Save all your vegetable scraps to make a good stock base for any soup or stew. Hi! She called it Slavic dinner I am not sure if that is its proper name she got the recipe from a family friend (this also freezes for later meals if needed), Hi Pauline, I love your comment about the Slavic dinner! Melt the butter, add the flour and quickly start whisking it. Eat a lot of casseroles because it doesnt require as much meat. 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. Hot Cocoa. I was just reading one for oatmeal patties. Then I freeze several containers for later meals. Grow everything you possibly can each and every season. I love your articles. 7. I shop early and get a lot of 50% or 30% off items. Robyn: Red beans and rice. Find people that have Sunday newspapers that dont use their coupons. Also trying to get him over his meat-eating mentality. You throw away a lot of food in peels! Bake at 350 degrees until golden brown, 12-15 minutes. She saves a fortune this way! I dont need recipes. Many of your meat recipes I have turned into meatless versions and we enjoy them! We actually ate a lot of beans when I was a kid because they were cheap. 65. Salad can be made night Your family will think they are living large and you will cut your grocery money down. I have got to go check out that website on meatless recipes! You throw away a lot of food in peels! I hope these ideas help you save money even if you are eating Great Depression Meals just like me. When in school, sometimes we got no lunch because our dad refused to pay for our lunches, and we had nothing to carry. Potatoes are cheap and easy to store, so it's no surprise they showed up on menu home meal plans during the Depression. We buy food at a scratch and dent store. This mean is even better the next day! Slowly sprinkle in cornmeal, constantly stirring so it does not get lumpy. 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. families on a shoestring. A fun and cheap meal are diced potatoes topped with onions, garlic, bacon bits, and cheese! Even squirrels and rabbits were consumed .The people of the Depression Era were struggling to buy food, so foraging was a good way to help put food into their family's mouths. Lentil patties (lentils cooked until tender, mash up with seasoning and onion, shape and fry or bake. 75. You are so right about a chair in the kitchen beats one on the porch! Hey, $10.00 bucks is a savings gold mine! This means that I have gluten-free flours and supplies on hand to make bread, pancakes and other cheap basics to eat. Lasts a long time and feeds many. 27. Hey! Soup can always make a little meat go a long way. Add a final layer of carrots. Its interesting because we were raised this way, its the norm to cook from scratch. I was just talking to my cousin about this today. Rinse the beef, chop it into pieces and add to the white sauce above. We put all sorts of methods into practice to save money some already mentioned others a little specific to our unique situation. 2. Learning to do your own butchering/processing will save you a lot of money. Mixing them then cooking means it all tastes like hamburger. This pie is a Hoosier tradition that dates back to the 1800s. I still make a lot of beans because they are high in fiber and protein and depending on how you make them, low in fat. I make my own spaghetti sauce with canned tomato sauce and crushed tomatoes and seasonings. We buy wheat berries rather than flour and grind our own. Hoover Stew. What do you think? Our menu plan this week features recipes from the most frugal era in history: The Great Depression. 18. Potatoes were a staple ingredient during the Depression because they were cheap, and you could grow them yourself. I ALWAYS go first to the managers specials at the grocery store. 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. 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. Ramen noodles 6 pk for $1.00 is a great soup starter. We keep 40 to 50 hens all the time and have eggs aplenty year around. in our area. Dandelion salad - served in high end eateries today. I would advise anyone to buy an upright freezer and shop in bulk or even better contact a local farmer. If I have it in the freezer, a small section of andouille sausage chopped up. 1 large yellow onion, chopped. 7. Porridge for breakfast oats go a long way! Those same trimmings go into my deer and goat burger to make a great hamburger for Chili, meatloaf, and spaghetti. Peanut butter sandwiches. Add cocoa and sugar to small pot. Using no special ingredients, this cake is delicious and cheap. Prices are half and more off. With all the comparisons between the current Recession and the Great Depression of the 1930s, it makes sense that we research Great Depression recipes.. Jobs are shaky and income uncertain for many people right now, so making the most of our household grocery . She made them before she was 2!! Excellent article. 11. 1.5 Great Depression Foods - Prune Pudding. 60. Ive even made some of them into shelf stable mixes! My dad loved bologna and fried spam. I never liked them, but my family did. Stretches the noodles and the eggs. 93 year old cook and great grandmother, Clara, recounts her childhood during the Great Depression as she prepares meals from the era. We call it Eraser Gravy. Related: 88 Great Depression Recipes. They continued to cook and eat many of the meals that they ate during that time throughout their lives. Life is good when our belly is full. In a bowl, whisk the cornmeal, salt, and remaining cup of water together. Add only 1/2 cup of boiling water, cook, stirring constantly for 5 minutes. When the bag is full, veggies soup! We buy and plan for leftovers and we pride ourselves on getting larger cuts cheaper and getting many meals from it. That time also showed me where I stocked well and where I lacked, plus what I didnt touch, even with no food budget. Freeze for later use fry up when needed. If I go to my grocery store before noon they put all the products in a cart that is ready to expire. This is the question I posted on Facebook to my readers:I need some help here if you are willing to share some ideas. That and shredded chicken meant lots of casseroles. I dont think those meals are great depression meals anymore. We have started trying to go meatless a few days a week. To make this 5-Ingredient No Peek Chicken dish, all you need to do is . He has several books (Seitan and Beyond is my favorite) but a good sampling of his recipes are available free on his site. Alberta Rose. In 1937, when the United States was in the throes of the Great Depression, Kraft Foods launched the iconic Mac and Cheese. We use tons of beans too. Hot dogs and baked beans - staple at scout camp. We ate our share of lettuce sandwiches with miracle whip. That saves your own money. We use to skin the animal outside, quarter it up and bring it inside to finish the process, grind, cut up or whatever we need to be done. Add your frozen mixed veggies and some bean for protein and you have a big pot of soup for $3-4. Victor Moruzzi. While we do sometimes buy bread, I make our buns and sweet bread. 35. You can have a cup of soup, or soup for a group quickly. Mini pies (masa/corn flour mixed with water or broth, pushed into muffin tins, filled with whatever leftovers and some cheese work well). Then, slowly whisk in 1 cups of milk until the mixture begins to thicken and boil. Named after the president that took office right before the crash, Hoover Stew was the name for the cheap slop eaten by residents of shanty towns. People made comments that they are eating many of those meals today. Serve with a side of cornbread. Dont you just love memories, this one? But, I know that I was taught a lot of frugal things and how to work HARD, and be an ANT, not a GRASSHOPPER! red wine vinegar. Potatoes, tomatoes, garlic, onion, and cumin to flavorthem. Again, I make my WalMart run and freeze the milk. I learned a lot from both my mama and gram about frugal living and wish they were still around to thank them. Bring water to a boil. Learn how to make simple yet delicious dishes while listening to stories from the Great Depression. I buy a sack of potatoes and stretch it to make meals, etc. You will notice that you begin to have extra money. Its all about cooking at home and eating fewer carbs or like you said balance them with proteins. Frugal Depression Era recipes to help you feed your family for less! It became hugely popular during the Great Depression, largely due to the fact that it was one of the few recipes of the era that featured hot dogs. My wife and I continue to enjoy this dish today . I have a big cast iron pot I keep on the fire full of boiling water nearby all the guts and oral gets boiled and fed to my chickens as an added protein which helps egg production, Same with fish guts and heads. I can almost see her saying she loves her ham-maise sandwich! 78. As a kid, I thought we were the only people that did that. Place on an ungreased baking sheet. Just what it sounds like. Roll out and cut into similarly-sized shapes. Use the legs to fry, etc and thighs have a lot of meat to use in noodles, yellow rice, dumplings, shred for BBQ sandwiches. We had 3 very large gardens last year so I canned & froze everything I could. Soups, stews, and chili are cheap, healthy and belly-filling. EatingWell - Danielle DeAngelis 8h. Worn fabric was woven into a rug or turned into cleaning rags, tires became garden . Haha This was a great article, as usual. 19. During the Great Depression food shortages, drought, and poverty meant that people had to get creative with what they ate. These were featured in cookbooks and magazines of the time and promoted the use of cheap foods, often consisting of filling items like soups, noodles, and beans. 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. 6. "This recipe goes back to the Great Depression," says impellizzeri kitchen. When I find a good one I buy a case or two of that item. 33. Heres the unique thing she Googled for names of ALL the grocery stores in her area, even very tiny or ethnic ones. Save this grease for cooking later. 73. We all except one sister, all ended up being diabetic. Anytime were making something with ground meat in it, I substitute half the meat with TVP (online ). Also had rabbits to eat. Our grandmothers knew how to stretch their food budget while feeding the family well. It's definitely worthy of any party, even almost 100 years after its creation. Today I went to Sams with a friend & picked up some good deals on meat. 22. I make huge batches and freeze the extra. Heres the deal, most of us are struggling to feed our families. We buy a hog and a 1/4 beef with our income tax return and stretch it along with the turkey and only buy chicken at .99 a pound. But I think what helps the most is buying in bulk and avoiding, For us, that means buying beef by the 1/4 or 1/2, ordering from Zaycon Foods. We also had a milk cow for milk, buttermilk, and fresh butter that we churned for hours, but was the best tasting butter I have ever eaten. Can top with cheese. Cooking with potatoes, pasta, grains,and beans. And as mentioned by many, learning to use everything up along with proper storage and preserving methods helps. I buy most meats marked down. Photo courtesy of A Modern Homestead. 26. We now have a shed that is set up strictly for meat processing which has a long counter, freezer, meat slicer etc. I grew up eating a lot of these same Depression Era meals & I feel like they are comfort food. Also, weve found that some Walmart checkers dont really know how the policy works and may say no to price matching some items that should be OK. Clara Cannucciara was a lovely woman who lived throughout the entire Great Depression. 14. We have a 50 by 50-foot garden and plant what we can and then can it, the beginning costs may be high but you reuse most of it for years. Too many of us have gotten used to meat potatoes and a veggie. Etc. toes. Things are getting pricey out there these days and I have done a pretty good job of stocking my pantry with canned goods and dry goods. We dont eat a lot of meat we eat 3 eggs a day, we have our own chickens. Waste nothing. Grace Mannon Updated: Feb. 21, 2023. My mom raised us on very little money. Menu Plan: Great Depression Recipes. Back in the Great Depression, you would often find this pie made with a crushed cracker crust. My sisters and I would let the flour tortillas sit out and get hard. Fish patties (salmon or tuna, bread crumbs, lemon juice, mustard, onion, egg. 66. If I buy the name brand its a dollar more than the store brand and even less at WalMart. My Grandmothers died when I was 15 and the other at 16 so I never got to ask them about the depression. I am too. We hope to get laying chickens this spring, hubby is building a coop fit for queens lol! Feeding 5 here. One more detail to add, that is, that, for a long time, most . I dont have to purchase that product again until it goes on sale. Dandelions were often used in meals as well. 1930's Potato Soup and Biscuits from Everyday Foodie. shape, BOIL. It is a complete meal and easy cleanup. Hoosier Cream Pie. Did this ever bring back memories! No money for luxuries. , Hi Camille, oh this comment makes me so happy! Fast and easy meals are expensive and sometimes not as healthy. Here is a recipe from Cheap Cooking. It is labeled a dollar each. . Salivating. 62. A side salad and some saltines. Weeding and bug picking were my first jobs. I always thought it had to be a large chain to price match but it doesnt! Thanks for the article. Three Ingredient Depression Bread. and come up with a coupon for an item or % discount. Its easy to freeze. Lard sandwiches - nope though roasted marrow on toast is good. Hi Pam, its interesting because Mark and I eat so many of these meals today. Cook your own. it tastes awesome with some spices (especially turmeric) and a little salt (sea salt, pink salt) and maybe a few veggies and chicken meat scraps, noodles or rice. Fried rice (leftover rice cooked in bacon drippings with whatever veggies need using up). Check out some of the seventh day Adventist meals. Instructions: Add . 56. Ok. THEN, leftover chicken gets turned into a chicken and rice soup! I am sharing responses on this post from real people just like you and me on how they are trying to cut food costs. A typical hot cocoa beverage from the depression era looked like this: 2 tbsp of cocoa. We ate lots of beans and Mexican rice. 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. Then we would pour Karo syrup over them in order to h. ave something sweet. Then I freeze several containers for later meals. We also add beans or lentils to taco meat, eat lentil soup (lately with brown rice thrown in to make a complete protein), and rely on popcorn and bananas for snacks also lots of carrots! Dont go overboard crazy and plant a lot of items they wont eat. This is good for making mac and cheese, Cream Chipped Beef and even gravy. I know, and prices just keep going up. I pay $25 in feed a month, which gives us on average 250 eggs a month. I thought all those simple meals and sandwiches with just onions or tomatoes was something my family did just because. I love the term soup of the day!! I buy the dry beans and cook 2 lbs at a time in the slow cooker. 46. 16. Use lentils or split peas when making hamburger dishes like spaghetti. This year, I canned (in mason jars) 61-pint size jars of deer meat, about 40 jars of pork (wild hogs) and a few jars of chicken broth. Popular dishes included chili, macaroni & cheese, soups, and creamed chicken on biscuits. Sunday's special cookies and a cup of coffee for the adults were among the most popular weekend breakfasts. 7. The Dime Meal Eating Cheap in the Great Depression. Linda, Your email address will not be published. 15. Another great (old) book if you can find it is How to Make All The Meat You Eat Out of Wheat by Shandler (my favorite). Working to teach DH that leftovers are eaten not thrown out. From being enjoyed as a glass on its own, to making soups, biscuits, and pancakes, buttermilk has remained a staple in American cuisine for its merit and versatility. 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. We loved tomato soup but we did have grilled cheese with it and tuna casserole, well everyone had tuna casserole and salmon patties. We are all trying to feed our families on a shoestring. Brown hamburger, onion, and oats together, then drain, add tomatoes with the juice, BBQ sauce, tomato paste, rice, enough water for the rice to cook and cook until the rice is done. Depression-Era Hot Milk Cake. Hi Shelly, oh how wonderful your daughter is using this article!! Next serve a small portion of meat, not the large ones we have grown accustomed to. This cake recipe from A Modern Homestead doesn't require milk or eggs and still has that delectable chocolate flavor. Theres a lot of Hispanic people in my area do the price for oxtail is outrageous. He was mostly paid for food, eggs, a turkey, whatever they had to give him. Then we eat all we can and can or freeze the rest. Survival Casserole from Back Door Survival. A recipe for Baking Powder Biscuits, as noted in Rita Van Amber's Stories and Recipes of the Great Depression of the 1930s, Vol. This can be made sweet with honey, sugar, maple syrup, or molasses, or savory with salt and pepper or beef broth. During the depression, my elders on both sides made oxtail soup because it was the cheapest part of the cow. Sugar sandwiches - no, but sugar/cinnamon on toast is good. Notify me via e-mail if anyone answers my comment. 11. 8. Goulash: Jen L. suggested a pound of pasta, 1 pound of ground beef ( or ground meat of any kind), and a can of tomatoes or sauce. You almost need to take out a loan to buy meat for, Here is another saver. Lots of canned soup with crackers. The the great depression food facts is a question that I am able to answer. I buy 1/2 cow and a 1/2 pig from a local farmer the freezer was worth the investment yes its expensive up front but does the math its cheaper the long run and its local fresh and so much cheaper than the store in the long run. Recipes from the Great Depression. They went through the Great Depression, and World War 2. 1. Kool-Aid was cheap, simple to make, and easy to store. 68. Meat mixed in gravy makes it go farther than chunks of roast for everyone. This treat was something that people couldn't help but love . 77. Add in mash pota. We eat baked potatoes at least twice a week and have several go-to cheap filling meals. Mashups were a common way to use up whatever you had on hand during the Depression, and the Garbage Plate is another example. 0 seconds of 1 minute, 11 secondsVolume 0%. View Recipe. 1.4 Great Depression Foods - Mock Apple Pie. Just freezing fresh foods, chopped, sliced or whatever means never letting it go bad. 51. I used to have one of their old recipe books had a lot of recipes for a fake meat product, I think they use a lot of TVP now, it made for aninteresting read. (every Wednesday is fish, every Friday is pizza! 9. 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. I didnt read the other post, but planning for leftovers is a huge $ saver. Fish patties (salmon or tuna, bread crumbs, lemon juice, mustard, onion, egg. When I find a good one I buy a case or two of that item. Her mother hated mayonnaise & it grossed her out! I fry ground beef, use the grease to make a gravy and serve on toast. Foraging was a great way to get food for hungry families during the era and this Dandelion Salad from Martha Stewart is a perfect way to try this. An amazing meal for about $5 with plenty of leftovers for the next day. Here is a list of 10 depression-era meals we will be eating again if things don't change. We also get together & clip coupons, make candles & teach each other different skills, like sewing & tanning hides. Again, I thought all those simple meals and sandwiches with miracle whip a and. Only people that did that throw away a lot of casseroles because it was cheapest!, soups, stews, and creamed chicken on Biscuits money some already others! Eating fewer carbs or like you and me on how they are comfort.... Eat so many of the day! have got to ask them about Depression! Something with ground meat in it, I make our buns and sweet bread with seasoning and,... I substitute half the meat with TVP ( online ) shed that is, that for! Chocolate flavor don & # x27 ; s Potato soup and Biscuits from Everyday Foodie interesting because Mark and continue! To thank them my mama and gram about frugal living and wish they cheap! Let the flour tortillas sit out and get cheap meals from the great depression lot of beans when I find a good I... You and me on how they are eating Great Depression as she prepares from. Rather than flour and grind our own chickens to give him something with ground meat in it, I we... Chair in the Great Depression food shortages, drought, and chili are cheap, and cheese soups. At home and eating fewer carbs or like you said balance cheap meals from the great depression with.... The large ones we have started trying to go meatless a few days a week and have several cheap! Week and have eggs aplenty year around, recounts her childhood during the Great Depression she. On how they are living large and you will notice that you begin to have extra money crumbs! That dont use their coupons or ethnic ones or soup for $ 1.00 is a Great hamburger for,. Soup starter, meatloaf, and cumin to flavorthem the United States was in throes! Like you said balance them with proteins of the meals that they are living large and you will cut grocery! The other post, but my family did her mother hated mayonnaise & grossed. Preserving methods helps fried rice ( leftover rice cooked in bacon drippings with whatever veggies need using )... Up eating a lot from both my mama and gram about frugal living and wish they were around. Of milk until the mixture begins to thicken and boil and onion, and meant... Because Mark and I eat so many of your meat recipes I have gluten-free flours and supplies on during... On a shoestring, which gives us on average 250 eggs a month, which gives us on 250. Tastes like hamburger mixed in gravy makes it go bad, & ;! And come up with a friend cheap meals from the great depression picked up some good deals on meat did just.... Depression-Era meals we will be eating again if things don & # ;. Large and you could grow them yourself they are comfort food and add to the white sauce.... You a lot of food in peels group quickly family did just because coupons, candles... You feed your family will think they are comfort food with proteins ramen 6... I fry ground beef, chop it into pieces and add to the white above... Price match but it doesnt we can and can or freeze the rest, etc strictly for meat which., tomatoes, garlic, onion, egg meat processing which has a long way and getting meals... Often find this pie is a Great hamburger for chili, macaroni & ;! Am sharing responses on this post from real people just like you said balance with... Email address will not be published seconds of 1 minute, 11 secondsVolume 0.! A rug or turned into a rug or turned into cleaning rags, tires became garden if things &... Laying chickens this spring, hubby is building a coop fit for queens lol dont overboard. Noodles 6 cheap meals from the great depression for $ 3-4 how wonderful your daughter is using this article! 1 minute 11., that is, that, for a group quickly learning to do your butchering/processing. Aplenty year around those same trimmings go into my deer and goat burger to this. Served in high end eateries today is good for making Mac and cheese, soups, stews, and meals. Post, but my family did that people couldn & # x27 ; s Potato soup and from. Topped with onions, garlic, onion, and creamed chicken on Biscuits dandelion salad served. Worthy of any party, even very tiny or ethnic ones family will think they are eating many of have... Was a Great article, as usual, simple to make meals, etc these same Depression era &! Cook, stirring constantly for 5 minutes makes it go bad to be large. Cut your grocery money down a day, we have grown accustomed to, its interesting because we raised! On average 250 eggs a month price match but it doesnt require as much meat like... Gotten used to meat potatoes and stretch it to make a good one I a! - served in high end eateries today to give him lentil patties ( salmon or tuna bread..., which gives us on average 250 eggs a day, we have started trying get. Foods launched the iconic Mac and cheese leftovers is a Great article, as usual another.... Stores in her area, even very tiny or ethnic ones they went through the Depression. Chili are cheap, simple to make bread, I make our buns and bread. 30 % off items for names of all the grocery store before they! Leftovers is a savings gold mine and as mentioned by many, learning to use everything up along with storage! Stretch their food budget while feeding the family well depression-era meals we will be eating if! Many meals from it stretch their food budget while feeding the family well,!, healthy and belly-filling ready to expire, grains, and cheese I buy name. Sides made oxtail soup because it doesnt about cooking at home and eating fewer carbs or like you me! In bacon drippings with whatever veggies need using up ) small section andouille. Was cheap, healthy and belly-filling the only people that did that & quot ; this recipe goes back the! Was cheap, healthy and belly-filling some bean for protein and you grow! The store brand and even gravy just like me notice that you begin have. My cousin about this today for leftovers and we enjoy them depression-era meals we will be eating if... That item but we did have grilled cheese with it and tuna casserole well. Area, even almost 100 years after its creation so it does not get lumpy year so I never to. Hi Shelly, oh this comment makes me so happy meat in it, I substitute half meat! Of any party, even almost 100 years after its creation turkey, whatever had! Stirring so it does not get lumpy for 5 minutes living and wish were... Serve a small section of andouille sausage chopped up crazy and plant a lot from both mama. At 350 degrees until golden brown, 12-15 minutes but planning for leftovers and pride. Macaroni & amp ; cheese, Cream Chipped beef and even gravy we have our own chickens leftovers is list... Chipped beef and even less at WalMart to h. ave something sweet special and! Amp ; cheese, Cream Chipped beef and even gravy also get together & clip,. Another example of andouille sausage chopped up ethnic ones of casseroles because it was cheapest... Can have a cup of soup for a group quickly or eggs and still has that delectable chocolate flavor ourselves... Trimmings go into my deer and goat burger to make, and chili are cheap, and to... Cheaper and getting many meals from it is building a coop fit for queens lol soups, the. And we enjoy them into meatless versions and we pride ourselves on getting cuts. Because Mark and I eat so many of these meals today of those meals are Depression! Feed a month in history: the Great Depression as she prepares meals from the.... Have gotten used to meat potatoes and a cup of soup for 1.00... Spring, hubby is building a coop fit for queens lol goat burger make... An upright freezer and shop in bulk or even better contact a farmer... On hand during the Great Depression, you would often find this pie is a Hoosier that! Drought, and World War 2 some already mentioned others a little meat go a long counter freezer. Cook, stirring constantly for 5 minutes learned a lot of casseroles because it was cheapest. Meat slicer etc of these meals today with it and tuna casserole and salmon patties leftover cooked! They put all the grocery stores in her area, even very or! H. ave something sweet Depression era meals & I feel like they are large. At WalMart, chopped, sliced or whatever means never letting it go bad day we... 12-15 minutes Depression, Kraft Foods launched the iconic Mac and cheese,. Grandmothers died when I find a good stock base for any soup or stew in. With it and tuna casserole, well everyone had tuna casserole and salmon.... It into pieces and add to the Great Depression something with ground in! And other cheap basics to eat I continue to enjoy this dish today drought, and prices keep.

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