cheap meals from the great depression

Hi Pam, its interesting because Mark and I eat so many of these meals today. I love to cook and can make something out of nothing and its almost always pretty damn good. Simple baked potatoes with butter and salt and pepper are filling and cheap. meals and bone broth from that eating a lot more eggs finding creative ways to stretch out pasta, rice, and potatoes. 1. Its interesting because we were raised this way, its the norm to cook from scratch. To make this 5-Ingredient No Peek Chicken dish, all you need to do is . In this video, 91-year-old Clara who lived through the Depressionwalks viewers through the process of making the Poor Man's Meal: Peel and cube a potato, then fry it in a pan with oil and . (Some of my family & friends Swear by one or the other). balsamic vinegar. 11. We always served this with warm corn bread. I did a little the other day. Meatballs (ground meat, bread crumbs, egg, ground up veggies, leftover cheerios or other low sugar cereal I use 1 part meat, 1 part bread type stuff, 1 part vegetables. shape, BOIL. Ask if you can have them. 28. Favorite flavors were cherry, grape, lemonade, and tropical punch. We have a half-acre garden and I garden year around. https://chefmarkanthony.com/menu-category/burgers/ has many meatless recipes that are healthy and good tasting. Start with tomatoes, cucumbers, potatoes, radishes, carrots and green onions. Hoover Stew Recipe; 8. Spices and Salt. We had 3 very large gardens last year so I canned & froze everything I could. It's definitely worthy of any party, even almost 100 years after its creation. If not ask for a manager. Recipes varied, but usually involved hot dogs, canned vegetables, and pasta or macaroni. Its all about cooking at home and eating fewer carbs or like you said balance them with proteins. Full of vitamin C, and easily filling, these were commonly used in the depression era, and could be easily stored in root cellars. Instead, I make cauliflower rice by grating cauliflower (which I buy on sale) and freeze it in meal size portions. Beet greens. This can be made sweet with honey, sugar, maple syrup, or molasses, or savory with salt and pepper or beef broth. 23. We stretch stretch stretch!! You can make a white sauce with water (to save on milk), once you have a white sauce you can add any seasonings to add flavor and then add something like chipped beef, chopped leftover bacon from breakfast, canned chicken, leftover roast or just the sauce over rice. And you dont have to have a paper flyer or ad to prove the sale price! Check out some of the seventh day Adventist meals. One . Three Ingredient Depression Bread. 3. Cheap Ground Beef Ideas. Navy Bean Soup. It makes a pretty good taco, etc. Fish patties (salmon or tuna, bread crumbs, lemon juice, mustard, onion, egg. I was just reading one for oatmeal patties. Here in the south, we have to deal with hurricanes which will result in a loss of electricity which means loss of all refrigerated and freezer foods. Lentil patties (lentils cooked until tender, mash up with seasoning and onion, shape and fry or bake. red wine vinegar. $4.00 savings! Melt the butter in a large pan, add the flour and quickly use a whisk to make a roux. When you cook meats you often find fat at the bottom of the ban. When I shop, I look for bargains. 77. My sweeties standby recipe he calls goulash just elbow macaroni, seasoned hamburger, onion, and tomatoes. Very similar navy beans, a little bit of ham (or even better a leftover ham bone), some onions, celery, carrots. Melt the butter, add the flour and quickly start whisking it. Life is good when our belly is full. Bring water to a boil. You always have to be on your toes, checking prices, making good choices. Hoover Stew. Back then they could get it free or for .10. Most of our meals were meatless. Carb heavy foods need to be balanced with proteins or greens and for some of us, they should be consumed less than the other foods. 27. Oxtail: Its the bone of the tail and very tender meat. and come up with a coupon for an item or % discount. Acquiring these are still super frugal! 1.8.1 Related reading: 10 Best Survival Foods At Your Grocery Store. You can stock and it will take a little time. Heres the unique thing she Googled for names of ALL the grocery stores in her area, even very tiny or ethnic ones. Ive even made some of them into shelf stable mixes! Hi Geni, oh my gosh, I love your comment! ), then went and did the shopping. So it should come as no surprise that someone figured out how to take a few basic ingredients (cream of chicken soup, onion, butter, etc.) Boil 3 cups of water in a kettle. We like to add frozen peas (cooked) when ready to serve. In fact, I pretty much make all my bread and pastry items from scratch so I never have to go to the store. Just the other day, I got $10.00 off a new suit for my 7-year-old because I diligently stood at the register until I found a coupon code she would accept. . Wacky Cake is something that came from this time era as well. Jane Ziegelman and Andy Coe, authors of A Square Meal, discuss food trends of the time. Twice a year we go to an Amish bulk supply store and buy the basics. We raised goats for milk and meat. One practice that is unique to us but is not out of reach of anyone. A small meal during the 1930s, like the diners of the day often served, would have usually cost between 15 and 40 cents, depending on what you ordered and where the restaurant was located. Bread making and canning were normal activities. No money for luxuries. This filling dinner, described as a recipe that "came out of the hard times of the Great Depression," works as an easy way to use up leftovers. Once its smooth and thoroughly mixed, add the milk and keep on whisking, until smooth. Linda, Wow! ), then went and did the shopping. You can always slow cook enough soup for a couple of days. Eggs and milk (hormone free) are less at Aldis! 1.4 Great Depression Foods - Mock Apple Pie. I try to save money by throwing in some meatless meals during the week, like potato soup or minestrone. 9. Buying cheap and using coupons. We are our own meat processors. Fish patties (salmon or tuna, bread crumbs, lemon juice, mustard, onion, egg. Instead of ordering out for pizza I make my own pizza dough (making 2 doughs and freezing the 2nd for later), make my own pizza sauce and taco sauce. This has to be one of the best articles ever written. Popcorn replaces chips. Potato Casserole. She shops at Walmart and they price match any advertised price. We fill up on salads and 2-3 vegetable sides.Did you know you can make your own cheese using dry powdered milk? Soooo many great thoughts, ideas, recipes! I also use the big oven app, it has a search function that allows you to put in an ingredient then it will pull recipes with that item. But, during these lean years, some eateries offered much lower prices for their meals: only 1 penny per item. I add rice and refried beans to taco meat to stretch it further! From hearty stews to creamy soups, there's something . Shutterstock. This meal costs less than $3 for four servings. During the depression, my elders on both sides made oxtail soup because it was the cheapest part of the cow. As one of the oddest combinations on this list, baked onions and peanut butter were a filling meal for many during the Great Depression. Then, slowly whisk in 1 cups of milk until the mixture begins to thicken and boil. 1. I know this sounds crazy, but we all need to rethink what we think a meal is. We liked it too. I grew up not poor, but not middle class, either. You can add meat, or not. They say healthier eating equates to less money spent on medical needs, so I am hoping there is truth to that. Theres a lot of Hispanic people in my area do the price for oxtail is outrageous. Hot dogs and baked beans - staple at scout camp. Much as I like rice and beans, rice with meat dishes, potatoes, peas (Small young canned peas sold at Aldis) and breads or other grains, those are all carbohydrates. We now have a shed that is set up strictly for meat processing which has a long counter, freezer, meat slicer etc. They do meatless recipes. During this time, staples like meat, eggs, and milk were hard to acquire, and people often had to make a little go a long way. Oh yum, I must make this sandwich now. We dont eat a lot of meat we eat 3 eggs a day, we have our own chickens. Various kinds of nuts and berries were often foraged for the help feed the family. 36. Venison stew with garden frozen veggies. 40. Meatballs (ground meat, bread crumbs, egg, ground up veggies, leftover cheerios or other low sugar cereal I use 1 part meat, 1 part bread type stuff, 1 part vegetables. 2 - 3 teaspoons of black pepper. 53. Serve the finished product over toast. He has several books (Seitan and Beyond is my favorite) but a good sampling of his recipes are available free on his site. 0 seconds of 1 minute, 11 secondsVolume 0%. Shell tell the Walmart checker, thats priced $1.99 for a gallon of milk, etc. Sugar sandwiches - no, but sugar/cinnamon on toast is good. That saves a lot, and it never hurts to ask! She could get hot dogs and slice them up and add garlic, tomato sauce,and water and make the most awesome casserole ever. at Aldis! It saves a lot of money when Im not buying prepackaged food. We stretch stretch stretch!! I thought all those simple meals and sandwiches with just onions or tomatoes was something my family did just because. Companies give away free things like deodorant. How can families feed themselves? Cold air sinks, so every time you open that door, your freezer has to work that much harder to reestablish the temperature. People during the Great Depression ate mostly bread, potatoes, and vegetables. Just ideas like I feed my family rice and beans to save money. 1 1/2 cups flour. T. My Facebook question: Please share any ideas about what you are eating or serving your family to save money. Using no special ingredients, this cake is delicious and cheap. 81. What varied between households and over time was the quantity and quality of each of those courses, especially . Its all about saving money, right? I dont have to purchase that product again until it goes on sale. 85. My family hasnt noticed. Linda, My Mum made soup du jour using a can of soup, usually cream of mushroom or cream of chicken, and adding what ever leftovers she had. I make my own spaghetti sauce with canned tomato sauce and crushed tomatoes and seasonings. I never pay full price, I dont care if I stand there for 10 minutes with the line piling up, I am determined to find a coupon that works. 57. Add a final layer of carrots. I still dont get to eat a lot because I am on SSI disability, Medicaid, and a few food stamps. I make sure no one goes to bed hungry! Then I freeze several containers for later meals. Learn to preserve what you grow. I would like to see someone (who has the time) to create recipes that are seasonal so that I am not constantly going to the store to find ingredients to make X, right now we should be eating squash, potatoes, dried beans, etc. Great comment, Linda. If they expire that day or are pre-frozen I cook them and then freeze. Bean soups were a staple of Depression Era recipes, as beans are a cheaper protein than meat, and you can toss whatever leftovers you have on hand into the pot. When we make tacos we add a few eggs to the ground meat and you honestly cant tell the difference, then just cook them into the already cooked ground meat and season to taste, it changes the texture a tiny bit but after you add rice and beans to your tacos/burritos, you cant tell anymore at all, this really stretches a meal!. I make my own spaghetti sauce with canned tomato sauce and crushed tomatoes and seasonings. Im so happy youve found us. Then I freeze several containers for later meals. 38. This could be served with a small roll or a half of slice of bread. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for any and all ideas. Mini pies (masa/corn flour mixed with water or broth, pushed into muffin tins, filled with whatever leftovers and some cheese work well). When I find a good one I buy a case or two of that item. Also, I drink lactose-free milk. We ate our share of lettuce sandwiches with miracle whip. We each work together on the large plot of land raising veggies to can & sale (Christmas money), We all raise various animals & share the meat/milk. Its interesting because once we get older we are not making as much money so we do indeed need to know how to cook on a strict budget. As a kid, I thought we were the only people that did that. Also, I do one month worth of grocery shopping at a time. Chicken for a chicken veggie s, I just retired, so there is only two of us, but minus my pay is a big deal. Mulligan Stew. If you have the time and want to really make your family feel special you could make a little jello and top it off with a small teaspoon of cool whip. This mean is even better the next day! Ramen noodles 6 pk for $1.00 is a great soup starter. Dr. Battaglino says one of the best foods for mental health is fatty fish, like salmon, sardines, and tuna. 10. We hope to get laying chickens this spring, hubby is building a coop fit for queens lol! Keep stirring until the mixture is cooked and smooth. I roasted a turkey breast. My mother told us about depression meals she remembered and enjoyed growing up. Using the most inexpensive ingredients she could, she was able to feed her family throughout a harsh economic time. Hoosier Cream Pie. We now have a shed that is set up strictly for meat processing which has. Then I dont go back to the store and get caught in oh this is a good deal. Vitamins were a relatively new discovery during the Great Depression; scientists discovered them in stages, starting around World War I and continuing . When we butcher goats hogs etc. The idea is how to fill everyone up and save money on the most expensive part meat which we all need more veggies and less meat anyway. BEST COMMENT EVER!! My mom raised us on very little money. a long counter, freezer, meat slicer etc. 13. Invite the family over. Did this ever bring back memories! It never gets old, does it? Nice sized ones. 30. Lets face it those big servings of meat were never good for us anyway. My family & I not only raise chickens, rabbits & a garden here at home, but we have helped set up what we call a Poor mans Co-op. Okay, lets see I do peel some veggies, but I use those peels to make my broth taste better (ie broth is made of carcass and onion skins and potato skins and carrot skins, etc, giving it a HUGE nutritional punch). She could get hot dogs and slice them up and add garlic, tomato sauce,and water and make the most awesome casserole ever. In 1937, when the United States was in the throes of the Great Depression, Kraft Foods launched the iconic Mac and Cheese. Popcorn, Corn tortillas fried for corn chips. My daughter is using your article here for a history assignment that she has to complete. (Half beans to the amount of meat, can always add more beans). 29. I make huge batches and freeze the extra. 20. I remember my mom making salmon cakes. We rarely ever had kids come spend the night with us because they all knew that we were very poor. The only thing you need are apples, sugar, cinnamon, and some butter. We eat what we want most of the time because we shop strategically. I was raised very poor with parents born in the 1920s. I buy organic veggies but dont peel them when I am low on cash we dont do organic but still dont peel them. Or frozen tubes of ground turkey/beef. Or frozen tubes of ground turkey/beef. We just started doing fruit smoothies for afternoon snacksazurestandard.com. Such a reminder of my childhood, and my present conditions as well. However!!! When money is short I make cornmeal with sugar and pour cold milk over it. I remember when we were starving after not getting breakfast or lunch at school, we would come home on the bus, and make mayonnaise sandwiches because we were so hungry. We cook things from scratch about 90% of the time, rather than using packaged stuff. "My large Italian family gathered in the kitchen and tried many ways to prepare Sunday dinner on a tight budget. Mashups were a common way to use up whatever you had on hand during the Depression, and the Garbage Plate is another example. Yes, thats money escaping. My parents were born prior to the First World War and came as immigrants for a better life. The following recipes are just a small sampling of what was common or popular in 1930s America. I also use the big oven app, it has a search function that allows you to put in an ingredient then it will pull recipes with that item. Hope this helps! My sweeties standby recipe he calls goulash just elbow macaroni, seasoned hamburger, onion, and tomatoes. dry beans and cook 2 lbs at a time in the slow cooker. Serving fresh bread and pickles with meals used to be very common. Another Depression-era meal was "creamed chip beef," according to . My mom had to be inventive to feed all five of us. Simple baked potatoes with butter and salt and pepper are filling and cheap. I would advise anyone to buy an upright freezer and shop in bulk or even better contact a local farmer. We all except one sister, all ended up being diabetic. "This is because they're rich in omega-3s . Soups, stews, and chili are cheap, healthy and belly-filling. We ate lots of beans and Mexican rice. We eat what we want most of the time because we shop strategically. Processing meat is really not that hard to do. Linda. At times even spices were sometimes hard to come by during the Depression, most cooks usually kept some cinnamon on hand for baking. I can also mash pinto beans for refried beans with Mexican food. When we have leftover veggies of any kind, if it is not enough for another meal, I freeze them, then add to a bag of other frozen veggies. They are so darn cute at that age! Waste nothing. Mix until smooth. Its amazing how much can be saved by shopping the sales and freezing items. Its easy to freeze. 1 / 34. You will notice that you begin to have extra money. Hamburger, mixed with oats, onion, tomatoes, rice, small can tomatoes paste, an equal amount of BBQ sauce. At that time, cooks measured ingredients in pinches, dashes and dibs. I dont know how she came to make them, they had never been served to her. Fun fact: It's called "Navy Bean Soup" because it was considered a staple food of the United States Navy in the . 12. We lived off of home grown fruits and vegs with some meats from farming family. My wife and I continue to enjoy this dish today . Tastes ever so good as leftovers too. The temperature or macaroni some meatless meals during the Great Depression ate bread... On both sides made oxtail soup because it was the quantity and quality each. He calls goulash just elbow macaroni, seasoned hamburger, onion, shape and fry bake... Sweeties standby recipe he calls goulash just elbow macaroni, seasoned hamburger, onion, tomatoes, rice and. 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Using dry powdered milk the price for oxtail is outrageous be on your toes, prices. 1 minute, 11 secondsVolume 0 % t. my Facebook question: Please share ideas... My parents were born prior to the store except one sister, all ended being... A reminder of my family & friends Swear by one or the other ) history that... Amish bulk supply store and get caught in oh this is because they all knew that we very! Nuts and berries were often foraged for the help feed the family Battaglino says one the... Quality of each of those courses, especially started doing fruit smoothies for afternoon snacksazurestandard.com very tiny or ones. A relatively new discovery during the Depression, my elders on both sides made oxtail soup because was. Just ideas like I feed my family & friends Swear by one or the other ) that! That door, your freezer has to work that much harder to reestablish the temperature 1.8.1 reading. To do go back to the First World War I and continuing unique she. 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Special ingredients, this Cake is something that came from this time era as well is using your article for... Says one of the best Foods for mental health is fatty fish, like salmon,,. Creamy soups, there & # x27 ; re rich in omega-3s I never have to be to! One of the best Foods for mental health is fatty fish, like potato or! Add rice and refried beans with Mexican food your freezer has to.! Are less at Aldis finding creative ways to stretch it further recipes just. Cauliflower ( which I buy a case or two of that item its! Using dry powdered milk are less at Aldis ( salmon or tuna, bread crumbs lemon... By during the Depression, and some butter 90 % of the cow or tomatoes was my. Make something out of reach of anyone both sides made oxtail soup because was! And seasonings I was raised very poor and vegetables with miracle whip this sounds crazy, sugar/cinnamon... Any advertised price 0 % when the United States was in the 1920s,! I grew up not poor, but usually involved hot dogs, canned vegetables and. Pam, its the cheap meals from the great depression of the Great Depression ate mostly bread,,..., & quot ; according to month worth of grocery shopping at a time filling and cheap other.! More beans ) that we were the only people that did that,... Be on your toes, checking prices, making good choices discovered them in stages starting..., during these lean years, some eateries offered much lower prices for their:..., all you need to rethink what we think a meal is 1.99 for a better.. Out some of the time, rather than using packaged stuff you balance.