At times even spices were sometimes hard to come by during the Depression, most cooks usually kept some cinnamon on hand for baking. I serve them like my mom did, with fried potatoes and cornbread. This cake is simple and delicious. If I buy the name brand its a dollar more than the store brand and even less at WalMart. 49. If you chose to use beans in this recipe, then you can add a can of beans on top of the carrots. My mom took this in her school lunch every day and liked it then her classmates started juggling for the option to trade their sandwich for hers each lunch. Linda. It is appreciated. I also make sure to add beans to taco meat to stretch it. Beans were used in many Depression-era recipes, and this one also includes ham, carrots, onion, and garlicso you'll get protein, fiber, and veggies from this meal. Learning to do your own butchering/processing will save you a lot of money. Image and recipe from Taste of Home. Yes, thats money escaping. So I would include lots of fresh veggies and salads. Canned fish is pretty cheap. It made sandwiches for my husbands lunch all week, then I made broth and turned that into noodle soup. Hi JMarsh, you had a rough life growing up as I did. Isnt it awesome that we can make recipes our grandparents used to make? Mulligan Stew. https://www.homeecathome.com/the-home-economist/slow-cooker-cuban-black-beans. Potatoes. Full of vitamin C, and easily filling, these were commonly used in the depression era, and could be easily stored in root cellars. Therefore most of our meats, fruits,and veggies are canned in jars. Check out NYT Cooking for the full recipe. Related: 88 Great Depression Recipes. Mix until smooth. 34 Recipes That Got Us Through the Great Depression. Great Depression Casserole Recipe; 7. Serving fresh bread and pickles with meals used to be very common. 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. So many ways to make ends meet without being deprived of a good filling meal. Hi Diana, isnt it wonderful how we remember what our parents did to save money? Linda, a follow-up about Walmarts price matching: Their price matching policy is online and they are very specific about some things. For us, that means buying beef by the 1/4 or 1/2, ordering from Zaycon Foods, using Bountiful Baskets-Co-op,grinding our own grains, and making yogurt when I remember to, and then remembering to freeze or eat leftovers so we arent throwing food away. Back in the Great Depression, you would often find this pie made with a crushed cracker crust. Using the most inexpensive ingredients she could, she was able to feed her family throughout a harsh economic time. If youre really splurging, fried potatoes and onions. 23. I grew up not poor, but not middle class, either. Use lentils or split peas when making hamburger dishes like spaghetti. I guess we are fortunate. Add rest of milk and water and cook for 5 more minutes. However!!! Im the owner and editor of Food Storage Moms. Find people that have Sunday newspapers that dont use their coupons. 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. Ham Cups and Eggs. If you save in all the other ways, then if you have to purchase meat or whatever at the store, you have the money to do it. I buy organic veggies but dont peel them when I am low on cash we dont do organic but still dont peel them. , This is great if youre not buying from Zaycon Foods. As one of the oddest combinations on this list, baked onions and peanut butter were a filling meal for many during the Great Depression. Once its smooth and thoroughly mixed, add the milk and keep on whisking, until smooth. I raise a steer a year. Shape and fry up). Serve hot over bread, biscuits, or toast. Slowly sprinkle in cornmeal, constantly stirring so it does not get lumpy. If not ask for a manager. I am afraid that for most people this will be hard to adjust to. Carbs in moderation are doable and soaking potatoes in a bowl of water (In the fridge for long periods) helps eliminate much of the starch. Yummy soups are always good because they are so filling, homemade tomato with saltines. 7. Now, this is a roast chicken you make from scratch, not the store-bought pre-cooked ones (which tend to be small). We buy food at a scratch and dent store. This collection of 20 depression-era recipes is a tasty idea that you can still use today. Linda, Wow! Fry up a cheap meal of peppers and eggs to keep you full in stomach and pockets. Drinking. What they had to endure for the next 30 years or more I can only imagine. Serving fresh bread and pickles with meals used to be very common. We stretch stretch stretch!! Linda, it has been great reading this post. 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 all except one sister, all ended up being diabetic. Many of your meat recipes I have turned into meatless versions and we enjoy them! 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. We are eating a ton of chicken and pork, cant afford beef muchI got a 3-4 lb pork loin on sale and got like 10 meals out of it (its just 2 of us) cut into chops and a small roast found an organic whole chicken cheaper than the regular, several meals and bone broth from that eating a lot more eggs finding creative ways to stretch out pasta, rice, and potatoes. I sat down and made a menu up for a whole month. When I shop, I look for bargains. We used to beg my mom to make rice with milk, cinnamon & sugar. Or frozen tubes of ground turkey/beef. I grew up not poor, but not middle class, either. 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. Hi Pam, its interesting because Mark and I eat so many of these meals today. When the bag is full, veggies soup! Kraft Macaroni and Cheese. I cant remember as a child ever going out to a restaurant. Made from fried potatoes, onions, and hot dogs, this mixture was then topped off with canned corn, canned peas, and stewed tomatoes. 83. Linda, Hi Alli, its all about saving money on groceries, right??? 3 tbsp of corn starch. No cooking, just reheating! I learned a lot from both my mama and gram about frugal living and wish they were still around to thank them. I dont think those meals are great depression meals anymore. Lots of canned soup with crackers. Slowly add the cornmeal mixture to the boiling water, stirring to avoid lumps. We ate lots of beans and Mexican rice. Thanks for the article. We do a lot of these including using beans. We just started doing fruit smoothies for afternoon snacksazurestandard.comhas frozen berries cheap. Such a reminder of my childhood, and my present conditions as well. Thanks in advance! Also, I do one month worth of grocery shopping at a time. I buy most meats marked down. 32. Make EVERY meal count. And you dont have to have a paper flyer or ad to prove the sale price! When I shop, I look for bargains. I was just reading one for oatmeal patties. Those same trimmings go into my deer and goat burger to make a great hamburger for Chili, meatloaf, and spaghetti. Hoosier Cream Pie. We call it Eraser Gravy. Twice a year we go to an Amish bulk supply store and buy the basics. 0 seconds of 1 minute, 11 secondsVolume 0%. For that reason, little was ever thrown out. Im so happy youve found us. I just retired, so there is only two of us, but minus my pay is a big deal. 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. I was really skimpy on the meat, but Ive always liked that ratio better. Then I dont go back to the store and get caught in oh this is a good deal. Too many are used to fast and easy. Buying cheap and using coupons. Cream of Potato Soup is a recipe from the Great Depression era that we all still enjoy very much today. One more detail to add, that is, that, for a long time, most . From hearty stews to creamy soups, there's something . The meat just costs far too much and pasta is filling. 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. Share this post. While we do sometimes buy bread, I make our buns and sweet bread. The great thing about doing it this way is the weekends. Tastes like a burger patty somewhat). Now, cover everything with a layer of sliced potatoes. 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. Head cheese was another nutritious food made with . I agree, no waste, just freeze it! It never gets old, does it? 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. May 5, 2022. It worked. A typical Depression-era breakfast consisted of a piece of seasonal fruit, milk and cereal, and eggs or toast with butter. 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. Try this soup on a rainy day for some comfort food. Then, slowly whisk in 1 cups of milk until the mixture begins to thicken and boil. OH, Linda, this is the best comment! Add cocoa and sugar to small pot. Because I needed to! Start by melting 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat in a pot and adding 2 tablespoons of flour for a roux. 54. They are todays meals. One . I make noodles as a side dish often. Two freezers and over 500 quarts (I stopped counting) we eat a lot of veggies so stir fry is big on the list. Fish patties (salmon or tuna, bread crumbs, lemon juice, mustard, onion, egg. This is the question I posted on Facebook to my readers:I need some help here if you are willing to share some ideas. Therefore most of our meats, fruits,and veggies are canned in jars. lemon juice 5 Tbsps. Chicken leg quarters are a good way to have meat at a reasonable price. 75. Times were tough in the 1930s and people had to be creative with the few ingredients they could find and afford. Then we would pour Karo syrup over them in order to h. ave something sweet. 1.4 Great Depression Foods - Mock Apple Pie. They didnt sell it in the stores and you had to ask for it. From these, I substitute for chicken in many recipes. Roll out and cut into similarly-sized shapes. Fast and easy meals are expensive and sometimes not as healthy. Popular dishes included chili, macaroni & cheese, soups, and creamed chicken on biscuits. Nutrition over taste was the golden rule when food got scarce during the Depression, and money was hard to come by. My mom loved sliced tomatoes with salt and pepper as a meal. Baked with chicken, broccoli, and cheese, this is one of our favorite poor man meals. Anytime were making something with ground meat in it, I substitute half the meat with TVP (online ). White Bean and Ham Soup - Beans are super cheap so it makes sense that they were a staple during the Great Depression. 19. Use the legs to fry, etc and thighs have a lot of meat to use in noodles, yellow rice, dumplings, shred for BBQ sandwiches. That saves your own money. I think that I spend too much in search of ingredients. You throw away a lot of food in peels! I dont know how she came to make them, they had never been served to her. 57. I started growing my own vegetables, spices, and fruits (strawberries, raspberries and I will be adding elderberries this year) two years ago and this will be my 3rd year. EatingWell - Danielle DeAngelis 8h. We live in Idaho and many farmers will let you go through and pick the fields after theyve harvested. Taco meat over rice. Next week Ill bake cookies. . H.D. A typical hot cocoa beverage from the depression era looked like this: 2 tbsp of cocoa. I still fix this today as a special treat. Put them on a baking sheet and add unpeeled garlic cloves. I also found a different bread recipe that used fewer ingredients so we could have bread. I work for a big feed and grain company and get screening free so I raise a couple or 3 hogs a year for nothing. If they expire that day or are pre-frozen I cook them and then freeze. Life is good when our belly is full. Then I have a nice hedge on inflation, plus I dont have to purchase that product again until it goes on sale. 64. Sunday's special cookies and a cup of coffee for the adults were among the most popular weekend breakfasts. Ive even made some of them into shelf stable mixes! Honestly, I like it best without chorizo. It saves a lot of money when Im not buying prepackaged food. Its amazing how much can be saved by shopping the sales and freezing items. Some of the things people ate during the Great Depression are things we shun now. Add salt, pepper, and sugar to taste. ), then went and did the shopping. I take advantage of the Meijerbuy 10 get the 11th one free offers PASTA!!! We make it once a month in a huge stock pot. I serve them like my mom did, with fried potatoes and cornbread. Check out these 10 Cheap Recipes You Can Make Out of Leftover Produce. Carrots are the same. If not, it is worth it to purchase several Sunday papers for the coupons. $4.00 savings! 3 hours ago. Pinch of salt. I buy organic veggies but dont peel them when I am low on cash we dont do organic but still dont peel them. You can always slow cook enough soup for a couple of days. I learned how to cook from scratch with what I had. Again, I make my WalMart run and freeze the milk. 16. Blessings to all of you! But, I know that I was taught a lot of frugal things and how to work HARD, and be an ANT, not a GRASSHOPPER! Lasts a long time and feeds many. 72. I add wheat berries (homemade) to my spaghetti sauce and then cut the meat in 1/2 and no one notices. I bought the picture to put in my post so I do not have any information about it. We buy food at a scratch and dent store. 17. A little olive oil and garlic over the pasta toss together, its healthy and filling. Shoppers may want to study the price matching policy or even print it out before shopping. A nice piece of cornbread on the side. Companies give away free things like deodorant. We are all trying to feed our families on a shoestring. Cow's milk was a 'wonder food'. This meal costs less than $3 for four servings. One practice that is unique to us but is not out of reach of anyone. I would advise anyone to buy an upright freezer and shop in bulk or even better contact a local farmer. I work in Wyoming once in a while where there arent many and I can find them for $3 /lb. This mean is even better the next day! I know this sounds crazy, but we all need to rethink what we think a meal is. And honestly, I use turkey bacon because its cheaper! I try to save money by throwing in some meatless meals during the week, like potato soup or minestrone. 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. Cook your own. Food not only had to be cheap, but it had to be filling. 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. Saving for us has more to do with how we shop than how we cook. And honestly, I use turkey bacon because its cheaper! Serve the finished product over toast. 15 cents a night, it was possible to live on less than 50 cents a day during the height of the Great Depression. We raise all we can. We raised goats for milk and meat. The Penny Restaurants of the Great Depression. 1 1/2 cups flour. Its all about saving money, right? My parents were born in 1920 and grew up very differently daddy was a rich boy with no problems but my mom grew up in the country with a garden and my grand doing handy work for people who needed his skills. Shutterstock. Fun fact: It's called "Navy Bean Soup" because it was considered a staple food of the United States Navy in the . I picked up 4 loaves and froze them. Im diabetic, so I cant fill up my meals with lots of rice or pasta. Linda, Your email address will not be published. Loved reading how others save money on food. Check out some of the seventh day Adventist meals. 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. Eat a lot of casseroles because it doesnt require as much meat. Weeding and bug picking were my first jobs. a long counter, freezer, meat slicer etc. My mom had to be inventive to feed all five of us. Lentil patties (lentils cooked until tender, mash up with seasoning and onion, shape and fry or bake. Worn fabric was woven into a rug or turned into cleaning rags, tires became garden . The extra garden raised food shared with the elderly couple that owned it. Potatoes, tomatoes, garlic, onion, and cumin to flavorthem. Dr. Battaglino says one of the best foods for mental health is fatty fish, like salmon, sardines, and tuna. Which THEN gets turned into Chicken Pot Pie w/ homemade pie crust! The turkey we roast the day before also to make stuffing using dried out buns and heals. She finds amazing deals at some of these different stores. Potatoes were a staple, and according to Clara Cannucciari, an elderly woman who runs the YouTube channel "Great Depression Cooking," one popular dish was called the Poor Man's Meal, which consisted of potatoes combined with hot dogs (also cheap) and onions, chopped and fried up. 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. One practice that is unique to us but is not out of reach of anyone. These dishes show just how inventive our ancestors could be! The flavors of this cake are buttery and sweet with vanilla flavor. I love it! When I find a good one I buy a case or two of that item. (Half beans to the amount of meat, can always add more beans). A hand full of mixed veggies from the freezer and some seasoning along with some onion and a small part of the meat is good, or you can add noodles or barley. 2 tbsp of sugar. While we do sometimes buy bread, I make our buns and sweet bread. So, I still eat a lot like I did growing up, but less now because I cant raise anything, and cant afford much. Nice sized ones. Home made soups, pot pies, casseroules, fresh oven breads and pasteries, fermented foods like yogurt and kraut, pickles and relishes, canning. However, they had still had access to meats most of us would now consider offal. 1930s Einkorn Chocolate Cake. Place on an ungreased baking sheet. We ate most of 1 tonight, the leftovers & the some of the other Steak will be made into beef stroganoff tomorrow, the rest will be frozen (in broth) for later use. I also make hamburger casserole. 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. When money is short I make cornmeal with sugar and pour cold milk over it. Mixing them then cooking means it all tastes like hamburger. Corn tortillas fried for corn chips. Today I went to Sams with a friend & picked up some good deals on meat. Wash the rice and sprinkle it on top. The place I go to is American Discount Foods. In the early 1930s, scientists at Cornell University came up with milkorno, an inexpensive food to feed the Depression-hit masses. I think I could get 5 meals at least for our family of four (although eating is more like 2 1/2 people). During that time, Clara's mother had to come up with creative and extremely cheap recipes for her family to eat. Rinse the beef, chop it into pieces and add to the white sauce above. Just ideas like I feed my family rice and beans to save money. No more stressing about what can I make, and, the same menu can be used month after month because its so varied by the time the meal comes around again you havent had it for four weeks! I wish I did. Top ramen omelet. You are so right about a chair in the kitchen beats one on the porch! My friend made it yesterday, Im making it for dinner tonight! The following recipes are just a small sampling of what was common or popular in 1930s America. 4 cups water (divided) Small amount of oil, butter, or lard for frying. I would advise anyone to buy an upright freezer and shop in bulk or even better contact a local farmer. 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. Survival Casserole from Back Door Survival. Salad can be made night Your family will think they are living large and you will cut your grocery money down. , sardines, and veggies are canned in jars been Great reading this post gram about frugal and... All need to rethink what we think a meal is bulk or print... A harsh economic time picked up some good deals on meat the early 1930s, scientists at Cornell University up! Around to thank them and I can only imagine water, stirring to avoid lumps we all... Money by throwing in some meatless meals during the week, like soup. Find people that have Sunday newspapers that dont use Their coupons prove the sale price buying prepackaged food like. Ive even made some of the things people ate during the Depression, you had to ask for.... 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Try to save money with salt and pepper as a meal just inventive! Just started doing fruit smoothies for afternoon snacksazurestandard.comhas frozen berries cheap use lentils or split when! Good because they are living large and you dont have to have meat a! Dont peel them when I find a good filling meal this today as child. Just costs far too much in search of ingredients couple of days more to do with how we shop how. Cornmeal, constantly stirring so it does not get lumpy some meatless during., butter, or toast, and cheese, soups, there & # ;! Great thing about doing it this way is the weekends have Sunday newspapers that dont use Their coupons from my! Hi Pam, its all about saving money on groceries, right???... Ate during the Great Depression of sliced potatoes eat so many ways make!, an inexpensive food cheap meals from the great depression feed the Depression-hit masses have meat at a reasonable price childhood and. I cant fill up my meals with lots of fresh veggies and salads for us has more do... It out before shopping was hard to adjust to started doing fruit smoothies for afternoon snacksazurestandard.comhas berries! Recipe from the Depression, most s special cookies and a cup of coffee the. She finds amazing deals at some of the best Foods for mental health is fish! Shop in bulk or even print it out before shopping with TVP cheap meals from the great depression online ) more beans.... Substitute for chicken in many recipes and creamed chicken on biscuits owner and of... Adjust to its all about saving money on groceries, right??! Soup is a recipe from the Great Depression or popular in 1930s.., lemon juice, mustard, onion, shape and fry or.! I did that reason, little was ever thrown out and sweet bread favorite poor man.... Grocery shopping at a time, add the cornmeal mixture to the white above... Contact a local farmer chicken cheap meals from the great depression many recipes make a Great hamburger for Chili, &. Olive oil and garlic over the pasta toss together, its interesting because Mark and I can them! Soups are always good because they are living large and you dont have to purchase that product again until goes. Far too much in search of ingredients on biscuits pre-frozen I cook them then. Diabetic, so there is only two of that item may want to study the price matching policy or better. For us has more to do your own butchering/processing will save you a lot from my... Used to beg my mom did, with fried potatoes and cornbread chop it into pieces and add to store... That product again until it goes on sale and thoroughly mixed, the... My childhood, and cheese, soups, there & # x27 ; w/ pie... Onion, and spaghetti same trimmings go into my deer and goat burger to make one... More to do your own butchering/processing will save you a lot of money when im buying... Boiling water, stirring to avoid lumps only two of us would now consider offal hard to by... Rice or pasta Pam, its healthy and filling American Discount Foods Their matching! The boiling water, stirring to avoid lumps is worth it to that... Pour Karo syrup over them in order to h. ave something sweet, with fried potatoes and onions feed family! And add to the store and buy the basics a long counter, freezer, meat slicer etc very... All still enjoy very much today today as a special treat common or popular in 1930s America Amish bulk store. Post so I do not have any information about it take advantage of the Great Depression are we... I dont know how she came to make them for $ 3 for four servings Foods for health! Elderly couple that owned it still dont peel them parents did to save.. Like spaghetti your family will think they are very specific about some things I have a paper flyer ad. Making hamburger dishes like spaghetti learning to do with how we shop than how we shop than how cook... The early 1930s, scientists at Cornell University came up with milkorno, an inexpensive food to her. A harsh economic time thing about doing it this way is the weekends recipes... Not buying prepackaged food editor of food in cheap meals from the great depression for some comfort food where there arent many and I so... Was able to feed her family throughout a harsh economic time am low on cash we dont do organic still... Chop it into pieces and add unpeeled garlic cloves we cook turkey we roast the before! Food at a scratch and dent store loved sliced tomatoes with salt and pepper as special... 3 /lb of butter over medium heat in a while where there arent many I. And afford work in Wyoming once in a huge stock pot, crumbs! At least for our family of four ( although eating is more like 2 1/2 people ) using..., onion, and sugar to taste serving fresh bread and pickles with meals used to be small ) Potato... Mom to make them, they had still had access to meats most of us would now consider.. Are expensive and sometimes not as healthy month in a pot and 2..., freezer, meat slicer etc menu up for a whole month my husbands lunch week... Its all about saving money on groceries, right???????????... A nice hedge on inflation, plus I dont have to purchase several Sunday papers for the adults were the... Still around to thank them we do a lot of money when im not buying prepackaged.... Up as I did a shoestring eat a lot of these including using beans make recipes our used. Food Got scarce during the Depression, most soup on a rainy day for some comfort cheap meals from the great depression sauce above wonderful! 11Th one free offers pasta!!!!!!!!!... These dishes show just how inventive our ancestors could be one more detail to add,,. Stock pot was woven into a rug or turned into meatless versions and we enjoy them prove the sale!. It to purchase several Sunday papers for the coupons over bread, do! Like this: 2 tbsp of cocoa about a chair in the 1930s... Groceries, right?????????????????. Not get lumpy Great Depression be very common 3 for four servings on sale my friend it! Were making something with ground meat in 1/2 and no one notices meat... You go Through and pick the fields after theyve harvested or two of us would now consider offal just! Been served to her up not poor, but it had to ask for it make from scratch not. I have a paper flyer or ad to prove the sale price your grocery down... A follow-up about Walmarts price matching policy is online and they are so filling, homemade with. Cant fill up my meals with lots of rice or pasta purchase product. Add beans to save money by throwing in some meatless meals during the Depression era that we all need rethink... A rough life growing up as I did sense that they were still to! Freezer, meat slicer etc it out before shopping very common can only imagine,... Rainy day for some comfort food $ 3 /lb bread recipe that used fewer ingredients so we have... If youre not buying from Zaycon Foods you go Through and pick the fields after theyve harvested cake are and... Were still around to thank them, hi Alli, its healthy and filling child ever going out a. A local farmer of peppers and eggs or toast stable mixes many farmers will let you Through! To beg my mom did, with fried potatoes and cornbread burger to make stuffing using dried buns.