Thanks for Dinner: The 1940s
Thanksgiving And World War II

Menus: By Decade

Recipes: By Type

Major Changes Seen in the 1940s

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Menus for Thanksgiving Dinner become rarer, though whether that is because of copyright issues, World War II, the lingering effects of the Great Depression, or the assumption that Thanksgiving menus are already set is unknown. Many cookbooks and magazines mention "traditional" menus without actually specifying what those are.

Thanksgiving Menus

1940: Sealtest Thanksgiving Dinner
Consomme with Mushrooms
Baked Ham
Cottage Cheese Pineapple Fritters
Browned Sweet Potatoes
Buttered Brussel Sprouts         Hot Rolls and Butter
Orange and Grape Salad with French Dressing
Thanksgiving Ice Cream Molds
Milk         Coffee with Cream
Mints         Nuts         Raisins
- Sealtest, Inc. Sealtest Laboratory Kitchen (New York, N.Y.). The New Sealtest Book of Recipes And Menus. [New York city: Sealtest, 1940.

1940: New England Thanksgiving Dinner
Sea Food Cocktail
Roast Vermont Turkey         Vermont Stuffing
Stuffed Baked Sweet Potatoes        Spiced Cranberries
Vegetable Bowl Salad
Braised Celery
English Plum Pudding         Wine Hard Sauce
Coffee
- Berolzheimer, Ruth, Lillie S. Lustig, Edna L. Gaul, and Mary Lawton Wright. The Greater American Cook Book. New York: Pub. for Culinary art institute by Consolidated book publishers, inc. Chicago, 1940.

1940: Thanksgiving Dinner
Turtle Soup         Croutons
Celery Curls         Pickled Watermelon Rind
Roast Partridge         Wild Rice and Mushrooms
Candied Guavas
Broccoli         Vegetable Bowl Salad
Beaten Biscuits
Butter Pecan Ice Cream         Fruitcake
Coffee
- Berolzheimer, Ruth, Lillie S. Lustig, Edna L. Gaul, and Mary Lawton Wright. The Greater American Cook Book. New York: Pub. for Culinary art institute by Consolidated book publishers, inc. Chicago, 1940.

1943: Thanksgiving Dinner
Fruit Cocktail
Celery         Olives
Cream of Corn Soup with Crisp Crackers
Roast Turkey with Chestnut Stuffing
Mashed Potatoes
Baked Stuffed Onions
Cranberry Sauce
Bread and Butter
Pumpkin Pie
Cheese         Coffee
Nuts         Mints
- Wallace, Lily Haxworth. The Lily Wallace New American Cook Book. New York: Books, Inc., 1943

1945: Thanksgiving Day Dinner
Avocado and Orange Cocktail
Celery         Pickled Onions         Olives
Roast Turkey         Pecan Dressing         Giblet Gravy
Riced Potatoes        Cauliflower with Cream Sauce
Cranberry Ice
Finger Rolls
Apple and Raw Carrot Salad
Cheese Straws
Sugared Nuts         Pumpkin Pie         Raisins
Coffee         Cider         Tea         Milk
- Blake, Mary, and Carnation Company. Carnation Cook Book. Milwaukee, Wis.: Carnation Co., 1945.

1946: Thanksgiving Menu
Pear and Cherry Cocktail
Creole Oyster Soup         Crackers
Celery         Olives
Roast Turkey         Creole Dressing
Cranberry Sauce
Candied Yams           Baked Squash       Buttered Asparagus
Tomato and Green Pepper Salad
French Dressing
Salted Pecans           Pumpkin Pie
Pound Cake           Coffee
- Cooper, Virginia M. The Creole Kitchen Cook Book. San Antonio, Tex.: The Naylor company, 1946.

1947: Recipes For Two Thanksgiving Dinner I
Cranberry Juice Cocktail
Fried Chicken
Mashed Potatoes         Cream Gravy
Lemon Buttered Asparagus
Relishes: Celery Curls         Olives         Carrot Sticks
Hot Rolls         Butter
Thanksgiving Ice Cream Molds
Pumpkin Pie
Coffee
- Glass, Mary Lou. Recipes for Two. New York: J. Wiley, 1947.

1947: Recipe For Two Thanksgiving Dinner II
Boullion         Hot Crackers
Stuffed Duck         Currant Jelly
Baked Acorn Squash         Buttered Grean Peas
Head Lettuce Salad         French Dressing
Hot Rolls         Butter
Steamed Apple Pudding         Lemon Sauce
Coffee
- Glass, Mary Lou. Recipes for Two. New York: J. Wiley, 1947.

1948: Thanksgiving Day Family Dinner
Tokay Grapes in Gingerale
Roast Turkey with Cornbread-Chestnut Stuffing
Buttered Greenbeans         Creamed Onions
Hubbard Squash         Mashed Potatoes
Celery         Cranberry Sauce         Olives
Tossed Green Salad
Sour Cream Dressing
Pumpkin Pie         Mince Pie
Coffee
- Van Rensselaer, Alexander, 1892-1962. The Complete Party Book: Etiquette, Party Plans, Menus, Recipes, Decorations, Games And Stunts. New York: Sheridan House, 1948.

1948: Thanksgiving I
Avocado and Crab Meat Cocktail
Roast Turkey in Wine
Cornbread Dressing
Eggplant Casserole         Buttered Onions and Peas
Yams and Apple Slices         Cranberry Relish
Mixed Green Salad
Assorted Rolls
Coffee
Suet Pudding with Rum Sauce
- De Knight, Freda, 1910-, and James B. Herndon. A Date With a Dish: a Cook Book of American Negro Recipes. New York: Hermitage Press, 1948.

1948: Thanksgiving II
Assorted Hors d'ouevres and Cocktail
Mashed Potatoes         Gravy
Oyster Casserole        String Beans
Green and Red Cole Slaw
Apple Chutney
Breads         Coffee
Squash Pie
- De Knight, Freda, 1910-, and James B. Herndon. A Date With a Dish: a Cook Book of American Negro Recipes. New York: Hermitage Press, 1948.