The foods we eat have changed over the past hundred years; but, for many, the Thanksgiving dinner menu remains very similar to what it was a hundred years ago. Actually, the traditional turkey meal was already considered “old-fashioned” in 1925. A Thanksgiving menu that appeared in the November, 1925 issue of Ladies Home Journal was labeled “old-fashioned.” It included many of the same foods we commonly eat on Thanksgiving today, as well as some, such as Spinach Timbales, that are seldom eaten now.
When I looked at the old menu, I was surprised how many of the foods on the menu I have made over the past several years:
Cranberry Sauce (Cranberry Jelly)
Over the years, I also posted various hundred-year-old Thanksgiving menus. Some were more complicated (or more “modern”) than this 1925 one. It’s always been a delicate balancing act to get the right balance between serving traditional foods that family members have enjoyed for generations, and providing foods that are currently popular and may better meet the dietary needs and preferences of attendees. Here are the links to the other Thanksgiving menus I’ve posted:
This menu’s both similar and different to what was traditional in our family. We never had the spinach, creamed onions, mince pie or consumme, but we did have some things not on this menu: spiced peaches and apples, pumpkin and apple pies, cardomom seed buns and other traditional Swedish dishes like sylta and potato sausage. I’d pay a lot to get my hands on some good potato sausage again; I’m sure not going to make it!
I’ve never had potato sausage. Your comment makes me think that I’ve missed a tasty food – though it sounds like it’s very difficult to find these days.
It’s available in the upper midwest, especially in Scandinavian-rich states like Minnesota and Iowa, but I’m not willing to pay the price for shipping, since it has to come overnighted in dry ice!
I’ll have to look around and see if I can find any up here.
I like the idea of cranberry tarts!
They’d be a nice addition to a Thanksgiving dinner.
That menu has a lot of choices. I usually have most of my dishes from my family’s favorites.
Same here – I make family favorites, though different family member like different foods. Sometimes a food one person really likes (like mincemeat pie) is a food another person does not like.
My mama…. Used to make a mince meat pie that she said she made just for me because I was the only one who liked it… I was packing up leftovers one year and started to take the pie that was left and my sister caught me and said that pie was hers cause mama made it just for her. Ahhh
The grin on mamas face was priceless…
Your mother sounds like a wise person.
I enjoyed this Thanksgiving menu so much, Sheryl. I looked around at some of your previous links provided here, too. Interesting that this menu was considered old-fashioned a century ago. Many thanks.
It’s nice to hear that you enjoyed this post. I also was surprised that this menu was considered old-fashioned a century ago.
I am intrigued by the same dishes that are still on my holiday table! With or without the ghost of green bean casserole. But no beets or
According to Wikipedia, green bean casserole was popularized in the 1950’s when the recipe was printed on a can.
I wonder what will be on the menu a hundred years from now. Changes will be made, but I bet Turkey will still be the main dish.
It’s fun to think about what will be on the menu a hundred years from now. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve sometimes been amazed at which things change across the years and which things stay the same.
I presume they made a choice of some of these items, rather than trying to eat the lot?
The number of dishes probably varied, depending in part upon the size of the group. Fewer foods would typically be made if the group was small, while there might be this many different foods if the group was large. Thanksgiving in the U.S. is famous for the plethora of foods served at the dinner. People tend to overeat at this meal.
As we do at Christmas! But far fewer dishes are usually offered. And these days there is often a vegetarian or vegan at table who needs to be catered for.
Same here. Many families would include vegetarian or vegan options.
Interesting reading!
It’s fun to see which foods were on Thanksgiving menus back then.
The 1925 menu was very much a feast!
🙂 How true. You have such a wonderful way with words.
My older sister is always wanting a new addition to the traditional, and we do all enjoy it. BUT we have to have all of our favorites (several of which are on this 100 year recipe)
Including both traditional and new recipes on the Thanksgiving menu makes a lot of sense. I am honored that you like a few of the recipes that I’ve made for this blog enough to include them as part of your Thanksgiving dinner.
Thanks for sharing these yummy ideas. Best to you & yours, Sheryl, for a Happy Thanksgiving!
And, Happy Thanksgiving to you.