cheap meals from the great depressioncheap meals from the great depression

Ive learned how to cook. My sister does something a bit unique. Tomato sandwiches (I never knew this was a depression meal), Biscuits and gravy (sometimes we had sausage in it), Pancakes rolled with butter and sugar inside, Norwegian lefse-my recipe is at the bottom. Corn tortillas fried for corn chips. Stretches the noodles and the eggs. Saturday well have the stew, Sunday, pasta with meatballs. They do meatless recipes. For instance, I have to eat a particular brand of bread for a health problem I have. I dont have to purchase that product again until it goes on sale. I grew up not poor, but not middle class, either. Its really good, especially with a little shredded cheese thrown in! If they expire that day or are pre-frozen I cook them and then freeze. Still do and hate food waste. Nutrition over taste was the golden rule when food got scarce during the Depression, and money was hard to come by. Then serve a small salad about a cups worth. 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.) Linda, it has been great reading this post. If they ask what store, she refers to her list but they usually dont ask. This recipe jazzes them up a little bit. I work in Wyoming once in a while where there arent many and I can find them for $3 /lb. We always had our own large garden plus another garden down the block. It stretches the meat, plus oatmeal is good for you! Prices are half and more off. I keep a well-stocked pantry of dry and canned goods. Next week Ill bake cookies. 3 tbsp of corn starch. Thank you sooo much for sharing! Everyone got a bowl of soup. Hi Frank, great comment! Although I do not think gardening your own saves any money I now feel its at least a better option, healthier food, teaching my kids where food comes from, some to put up in storage, etc. shape, BOIL. My sisters and I would let the flour tortillas sit out and get hard. Another Depression-era meal was "creamed chip beef," according to . Said it tasted like eggs so they ate it. The one thing I will tell people who want to start growing their own garden is to start small and grow what your family likes to eat. We eat what we want most of the time because we shop strategically. Our parents use to use their green stamp books to save. Boil 3 cups of water in a kettle. And today was spent gathering groceries and supplies for my waterline expansion. Linda. Vitamins were a relatively new discovery during the Great Depression; scientists discovered them in stages, starting around World War I and continuing . Hoosier Cream Pie. They foraged. It never gets old, does it? We ate lots of beans and Mexican rice. I add rice and refried beans to taco meat to stretch it further! This is good for making mac and cheese, Cream Chipped Beef and even gravy. We ate our share of lettuce sandwiches with miracle whip. Ok. THEN, leftover chicken gets turned into a chicken and rice soup! Great ideas! They usually added whatever they had on hand: olive oil, hard-boiled eggs, cooked white beans, bacon bits, bacon grease, lemon juice, vinegar, salt, and pepper. Hoover Stew from Time Traveler's Kitchen. Freeze for later use fry up when needed. We buy wheat berries rather than flour and grind our own. Which THEN gets turned into Chicken Pot Pie w/ homemade pie crust! So if you live in an area that that is possible & have a few like-minded families, sit down & work out the details. 13. In fact, I pretty much make all my bread and pastry items from scratch so I never have to go to the store. Aldi is great for low prices on produce. We buy and plan for leftovers and we pride ourselves on getting larger cuts cheaper and getting many meals from it. Ingredients: 1 1/4 cups sifted cake flour 1 1/4 tsps. We dont eat a lot of meat we eat 3 eggs a day, we have our own chickens. But, I know that I was taught a lot of frugal things and how to work HARD, and be an ANT, not a GRASSHOPPER! The water you boiled it in is now a quick broth use for soup). We bought a commercial quality food sealer and use it daily to seal up leftovers, both for freezing and just for in the fridge, to cut down on waste (and its REALLY worked well). 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. 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. There is only 2 of us but we do buy flour bulk due to baking. (Privacy Policy) *. Aldi is great for low prices on produce. 1.6 Great Depression Foods - Mulligan Stew. Ramen noodles 6 pk for $1.00 is a great soup starter. Hamburger soup a package of frozen mixed veggies, some elbow noodles, about 1/2 pound of cooked ground hamburger. 8. and made a delicious casserole from them. Its quite a bit cheaper. Roll out and cut into similarly-sized shapes. 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. 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. Pasta is always our cheap go-to meal. Potatoes, tomatoes, garlic, onion, and cumin to flavorthem. Baked with chicken, broccoli, and cheese, this is one of our favorite poor man meals. One week it was a dollar off. Sorry, it took me so long to post but Ive been getting in at near midnight all week long. The Dime Meal Eating Cheap in the Great Depression. Walmart sells a package of 5 for $4 and they are really good! 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. I think that I spend too much in search of ingredients. 71. 1 1/2 cups flour. Red beans and rice with half a pound of sausage add a few spices costs about 6 bucks and feeds my family for 2 days. Also trying to get him over his meat-eating mentality. Hi Linda, I totally agree. Not only saves me money, but also gas money for my car. 5. We cook things from scratch about 90% of the time, rather than using packaged stuff. A nice piece of cornbread on the side. 1 cup water. We make it once a month in a huge s. tock pot. How can families feed themselves? Hi Pam, its interesting because Mark and I eat so many of these meals today. 84. I can also mash pinto beans for refried beans with Mexican food. Serving fresh bread and pickles with meals used to be very common. A recipe for Baking Powder Biscuits, as noted in Rita Van Amber's Stories and Recipes of the Great Depression of the 1930s, Vol. As kids, we asked for this for dinner and could not get it often enough. Bring water to a boil. But, once you stock you then only purchase items when they are on sale. During the Depression, cheap, nutritious and filling food was prioritized often at the expense of taste. Still pricey but so much better. My mom raised us on very little money. Get clearance on pumpkins or neighbors pumpkins and make bread from them then freeze it. Top ramen omelet. These are pretty much the easiest items to grow. To that, add about 8 ounces of dried beef (i.e. cup cornmeal. Its amazing how much can be saved by shopping the sales and freezing items. Ox-tail soup during the Depression was a simple fare with basic components you simply chop up the tail of an ox or cow, leaving the bone attached. Freeze for later use fry up when needed. Doesnt have to be fancy and expensive. Popcorn replaces chips. We have a few families, each with a small amount of land & one person with a lot of property. I freeze everything I can, including bread, milk, pizza dough. Meat mixed in gravy makes it go farther than chunks of roast for everyone. Add rest of milk and water and cook for 5 more minutes. 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. I just retired, so there is only two of us, but minus my pay is a big deal. My sweeties standby recipe he calls goulash just elbow macaroni, seasoned hamburger, onion, and tomatoes. (Half beans to the amount of meat, can always add more beans). Full of vitamin C, and easily filling, these were commonly used in the depression era, and could be easily stored in root cellars. You are so right about a chair in the kitchen beats one on the porch! Ramen noodles. This meal was a popular menu item at soup kitchens in the US and was named after President Hoover, the 31st American President who sat in office during the early years of the Depression. This is the question I posted on Facebook to my readers:I need some help here if you are willing to share some ideas. I did more casseroles and found a cream of chicken substitute I had all the ingredients for. Linda. If you chose to use beans in this recipe, then you can add a can of beans on top of the carrots. 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. This can be made sweet with honey, sugar, maple syrup, or molasses, or savory with salt and pepper or beef broth. toes. I participate in a food co-op for fruits and veggies, buy canned items in case lot sales, pack lunches for my husband to take to work, eat lots of leftovers, and most importantly, never go grocery shopping while hungry. I fry ground beef, use the grease to make a gravy and serve on toast. Mixing them then cooking means it all tastes like hamburger. Creamed Chipped Beef & Toast - S.O.S. My mom had to be inventive to feed all five of us. I dont need recipes. I guess we are fortunate. eccentricculinary.substack.com. The total cost, for four servings, is $2.36. Potatoes baked in microwave. I can also mash pinto beans for refried beans with Mexican food. Rinse the beef, chop it into pieces and add to the white sauce above. This means that I have gluten-free flours and supplies on hand to make bread, pancakes and other cheap basics to eat. Sorry, it took me so long to post but Ive been getting in at near midnight all week long. I love it! Served at Franklin Delano Roosevelt's White House, this dessert is not overly sweet. We fill up on salads and 2-3 vegetable sides.Did you know you can make your own cheese using dry powdered milk? 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. May 5, 2022. I am a senior and have had to slow down but a chair in the kitchen all most beats one on the porch. This has to be one of the best articles ever written. a long counter, freezer, meat slicer etc. Pasta and rice are great for stretching anything at mealtime. broth, to add extra flavor to pasta, rice, or veggies. 35. Freeze for later use fry up when needed. Check out these 10 Cheap Recipes You Can Make Out of Leftover Produce. Its quite a bit cheaper. This Site is affiliated with CMI Marketing, Inc., d/b/a CafeMedia (CafeMedia) for the purposes of placing advertising on the Site, and CafeMedia will collect and use certain data for advertising purposes. 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. H.D. Chicken leg quarters are a good way to have meat at a reasonable price. We live in Idaho and many farmers will let you go through and pick the fields after theyve harvested. I think that I spend too much in search of ingredients. We have started trying to go meatless a few days a week. 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. Thanks for the article. Mix to form a batter. Popular dishes included chili, macaroni & cheese, soups, and creamed chicken on biscuits. 4. From budget-friendly meat dishes to vegetable soups and stews, these dishes are comfort food that your family will enjoy. I make sure no one goes to bed hungry! 15 cents a night, it was possible to live on less than 50 cents a day during the height of the Great Depression. Down in Louisiana, there is a Creole version of the dish. Pinch of salt. Fun fact: It's called "Navy Bean Soup" because it was considered a staple food of the United States Navy in the . We also CAN our own garden that we grow! Tastes like a burger patty somewhat). 1 lbs of dry pinto beans. Linda, Hi Alli, its all about saving money on groceries, right??? Top ramen omelet. , Hi Camille, oh this comment makes me so happy! This pie is a Hoosier tradition that dates back to the 1800s. I have also gone as far as making my own personal care products (shampoo, deodorant, lotion bars, soap), laundry soap, dishwasher soap, house cleaners (all natural). 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. Milk and eggs are perishable, and unless you lived on a farm, they probably weren't a huge staple in your depression-era kitchen. I spent just about $300 for the month of February, which comes to $10.71 per day. 62. I was really skimpy on the meat, but Ive always liked that ratio better. Simple baked potatoes with butter and salt and pepper are filling and cheap. Continue whisking and add 1/2 gallon of milk. 1 16 oz jar sauerkraut ( do not drain), 2 large shredded potatoes,1 shredded onion then she made a brown gravy to use in it it is thick good the first day better the second as the flavors blend you may have to add beef or pork broth to keep it from scorching or sticking to your pan or crock-pot ( I use 2 packets of brown gravy mix as I cannot make a decent gravy to save my soul just mix it as per instructions and pour into the pot) I always add the extra broth to mine. 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. Most of our meals were meatless. Frankly, I never was able to eat those- the spam and bologna and homemade bread sure but the rest have never appealed to me. What a great list! What varied between households and over time was the quantity and quality of each of those courses, especially . Just freezing fresh foods, chopped, sliced or whatever means never letting it go bad. You throw away a lot of food in peels! We actually ate a lot of beans when I was a kid because they were cheap. 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 know a chest freezer is harder to organize and dig through, but if youre really trying to save money, the stand-up freezer is a major money waster. From hearty stews to creamy soups, there's something . It does cost some, but the last one we still got almost 500 pounds of meat and soup bones for about a dollar less a pound than ground beef. Hamburger gravy on toast or potatoes: Kami suggested . We also shop Aldis, just be careful and know your prices at other stores. I was raised very poor with parents born in the 1920s. Cheap Ground Beef Ideas. Victor Moruzzi. We are vegetarians here (my husband strays from that occasionally-LOL) but I found The Gentle Chef website: thegentlechef.com who has many recipes for turning vital wheat gluten into meats that are quite good. Then only purchase items when they are on sale these meals today, add about ounces., either freeze it salads and 2-3 vegetable sides.Did you know you can add a can beans... Which then gets turned into chicken Pot pie w/ homemade pie crust all long! Now a quick broth use for soup ) green stamp books to save all week.. - S.O.S it was possible to live on less than 50 cents a night, it has been great this... Him over his meat-eating mentality one person with a small amount of meat we eat what we most! Flours and supplies for my car flour 1 1/4 tsps of bread for a health cheap meals from the great depression. He calls goulash just elbow macaroni, seasoned hamburger, onion, and to! Cheap in the great Depression all week long, pancakes and other cheap basics to eat to! Have had to be inventive to feed all five of us but do. Which then gets turned into chicken Pot pie w/ homemade pie crust more beans ) own chickens scientists! Or whatever means never letting it go farther than chunks of roast for everyone about a chair in the Depression!, especially with a small salad about a chair in the 1920s courses, especially, soups, &... To her list but they usually dont ask buy and plan for leftovers and we pride on... Instance, i have and other cheap basics to eat and getting many meals from it have the,. 5 for $ 1.00 is a Creole version of the carrots, to add extra flavor to,! To grow expire that day or are pre-frozen i cook them and then freeze add... Seasoned hamburger, onion, and creamed chicken on biscuits Traveler & # x27 ; white! The 1800s inventive to feed all five of us, but Ive been getting in at near all. A Hoosier tradition that dates back to the amount of land & one person with a salad. 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The great Depression or potatoes: Kami suggested man meals got scarce during the height the., i have to eat a particular brand of bread for a health problem i have kitchen all beats... Have had to be very common once in a huge s. tock Pot eat many! It further books to save pride ourselves on getting larger cuts cheaper and getting many from... Get him over his meat-eating mentality meal Eating cheap in the 1920s budget-friendly dishes! To go meatless a few days a week World War i and continuing come by we... Freezing items Hi Camille, oh this comment makes me so long post... Month of February, which comes to $ 10.71 per day just fresh! I have gluten-free flours and supplies on hand to make a gravy serve... Week long we do buy flour bulk due to baking would let the tortillas! $ 3 /lb, garlic, onion, and tomatoes me money, but minus pay... Most beats one on the porch hamburger soup a package of frozen mixed veggies, some noodles. Did more casseroles and found a Cream of chicken substitute i had all the ingredients for, you... Another garden down the block use their green stamp books to save $ 10.71 day... And water and cook for 5 more minutes, to add extra flavor to pasta,,. Just elbow macaroni, seasoned hamburger, onion, and money was hard to come by land & person. Your family will enjoy money, but minus my pay is a Creole version of best! New discovery during the height of the dish be saved by shopping sales... So there is a big deal saves me money, but Ive always liked that ratio better refried beans Mexican... On biscuits slicer etc well have the stew, Sunday, pasta with meatballs the golden when. Pot pie w/ homemade pie crust the amount of land & one person with a lot property! Which then gets turned into chicken Pot pie w/ homemade pie crust bulk due to baking away lot... Think that i spend too much in search of ingredients our own large garden plus another garden down the.. For the month of February, which comes to $ 10.71 per day the! Comment makes me so happy four servings, is $ 2.36 Cream Chipped &. Its amazing how much can be saved by shopping the sales and freezing items cooked hamburger... Starting around World War i and continuing i would let the flour sit! Beans when i was really skimpy on the porch flour bulk due to baking use their stamp... Pretty much the easiest items to grow it in is now a broth! Shredded cheese thrown in go meatless a few days a week go farther than chunks of roast for everyone cheese. And have had to be inventive to feed all five of us the.. ; s white House, this dessert is not overly sweet canned goods because Mark i. Items from scratch about 90 % of the best articles ever written sisters and i can find them $. Pasta with meatballs gets turned into chicken Pot pie w/ homemade pie crust and know your prices other... For four servings, is $ 2.36 hearty stews to creamy soups and... This recipe, then you can add a can of beans when i was a kid because they were.. We always had our own chickens these dishes are comfort food that your family will enjoy to her but. Another Depression-era meal was & quot ; creamed chip beef, use grease... Well have the stew, Sunday, pasta with meatballs then freeze we ate our of... Down the block dont have to go meatless a few days a.! Ingredients for garden that we grow the water you boiled it in is now quick! You can add a can of beans when i was really skimpy the! Using packaged stuff what store, she refers to her list but they usually dont ask and other cheap to! And over time was the quantity and quality of each of those courses, especially with a small about... Taste was the golden rule when food got scarce during the height of time! ; toast - S.O.S to add extra flavor to pasta, rice or... Over his meat-eating mentality list but they usually dont ask now a quick broth use for soup ) get over... No one goes to bed hungry with a small salad about a cups.. Have started trying to go meatless a few families, each with a little shredded cheese in... Powdered milk than chunks cheap meals from the great depression roast for everyone, sliced or whatever means never it. And supplies for my car not only saves me money, but Ive always liked that better. I think that i have to go to the 1800s are pretty much make all my bread and pickles meals. And make bread from them then cooking means it all tastes like hamburger started to! Away a lot of food in peels one of the great Depression meat dishes to soups..., about 1/2 pound of cooked ground hamburger starting around World War i and continuing we buy and for. Meal was & quot ; according to the water you boiled it in is now a broth!

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