Better Homes and Gardens Timeline

Better Homes and Gardens has always assumed a leadership role when it comes to how America eats. Over the years we've helped spot and create trends in eating, cooking, and kitchen design.

1920s - 1930sThe 1920s: Roaring Urban Advancements

1922: Better Homes and Gardens magazine launched under the name Fruit, Garden and Home.

1923: Household Editor Genevieve Callahan began testing and approving all published recipes from her home kitchen.

1924: First National Magazine Cooking Contest Introduced The magazine's name changed to Better Homes and Gardens, featuring the Cook's Round Table where readers shared their favorite recipes.

A $5 prize was awarded for the best recipe received each month.
There were 20 $1 prizes for the runners-up.
All winning recipes were published in Better Homes and Gardens.

1928: Testing-Tasting Kitchen Built Years of planning and development were needed to create a space that mirrored the size and functionality of a standard American home kitchen.

Some Testing-Tasting Kitchen features:

cupboards near the refrigerator
stools that turned into stepladders
countertops at waist level

Recipe Writing Revolution

In the '20s, a recipe for Raspberry Currant Pie would have read, "Add one cup of raspberries to three cups of ripe currants and bake in two crusts. Serve plain or with whipped cream."
The Test Kitchen filled in the missing information with level measurements for all parts of the recipe and more precise, descriptive methods.

The 1930s: The Crash, Dust Bowl, Depression

1930: First Edition BHG Cookbook. My Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook was a new kind of cookbook:

Ring binding, so it would lie flat on a countertop
Tab dividers for easy navigating
Combined advantages of a book and a recipe card file

We've always helped answer
"what's for dinner?"

1932: The New MixMaster was tried out in the Test Kitchen

1932: An article "Six 20-Minute Dinners" was published in Better Homes and Gardens

1933: The Test Kitchen seal first appeared in the Prize Tested Recipe Contest.

1935: My Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook changed its name to the New Cook Book.

1935: The Test Kitchen seal made its first cookbook showing.

1938: An article, "Toss That Salad" was featured. It introduced tossed green salads to American families. The recipe was a variation on a classic French Vinaigrette Salad.

1939: Pomegranate seeds were introduced to the American public in a recipe for Citrus-Avocado Salad.

Continued on page 2: 1940s - 1950s

mollystout2000 wrote:

My Mom gave me a Ring Bound Red Gingham BHG cookbook for my 15th Christmas which she bought at a local department store. Which edition would have been sold new in 1963 when I was a freshman in high school. In the 1990's when we were moving, I let it go, and now I am sorry for that and want to find another copy. Can anyone help me with this information? Thanks!! Molly

6/5/2011 03:14:41 PM Report Abuse

abell2050 wrote:

i was told my house was featured in one of your magazine in ether 1968 or 1969 can you help me fine the magazine please my house is located in Linden , Ca

6/5/2011 10:57:35 AM Report Abuse

phillipsgirl4u wrote:

My father shared with me his mother's 1965 Cookbook, some recipes are blurry. When I tried doing a recipe search on the website it does not seem to have older recipes that my grandmother had marked as family favorites. How can I find them?

5/27/2011 09:51:43 AM Report Abuse

Urokimtwo wrote:

I have a 1930 copy of the BHG Cookbook, in a black leatherette loose leaf. It is in fair condition and complete. Anybody want it?

1/22/2011 05:13:14 PM Report Abuse

dctousley wrote:

I am looking for a copy of your Feb. 2005 issue. Is there anyway to get that issue? I am doing a remodel and had the magazine for over 5 years to refer to, and now it is gone! I would so appreciate your assistance!

12/14/2010 02:04:29 PM Report Abuse