Time Travel Kitchen

Banana Bread, 1933 and 2020

In 1933, in the midst of The Great Depression, one of the first recipes for banana bread appeared in the Balanced Recipes by Pillsbury cookbook.

In 2020, as we were all in lockdown, the most searched for recipe online was for banana bread. It seems banana bread nourishes both body and soul during tough times.

I found an original edition of the 1933 Pillsbury cookbook and it’s beautiful. The recipes are in a ring binder, housed within an aluminum case with a very Art Deco looking design on the cover.

What’s even better is the recipe for the Banana Nut Loaf inside. It’s substantial and satisfying and not nearly as sweet as many other banana breads I’ve had. I really loved it.

Baking Powder and Baking Soda became staples in households in the 1930’s. Quick breads like banana bread became popular, so much less time consuming to make than yeast breads. The Home Economics Movement was in full swing.

Companies that produced baking and cooking products also published cookbooks. This was to assist homemakers by providing recipes for nutritious, thrifty meals. These cookbooks were effective marketing tools, encouraging consumers to buy their products and establish brand loyalty.

I’ve just ordered a copy of a new book The Secret History of Home Economics by Danielle Dreilinger and am curious to learn more about this movement—especially the ‘secrets’! I’ll share more after I receive it.

Here’s the original 1933 Banana Bread Recipe from Pillsbury re-printed with permission from Hometown Food Company, owner of the Pillsbury Baking brand, and I thank them for it.

A few notes:

• I substituted flaxseed (grind in spice grinder if you buy whole flaxseed) for wheat bran because I couldn’t find it at my grocer. In a pinch you could also substitute whole wheat flour. Pillsbury no longer makes wheat bran.

• I substituted butter for shortening in a 1:1 ratio. I just like the taste of butter.

• Bananas should be very ripe with brown spots for best tasting bread.

• The sour cream added a richness and tenderness to the bread.

• The very cute Rooster tea towel pictured in my kitchen is made by my friend, writer and artist Jamie Cat Callan. If you are interested, please contact her at Jamie@jamiecatcallan.com

• The bread was cut and is displayed on my 1927 built-in cutting board — you know what a kick I get out of using it!

• Next week: A fresh Strawberry 🍓 dessert.

  I hope you enjoy the banana bread and have a great weekend!

  Jolene

  Photos 📸: Jolene

  Sources: HometownFoodCompany.com;
  Balanced Recipes by Pillsbury, 1933, Pillsbury Flour Mills Company, Minneapolis. Minnesota; Wikipedia; A Square Meal, 2016, Jane Ziegelman & Andrew Coe, Harper Collins; SecondsHistory.com : Lockdown Loaf, 2020