, and my family loves when I serve it. —Agnes Ward, Stratford, Ontario
Butter Pecan Fudge
Toasted pecans add a nutty crunch to this creamy, buttery fudge. I have given this candy with its wonderful caramel flavor as gifts at Christmastime and people always rave about it! —Pam Smith, Alta Loma, California
Lemonade Icebox Pie
You will detect a definite lemonade flavor in this refreshing pie. High and fluffy, this dessert has a creamy smooth consistency that we really appreciate. It's the dessert that came to mind immediately when I put together my favorite summer meal. —Cheryl Wilt, Eglon, West Virginia
Strawberry Pretzel Dessert
Need to bring a dish to pass this weekend? This make-ahead strawberry pretzel salad will disappear quickly at any potluck. —Aldene Belch, Flint, Michigan
Mama's Potato Salad
This old-fashioned potato salad recipe doesn't have many ingredients, so it isn't as colorful as many that you find nowadays. But Mama made it the way her mother did, and that's the way I still make it today. Try it and see if it isn't one of the best-tasting potato salads you have ever eaten! —Sandra Anderson, New York, New York
Classic Chocolate Cake
If you need to learn how to make a cake, this easy chocolate cake recipe is a perfect place to start. It appeared on a can of Hershey's Cocoa way back in 1943. I tried it, my boys liked it and I've been making it ever since.—Betty Follas, Morgan Hill, California
Old-Fashioned Gingersnaps
I discovered this recipe many years ago, and it's been a favorite among our family and friends since. Who doesn't like cookies during the holidays? —Francis Stoops, Stoneboro, Pennsylvania
Chicken Noodle Casserole
Everyone who tries this comforting, cheesy chicken and noodle casserole asks for the recipe. It's so simple to make that sometimes I feel like I'm cheating! —Kay Pederson, Yellville, Arkansas
Old-Fashioned Rice Pudding
This comforting dessert is a wonderful way to end any meal. As a girl, I always waited eagerly for the first heavenly bite. Today, my husband likes to top his with a scoop of ice cream. —Sandra Melnychenko, Grandview, Manitoba
Mamaw Emily's Strawberry Cake
My husband loved his Mamaw's strawberry cake recipe. He thought no one could duplicate it. I made it, and it’s just as scrumptious as he remembers. —Jennifer Bruce, Manitou, Kentucky
Amish Baked Oatmeal
The first time I had this treat was at a bed-and-breakfast in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. To me, it tasted just like a big warm-from-the-oven oatmeal cookie! —Colleen Butler, Inwood, West Virginia
Melt-in-Your-Mouth Chuck Roast
My husband and I like chuck roast recipes, so this slow-cooked recipe is terrific. You'll also love how flavorful and tender this comforting roast turns out. —Bette McCumber, Schenectady, New York
Banana Pudding
I didn’t see my son, Lance Corporal Eric Harris, for more than two years after he enlisted in the Marines after high school. And when I first saw him at the airport last fall, I just grabbed hold of him and busted out crying. Back home, the first thing he ate was two bowls of my easy banana pudding recipe. He’s a true Southern boy! It’s a dessert, but you can have it for breakfast, lunch or dinner. —Stephanie Harris, Montpelier, Virginia
Shoofly Cupcakes
These old-fashioned molasses cupcakes were my grandmother's specialty. To keep them from disappearing too quickly, she used to store the tempting goodies out of sight. Somehow, we always figured out her hiding places! —Beth Adams, Jacksonville, Florida
Classic Chicken Potpie
Our neighbors and a friend from back home are always after me to make "those yummy potpies". That's all the encouragement I need, since we really like 'em, too! —Ada May Smith, Citrus Springs, Florida.
Vanilla Meringue Cookies
Want to learn how to make meringues? This meringue cookie is light, airy morsels and the perfect fat-free treat to really beat a sweets craving. —Jenni Sharp, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Hearty Vegetable Soup
A friend gave me the idea to use V8 juice in veggie soup because it provides more flavor. My best vegetable soup recipe, this homemade meal is great to prepare on a crisp autumn afternoon. —Janice Steinmetz, Somers, Connecticut
Old-Fashioned Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
A pleasingly moist cake, this treat is the one I requested that my mom make each year for my birthday. It's dotted with sweet carrots and a hint of cinnamon. The fluffy buttery frosting is scrumptious with chopped walnuts stirred in. One piece of this cake is never enough—better than all the other carrot cakes I've tried!—Kim Orr, West Grove, Pennsylvania
Old-Fashioned Peanut Butter Cookies
My mother insisted that my grandmother write down one recipe for her when she got married in 1942. That was a real effort because Grandma was a traditional pioneer-type cook who used "a little of this or that 'til it feels right." This treasured recipe is the only one she ever wrote down! —Janet Hall, Clinton, Wisconsin
Sugar-Glazed Ham
This old-fashioned sugar glaze gives your ham a pretty, golden brown coating just like Grandma used to make. The mustard and vinegar complement the brown sugar and add tangy flavor to this glazed ham recipe. Be prepared to serve seconds! —Carol Strong Battle, Heathville, Virginia
Aunt Marion's Fruit Salad Dessert
Aunt Marion, my namesake, is like a grandma to me. She gave me this luscious salad recipe, which goes to all our family reunions, hunt club suppers and snowmobile club picnics...and I go home with no leftovers! —Marion LaTourette, Honesdale, Pennsylvania
Down East Blueberry Buckle
This buckle won a contest at my daughter’s college. They shipped us four lobsters, but the real prize was seeing the smile on our daughter's face. —Dianne van der Veen, Plymouth, Massachusetts
Aunt Lou's Fresh Apple Cake
My Great-Aunt Lou made a luscious fresh apple cake recipe that became a family tradition. My mom makes it for our annual beach trip to the Outer Banks. —Cristy King, Scott Depot, West Virginia
Tuna Mushroom Casserole
I love to serve this dressed-up version of a tuna casserole. The green beans add nice texture, color and flavor. The first time I made this dish, my uncle asked for seconds even though tuna casseroles are not usually his favorite. —Jone Furlong, Santa Rosa, California
Italian Sprinkle Cookies
These sprinkle cookies take some time, but, believe me, they are well worth it! My husband and I used to operate an Italian-American restaurant, and this recipe goes back generations. —Gloria Cracchiolo, Newburgh, New York
Old-Fashioned Banana Cream Pie
This fluffy no-bake pie is full of old-fashioned flavor, with only a fraction of the work. Because it uses instant pudding, it's ready in just minutes. —Perlene Hoekema, Lynden, Washington
Amish Breakfast Casserole
We've enjoyed a few hearty breakfast casseroles while visiting an Amish inn. When I asked for a recipe, one of the ladies told me the ingredients right off the top of her head. I modified it to create this quick and easy breakfast casserole my family loves. —Beth Notaro, Kokomo, Indiana
Hot Fudge Cake
Here's a wonderful way to top off a great meal—a rich chocolaty cake that's not overly sweet. Mom served it with a scoop of ice cream or cream poured over. I'd always have room for a serving of Hot Fudge Cake. —Vera Reid, Laramie, Wyoming
Cabbage Roll Casserole
I layer cabbage with tomato sauce and ground beef lasagna-style to create a hearty casserole that tastes like cabbage rolls but without all the work. —Doreen Martin, Kitimat, British Columbia
Lemon Chiffon Cake
This moist, airy chiffon cake was my dad's favorite. Mom revamped the original recipe to include lemons. I'm not much of a baker, but whenever I make this dessert my family is thrilled! —Trisha Kammers, Clarkston, Washington
Coconut-Pecan German Chocolate Pie
This German chocolate pecan pie combines the ingredients everyone loves in its classic cake cousin. It's so silky and smooth, you won't be able to put your fork down. —Anna Jones, Coppell, Texas
Moist Chocolate Cake
This cake reminds me of my grandmother because it was one of her specialties. I bake it often for family parties, and it always brings back fond memories. The cake is light and airy with a delicious chocolate taste. This recipe is a keeper! —Patricia Kreitz, Richland, Pennsylvania
Family-Pleasing Sloppy Joes
“My grandma gave this recipe to me years ago, but I made a few changes to give this yummy supper more pizzazz. —Jill Zosel, Seattle, Washington.
Swedish Creme
This thick and creamy dessert is my interpretation of my mother’s recipe for Swedish krem. It has just a hint of almond flavor and looks spectacular with bright red berries on top. Serve it in glasses to match the occasion. —Linda Nilsen, Anoka, Minnesota
Potluck Banana Cake
I found this recipe more than five years ago and have been making it for family gatherings ever since. The coffee-flavored frosting complements the moist banana cake. —Kathy Hoffman, Topton, Pennsylvania
Chunky Apple Cake
After taste testing apple cake recipes, I've found this particular recipe the best. Full of old-world comfort, the yummy brown sugar sauce really makes the cake special. For a festive occasion, top with a dollop of whipped cream. —Debi Benson, Bakersfield, California
American Lasagna
My family first tasted this rich, homemade lasagna recipe at a friend's home on Christmas Eve. We were so impressed that it became our own holiday tradition as well. I also prepare it other times of the year. This classic lasagna recipe is requested often by my sister's Italian in-laws—I consider that the highest compliment! —Lorri Foockle, Granville, Illinois
Peach Bavarian
Fruit molds are my specialty. This one, with its refreshing peach taste, makes a colorful salad or dessert. —Adeline Piscitelli, Sayreville, New Jersey
Scotch Shortbread Cookies
This simple three-ingredient shortbread cookie recipe makes wonderfully rich, tender cookies. Serve them with fresh berries of the season for a nice, light dessert. You'll get miles of smiles when friends see these at an afternoon tea or a bridal shower. —Marlene Hellickson, Big Bear City, California
Mom's Meat Loaf
Mom made the best meatloaf, and now I do, too. When I first met my husband, he didn't care for homemade meatloaf, but this won him over. —Michelle Beran, Claflin, Kansas
Pistachio Pudding Cake
Everyone who's ever tried this moist, one-of-a-kind cake can't believe it's a mix. The dessert is perfect for St. Patrick's Day…and you won't need the luck of the Irish to whip it up! —Suzanne Winkhart, Bolivar, Ohio
Pineapple Orange Cake
This is one of my favorite cakes. It’s moist and light yet so satisfying. I’ve been adapting it for years and now it’s almost guilt-free. —Pam Sjolund, Columbia, South Carolina
The post I Tried Cooking Like a 1940s Housewife. Here’s What Happened. appeared first on Taste of Home.
Julia K. Porter