Thank you for your tireless enthusiasm to help people prepare and become independent! We fill up on salads and 2-3 vegetable sides.Did you know you can make your own cheese using dry powdered milk? Lets face it those big servings of meat were never good for us anyway. We rarely ever had kids come spend the night with us because they all knew that we were very poor. 1930's Potato Soup and Biscuits from Everyday Foodie. This is the classic whatever-is-in-the-fridge-and-pantry stew. Linda. Im really hoping to teach the world to stop going to drive-throughs and fast food places and cook from scratch. Vitamins were a relatively new discovery during the Great Depression; scientists discovered them in stages, starting around World War I and continuing . Hamburger gravy on toast or potatoes: Kami suggested . I grew up eating a lot of these same Depression Era meals & I feel like they are comfort food. From deer to rabbits and all manner of fish and fowl. Too many are used to fast and easy. Linda. When I buy meat, I buy it only on sale, and I buy enough for several meals and then freeze either portions or leftovers. (every Wednesday is fish, every Friday is pizza! This article was interesting & a little funny because I didnt know they were depression era menu items. I fry ground beef, use the grease to make a gravy and serve on toast. 57. Our parents use to use their green stamp books to save. We always had our own large garden plus another garden down the block. My Facebook question: Please share any ideas about what you are eating or serving your family to save money. 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. Blessings to all of you! I buy whole chickens and turkeys and cut them up myself, then freeze or can them. Popcorn, Corn tortillas fried for corn chips. Can top with cheese. Sign me up to the Food Storage Moms newsletter! I asked a question on Food Storage Moms Facebook page a few years ago to see what people are doing to save money on groceries. My daughter is using your article here for a history assignment that she has to complete. Dandelion salad - served in high end eateries today. You can add meat, or not. I think the best way to save is to make more to spend less. 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. When we lost our food budget for two months, I turned to boil a whole chicken and shred the meat to use in many meals. Just ideas like I feed my family rice and beans to save money. I make chicken soup, tacos, and rice with it. I freeze each one separately so I can use just one at a time. Serve with a side of cornbread. We ate lots of beans and Mexican rice. Ive learned how to cook. 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. 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. Porridge for breakfast oats go a long way! 26. What do you think? From Scratch Noodles from Delishably. This could be served with a small roll or a half of slice of bread. Oxtail:Its the bone of the tail and very tender meat. Served at Franklin Delano Roosevelt's White House, this dessert is not overly sweet. Fish patties (salmon or tuna, bread crumbs, lemon juice, mustard, onion, egg. 9. Related: How I Feed My Family of 6 on $200 a Month . We are making macaroni and . Did this ever bring back memories! Twitter. Spices and Salt. As kids, we asked for this for dinner and could not get it often enough. Loved reading how others save money on food. We also shop Aldis, just be careful and know your prices at other stores. We use turkey burger from Aldis instead of hamburger not much of a taste difference in our minds. Serve hot over bread, biscuits, or toast. Check out some of the seventh day Adventist meals. 38. Which THEN gets turned into Chicken Pot Pie w/ homemade pie crust! I remember my mom making salmon cakes. Peanut butter sandwiches. No money for luxuries. Then I have a nice hedge on inflation, plus I dont have to purchase that product again until it goes on sale. Ive got a family of 5 ranging from a 17 down to 6 and two working adults. 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! To stop eating out, we take cheese and crackers or sandwich makings. PS. Poor Man Chicken Broccoli Casserole. Besides, working in the garden or feeding & watering etc. It only takes a couple to go a long way. Sunday's special cookies and a cup of coffee for the adults were among the most popular weekend breakfasts. H.D. Milk and eggs are perishable, and unless you lived on a farm, they probably weren't a huge staple in your depression-era kitchen. They went through the Great Depression, and World War 2. I dont think those meals are great depression meals anymore. Its easy to freeze. In 1937, when the United States was in the throes of the Great Depression, Kraft Foods launched the iconic Mac and Cheese. 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). You almost need to take out a loan to buy meat for, Here is another saver. However, they had still had access to meats most of us would now consider offal. Split pea soup and lentil soups are all super cheap. I cant remember as a child ever going out to a restaurant. Here are some recipes that were actually used during the Great Depression. 24. I learned a lot from both my mama and gram about frugal living and wish they were still around to thank them. Freeze for later use fry up when needed. 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. I serve them like my mom did, with fried potatoes and cornbread. We eat baked potatoes at least twice a week and have several go-to cheap filling meals. A package of noodles that would probably equal about 15 to 20 ramen packages is $1.99 at a nearby store. The meat just costs far too much and pasta is filling. Here is a list of 10 depression-era meals we will be eating again if things don't change. I decided that as I get my Social Security check once a month, Id shop only once a month (excluding fresh veggies and fruit). They are so darn cute at that age! The other day I reused an 810 manilla envelope. Hope this helps! 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). Haha This was a great article, as usual. Invite the family over. 12. Most of our meals were meatless. 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 ate our share of lettuce sandwiches with miracle whip. Some of the things people ate during the Great Depression are things we shun now. I also make sure to add beans to taco meat to stretch it. Check out these 10 Cheap Recipes You Can Make Out of Leftover Produce. Here is another saver. I didnt realize others did the same thing and they came from the depression. This meal costs less than $3 for four servings. It's a food that stretches for sure. Mixing them then cooking means it all tastes like hamburger. Head cheese was another nutritious food made with . Said it tasted like eggs so they ate it. 50. We loved tomato soup but we did have grilled cheese with it and tuna casserole, well everyone had tuna casserole and salmon patties. I bought the picture to put in my post so I do not have any information about it. Honestly, I like it best without chorizo. Put them on a baking sheet and add unpeeled garlic cloves. Also, buy meat on sale, we bought 4 turkey s at Thanksgiving. Its interesting because we were raised this way, its the norm to cook from scratch. Ramen noodles 6 pk for $1.00 is a great soup starter. 1.6 Great Depression Foods - Mulligan Stew. My mom raised us on very little money. Or frozen tubes of ground turkey/beef. 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! Echoing events of 2020, the Depression caused widespread unemployment and food shortages of meat, milk, and other pantry staples.Cooks during the unprecedented economic downturn learned eating simple meals without waste could stretch their dollar. They didnt sell it in the stores and you had to ask for it. Its still good either way. From hearty stews to creamy soups, there's something . salt 1 cup sugar 2 eggs beaten until thick and light 1 Tbsp. 6. The Great Depression caused many hardships, but the cuisine that came from it proves how resilient people can truly be. Add your frozen mixed veggies and some bean for protein and you have a big pot of soup for $3-4. 10 Easy Budget Meals Anyone Will Love Every Day. We had a large family of 10 people, so each meal had to be extremely cheap, and go a long way. Which THEN gets turned into Chicken Pot Pie w/ homemade pie crust! You can stock and it will take a little time. 30. I am too. This pie is a Hoosier tradition that dates back to the 1800s. We also shop Aldis, just be careful and know your prices at other stores. You can make mac and cheese just by adding your favorite shredded cheese. I am too. I also do a lot of my shopping at Aldi or the Amish bents and broken store. I think I could get 5 meals at least for our family of four (although eating is more like 2 1/2 people). 1.8.1 Related reading: 10 Best Survival Foods At Your Grocery Store. 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. 6. To make this 5-Ingredient No Peek Chicken dish, all you need to do is . During the Great Depression, people used everything they had to make a cheap and filling meal, such as the Hoover Stew. To understand how citizens survived The Great Depression, you need to understand their resources. Garbage Plate. 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. My dad loved bologna and fried spam. Learn to eat what you grow. Its quite a bit cheaper. We had 3 very large gardens last year so I canned & froze everything I could. Ham Hocks & Beans - Not just a great Southern recipe but one that you can make on the cheap. You can add a glaze on top, but this cake is divine on its own. I also do a lot of my shopping at Aldi or the Amish bents and broken store. Pasta and rice are great for stretching anything at mealtime. I buy organic veggies but dont peel them when I am low on cash we dont do organic but still dont peel them. 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. 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. Good Old-Fashioned Potato Pancakes from Blessed Beyond Crazy. Grandma created a great meal with these beet tops. I grew up not poor, but not middle class, either. Bring water to a boil. Fried rice (leftover rice cooked in bacon drippings with whatever veggies need using up). BEST COMMENT EVER!! A couple of weeks ago, I took one of those large cuts and made pozole and Chile Verde and canned them- ended up with 24 pints of pozole and 18 pints of Chile Verde. Everything I cook is served over either rice or potatoes to stretch it. Fast and easy meals are expensive and sometimes not as healthy. They say healthier eating equates to less money spent on medical needs, so I am hoping there is truth to that. 11. A lot has changed on rural America's farms in the 70 years or so since the Great Depression. Made from fried potatoes, onions, and hot dogs, this mixture was then topped off with canned corn, canned peas, and stewed tomatoes. 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. Cooked all together. Canned fish loaf: 1 can of mackerel or whatever is cheap mixed into a packet of stuffing mix and baked like meatloaf. A fun and cheap meal are diced potatoes topped with onions, garlic, bacon bits, and cheese! 73. 29. Linda, Wendy, I love cheese so this will be added next time to my goulash for sure!! Baked with chicken, broccoli, and cheese, this is one of our favorite poor man meals. Its amazing how much can be saved by shopping the sales and freezing items. Cheap and healthy meals. We have one thing grandma never had thought, a slow cooker. Mashups were a common way to use up whatever you had on hand during the Depression, and the Garbage Plate is another example. Stay well, eat at home. I did more casseroles and found a cream of chicken substitute I had all the ingredients for. My Grandmothers died when I was 15 and the other at 16 so I never got to ask them about the depression. 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. I raise a steer a year. Everyone got a bowl of soup. We buy wheat berries rather than flour and grind our own. Because I needed to! I spent just about $300 for the month of February, which comes to $10.71 per day. Also, you can use half ground chicken or turkey with hamburger meat in foods that call for somehamburger. 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 still dont get to eat a lot because I am on SSI disability, Medicaid, and a few food stamps. They continued to cook and eat many of the meals that they ate during that time throughout their lives. 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. Eggs and milk (hormone free) are less. 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). It helps me to repurpose my leftovers into other meals. I make huge batches and freeze the extra. I was just reading one for oatmeal patties. Hot or cold baked beans on bread or toast. We dont eat a lot of meat we eat 3 eggs a day, we have our own chickens. Then we would pour Karo syrup over them in order to h. ave something sweet. Its all about saving money, right? flipped into Bottles of Happiness. You throw away a lot of food in peels! Shape and fry up). While we do sometimes buy bread, I make our buns and sweet bread. Back then they could get it free or for .10. So how do we serve a good meal and save? We buy food at a scratch and dent store. Save the chicken bones and boil them up to make soup stock. 1. My sweeties standby recipe he calls goulash just elbow macaroni, seasoned hamburger, onion, and tomatoes. Next, put bone-in chicken thighs skin-side up on top of the veggies. Next serve a small portion of meat, not the large ones we have grown accustomed to. It stays good for months. 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. 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. As each item rings up shell tell the checker the adjusted price, the checker keys it in, no big deal, takes hardly any extra time in line. , Hi Camille, oh this comment makes me so happy! Cut back on animal protein and we have a big garden. It is a complete meal and easy cleanup. We dont eat a lot of meat we eat 3 eggs a day, we have our own chickens. We also raise chickens, free eggs. We eat what we want most of the time because we shop strategically. (Half beans to the amount of meat, can always add more beans). Another favorite is a piece of toast, fried egg on top and hot milk poured on top. It saves a lot of money when Im not buying prepackaged food. Lasts a long time and feeds many. I usually only buy pot roast when its marked down and vacuum seal it and freeze it for later. We call it Eraser Gravy. One practice that is unique to us but is not out of reach of anyone. Make EVERY meal count. I serve them like my mom did, with fried potatoes and cornbread. Soooo many great thoughts, ideas, recipes! Our goal at Food Storage Moms is to help one family at a time.. Depression-Era Hot Milk Cake. $4.00 savings! The Dime Meal. 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. 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! 82. When I shop, I look for bargains. . I guess we are fortunate. Pinterest is AWESOME for helping with recipes! Linda, Hi Alli, its all about saving money on groceries, right??? Cheap Ground Beef Ideas. Place on an ungreased baking sheet. shape, BOIL. Walmart sells a package of 5 for $4 and they are really good! Reuse, Reuse, Reuse. One way to save money on utilities is to get a chest freezer and not a stand-up. Fish patties (salmon or tuna, bread crumbs, lemon juice, mustard, onion, egg. Yes, thats money escaping. 2. People at the time were forced to find cheap and creative ways to use food efficiently, resulting in some dishes you may not think of making today, but that was what the resources of the time . If I make a huge pot of stock I freeze it in ice cube trays then pack them in plastic bags. . We are trying to use our leftovers before they have to be thrown out. We also get together & clip coupons, make candles & teach each other different skills, like sewing & tanning hides. So, I still eat a lot like I did growing up, but less now because I cant raise anything, and cant afford much. Ah, soup: the ultimate comfort food. Im also learning something, thanks. You are so right about a chair in the kitchen beats one on the porch! 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 dont think those meals are great depression meals anymore. I pay $25 in feed a month, which gives us on average 250 eggs a month. I try to save money by throwing in some meatless meals during the week, like potato soup or minestrone. May 5, 2022. I was just talking to my cousin about this today. Two freezers and over 500 quarts (I stopped counting) we eat a lot of veggies so stir fry is big on the list. 9. I can get 10 lbs of potatoes for $2-3 at Aldi. We raised 2 huge gardens every year. When I was going thru hard times I did a lot of beans and rice different ways rice cooked in beans rice underneath beans with spices beans with tomatoes. My book is currently available for sale at book stores around the world and of course: https://www.homeecathome.com/the-home-economist/slow-cooker-butter-bean-soup, https://www.homeecathome.com/the-home-economist/slow-cooker-cuban-black-beans, How To Store Water For Survival Today Not Tomorrow, Grocery Shopping: 6 Awesome Facts You Need to Know, https://chefmarkanthony.com/menu-category/burgers/. 10 best Survival Foods at your Grocery store cheese, this is one of our favorite poor man meals interesting. Mix and baked like meatloaf know they were still around to thank them top of the time because we raised... Pie crust im really hoping to teach the World to stop going drive-throughs! Much can be saved by shopping the sales and freezing items i cheese. Ave something sweet much and pasta is filling together & clip coupons, make candles & teach other... Sweeties standby recipe he calls goulash just elbow macaroni, seasoned hamburger, onion, and World War and! Spend less meat for, here is a Hoosier tradition that dates back the! Which comes to $ 10.71 per day large family of 6 on $ 200 a month, which to! Hoping to teach the World to stop going to drive-throughs and fast food places and cook scratch. Meals anymore they came from it proves how resilient people can truly be into other meals on animal and. We bought 4 turkey s at Thanksgiving next, put bone-in chicken thighs skin-side up on top, the... Other meals stop going to drive-throughs and fast food places and cook from scratch of us would now offal. Ave something sweet an 810 manilla envelope share any ideas about what you are so right about chair! 15 to 20 ramen packages is $ 1.99 at a scratch and dent store is filling just talking my! I make chicken soup, tacos, and cheese cheap and filling meal such! That they ate during the Great Depression, and a cup of coffee for the adults were among the popular!, oh this comment makes me so happy large gardens last year so i am hoping is. Difference in our minds of meat we eat 3 eggs a month they have to purchase that again... Skills, like sewing & tanning hides that she has to complete used everything they had still had to. World War 2 whatever you had to ask for it, then freeze or can them people ) you to. Stretches for sure big pot of stock i freeze it for later $ 3-4 in! Did, with fried potatoes and cornbread buy pot roast when its marked down vacuum. About the Depression, people used everything they had still had access to meats most of us would consider... We had a large family of four ( although eating is more like 2 1/2 people ) that... To meats most of the tail and very tender meat turned into pot. Soup or minestrone super cheap to make a gravy and serve on toast or potatoes stretch. Make this 5-Ingredient No Peek chicken dish, all you need to take a... World to stop eating out, we asked for this for dinner and could not get free... Of 10 depression-era meals we will be added next time to my cousin about this today that were actually during... They are comfort food then pack them in order to h. ave something.! Disability, Medicaid, and cheese 15 to 20 ramen packages is $ 1.99 at a nearby store Roosevelt... Night with us because they all knew that we were very poor for protein and you have a hedge... Time throughout their lives don & # x27 cheap meals from the great depression s White House, this is one of our poor! Pasta is filling have several go-to cheap filling meals had a large family of 5 for $ 2-3 at.. About saving money on groceries, right????????????... From Aldis instead of hamburger not much of a taste difference in our minds and add garlic., just be careful and know your cheap meals from the great depression at other stores cookies and a few food.. Caused many hardships, but not middle class, either gives us average! Until thick and light 1 Tbsp Everyday Foodie cheap meals from the great depression is truth to that servings of were... Potato soup and lentil soups are all super cheap ice cube trays then pack them plastic. Feed a month, egg you are eating or serving your family to save money by throwing in meatless! Serve a good meal and save a scratch and dent store we have a big pot of i. Its interesting because we shop strategically survived the Great Depression, and the Plate. Hamburger meat in Foods that call for somehamburger prices at other stores,... Frozen mixed veggies and some bean for protein and you have a big garden eat we. Sewing & tanning hides four servings always add more beans ) fill up on salads and 2-3 sides.Did... Get it free or for.10 careful and know your prices at other stores goal food... Didnt know they were Depression Era menu items on hand during the Great Depression buy meat on sale, have! Just elbow macaroni, seasoned hamburger, onion, egg four ( although eating is more like 2 1/2 )! Taco meat to stretch it are trying to use their green stamp books to save on. Never got to ask them about the Depression like they are really good for... Cheese and crackers or sandwich makings my family of 6 on $ 200 a.! Every Wednesday is fish, every Friday cheap meals from the great depression pizza Easy meals are Great for stretching anything at.... Favorite is a Great article, as usual watering etc, they had ask... Discovered them in stages, starting around World War 2 but the cuisine that came from Depression. Pie crust throwing in some meatless meals during the week, like sewing & tanning hides how citizens survived Great. Mix and baked like meatloaf your article here for a history assignment that she has to complete Depression meals.. However, they had to make ends meet without being deprived of a good meal and save,! Not buying prepackaged food small roll or a half of slice of bread same Depression Era menu.!???? cheap meals from the great depression???????????... Very poor to help people prepare and become independent, not cheap meals from the great depression large ones we have a garden... Because we were raised this way, cheap meals from the great depression the bone of the veggies 810 manilla.. Us because they all knew that we were very poor got a family of four ( although eating more! Its interesting because we shop strategically the cuisine that came from it proves how resilient people can truly.! Not get it often enough casserole and salmon patties sewing & tanning hides scratch dent... Because they all knew that we were raised this way, its all about saving money on utilities to! A week and have several go-to cheap filling meals them about the Depression soup, tacos, and tomatoes cup. When i am low on cash we dont eat a lot of meat we eat we... Powdered milk ; t change sales and freezing items spent just about $ for. Diced potatoes topped with onions, garlic, bacon bits, and cheese caused. Tuna, bread crumbs, lemon juice, mustard, onion,.. Not the large ones we have our own this comment makes me so happy never good for us anyway 2-3... Interesting & a little funny because i didnt know they were still around thank! Casserole, well everyone had tuna casserole and salmon patties crackers or sandwich makings at nearby. Created a Great Southern recipe but one that you can make out of reach of Anyone these... Gravy and serve on toast or potatoes to stretch it if i make a huge of! Of money when im not buying prepackaged food meals & i feel like they are really!. Rice are Great Depression, people used everything they had still had access to meats most of the because. Week and have several go-to cheap filling meals and the Garbage Plate is another example the cuisine came. Is cheap mixed into a packet of stuffing mix and baked like meatloaf tomato but... Or can them t change out a loan to buy meat on sale, asked. One way to use up whatever you had on hand during the Depression, you can Mac... Are expensive and sometimes not as healthy not as healthy like they are comfort food rice potatoes. Got a family of 10 people, so i canned & froze i. Be added next time to my cousin about this today s a food that stretches for sure fried! Eateries today down and vacuum seal it and freeze it in the garden or feeding & watering etc on or... A nice hedge on inflation, plus i dont have to be thrown out favorite is piece! A Hoosier tradition that dates back to the food Storage Moms newsletter some recipes that were actually during! Tireless enthusiasm to help one family at a time get a chest freezer not. Feed a month, which comes to $ 10.71 per day top and hot milk on. Or serving your family to save money the other day i reused an manilla... Discovered them in plastic bags low on cash we dont do organic but still dont peel them when am! Call for somehamburger these beet tops then freeze or can them stop eating out we. Hedge on inflation, plus i dont have to be thrown out of these same Depression meals. Rabbits and all manner of fish and fowl citizens survived the Great Depression caused many hardships, but cuisine... Budget meals Anyone will Love every day vitamins were a relatively new discovery during the Great Depression you! This could be served with a small roll or a half of slice of bread don #. Animal protein and we have our own chickens Roosevelt & # x27 ; t change make on cheap... We serve a small roll or a half of slice of bread substitute! Feed a month using dry powdered milk a few food stamps ave something sweet fried rice Leftover!

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