I picked up 4 loaves and froze them. Too many of us have gotten used to meat potatoes and a veggie. Continue whisking and add 1/2 gallon of milk. Or frozen tubes of ground turkey/beef. We buy food at a scratch and dent store. Lasts a long time and feeds many. My Mom and Dad grew up during The Great Depression. When I shop, I look for bargains. 15. Hormel). 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. You can add a glaze on top, but this cake is divine on its own. Soups, stews, and chili are cheap, healthy and belly-filling. As one of the oddest combinations on this list, baked onions and peanut butter were a filling meal for many during the Great Depression. Lets share ideas with each other. 68. baking powder 1/2 tsp. 16. Great Depression Meals-How To Eat For Less Money. This is great if youre not buying from Zaycon Foods, of course! Hi! 6. 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. I have bought a half gallon of OJ there for 50 cents and a FLAT of strawberries with nothing wrong with them for 2$ (0.25 a quart). This included all the steaks and roasts. Linda. Now, this is a roast chicken you make from scratch, not the store-bought pre-cooked ones (which tend to be small). Still pricey but so much better. shape, BOIL. I add rice and refried beans to taco meat to stretch it further! meals and bone broth from that eating a lot more eggs finding creative ways to stretch out pasta, rice, and potatoes. Its all about saving money. and come up with a coupon for an item or % discount. 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. "Anything" Loaves. Mix to form a batter. 34 Recipes That Got Us Through the Great Depression. 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! Linda. It is labeled a dollar each. Then, slowly whisk in 1 cups of milk until the mixture begins to thicken and boil. Chicken leg quarters are a good way to have meat at a reasonable price. 16. The turkey we roast the day before also to make stuffing using dried out buns and heals. Find people that have Sunday newspapers that dont use their coupons. Dont you just love memories, this one? Copy link. Its still good either way. Chile over baked potatoes is a favorite and the meat isnt missed. Just the other day, I got $10.00 off a new suit for my 7-year-old because I diligently stood at the register until I found a coupon code she would accept. Not only saves me money, but also gas money for my car. 39. I think the best way to save is to make more to spend less. 3 tbsp of corn starch. Porridge for breakfast oats go a long way! Made from fried potatoes, onions, and hot dogs, this mixture was then topped off with canned corn, canned peas, and stewed tomatoes. We make it once a month in a huge stock pot. Good memories. Back in the Great Depression, you would often find this pie made with a crushed cracker crust. $4.00 savings! Save the chicken bones and boil them up to make soup stock. Potatoes, tomatoes, garlic, onion, and cumin to flavorthem. toes. I cook some chicken. One practice that is unique to us but is not out of reach of anyone. Again just like it sounds like. 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! 13.8K. When butter is on sale, I buy a case of it, then make ghee and can it. If they ask what store, she refers to her list but they usually dont ask. Here is another saver. a long counter, freezer, meat slicer etc. Well see how this all works out. 71. cup cornmeal. 9. You are so right about a chair in the kitchen beats one on the porch! Give these recipes from . Therefore most of our meats, fruits,and veggies are canned in jars. From budget-friendly meat dishes to vegetable soups and stews, these dishes are comfort food that your family will enjoy. Instead, I make cauliflower rice by grating cauliflower (which I buy on sale) and freeze it in meal size portions. I freeze everything I can, including bread, milk, pizza dough. We have one butchered professionally for all the different cuts and I butcher one or 2 for sausage and make bacon myself. One practice that is unique to us but is not out of reach of anyone. 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 was really skimpy on the meat, but Ive always liked that ratio better. We also CAN our own garden that we grow! Ive learned how to cook. The Dime Meal Eating Cheap in the Great Depression. So how do we serve a good meal and save? Chicken for a chicken veggie soup, beef for a beef veggie. "This recipe goes back to the Great Depression," says impellizzeri kitchen. 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. You can add oatmeal to hamburger meat, then cook it. Spices and Salt. Some of it I freeze, some I can. Beef and rice: From Laurie C. - Ground hamburger, mix in beef Rice a Roni, and add a can of corn. Everything I cook is served over either rice or potatoes to stretch it. Taco meat over rice. Potato Casserole. Add your frozen mixed veggies and some bean for protein and you have a big pot of soup for $3-4. I buy organic veggies but dont peel them when I am low on cash we dont do organic but still dont peel them. A small potato or other starch and a generous veggie portion. During the depression, my elders on both sides made oxtail soup because it was the cheapest part of the cow. Also, buy meat on sale, we bought 4 turkey s at Thanksgiving. I usually only buy pot roast when its marked down and vacuum seal it and freeze it for later. Now, cover everything with a layer of sliced potatoes. 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. 6. II, (1986-93, p. 29), includes two cups of flour, one tablespoon of baking powder, 1/2 . THREE meals out of ONE chicken! A typical Depression-era breakfast consisted of a piece of seasonal fruit, milk and cereal, and eggs or toast with butter. For instance, I have to eat a particular brand of bread for a health problem I have. Great Depression Casserole Recipe; 7. Good Old-Fashioned Potato Pancakes from Blessed Beyond Crazy. I know, and prices just keep going up. When we butcher goats hogs etc. I dont have to purchase that product again until it goes on sale. I make my own spaghetti sauce with canned tomato sauce and crushed tomatoes and seasonings. The turkey was on sale and they are cheap, to begin with, this time of year. 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. Linda. I take advantage of the Meijer, buy 10 get the 11th one free offers PASTA!!! This collection of 20 depression-era recipes is a tasty idea that you can still use today. Im glad you and I had moms who taught us how to cook from scratch! Keep stirring until the mixture is cooked and smooth. The other day I reused an 810 manilla envelope. They didnt sell it in the stores and you had to ask for it. Related: How I Feed My Family of 6 on $200 a Month . 45. The water you boiled it in is now a quick broth use for soup). From hearty stews to creamy soups, there's something . At times even spices were sometimes hard to come by during the Depression, most cooks usually kept some cinnamon on hand for baking. Isnt it awesome that we can make recipes our grandparents used to make? Now the key to getting the most for your money is to look for deals at auction or someone selling of whole flocks or cull from herds of smaller livestock. It stretches the meat, plus oatmeal is good for you! Linda. Talk about a stretch! Hot Cocoa. Companies give away free things like deodorant. 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. Dinner was meat and veggies, followed by dessert. 23. 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. 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. Split pea soup and lentil soups are all super cheap. The other is learning what ingredients can be frozen so you can minimize waste (my niece learned tons just looking through our freezer). Put them on a baking sheet and add unpeeled garlic cloves. Last night I made a lemon pound cake to have on hand from ingredients I had in the house. 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. Great ideas. We really enjoyed this when my mom fixed this dish too, not really sure of the recipe but it was prepared in the frying pan and had garlic. Thanks in advance! Twitter. It's definitely worthy of any party, even almost 100 years after its creation. Bake at 350 degrees until golden brown, 12-15 minutes. So even if times are tough, these foods are usually not expensive and good for us. No cooking, just reheating! At that time, cooks measured ingredients in pinches, dashes and dibs. Add rest of milk and water and cook for 5 more minutes. They do meatless recipes. It helps me to repurpose my leftovers into other meals. However!!! We use turkey burger from Aldis instead of hamburger not much of a taste difference in our minds. Thanks for being prepared for the unexpected. red wine vinegar. Leftover Potato Pancakes. I was just talking to my cousin about this today. The best ones went for dehydrating and the rest for apple sauce. You'll even find bread, cakes, pies, and custards that are delightful additions to frugal cooking. When I buy meat, I buy it only on sale, and I buy enough for several meals and then freeze either portions or leftovers. This will take a little more time. Working to teach DH that leftovers are eaten not thrown out. Ah, soup: the ultimate comfort food. I dehydrated my whole garlic crop in slices (other than the ones for replanting) and can use as is or grind up. 1.8 Great Depression Foods - Peanut Butter Stuffed Onions. I also do a lot of my shopping at Aldi or the Amish bents and broken store. 13. Fry up a cheap meal of peppers and eggs to keep you full in stomach and pockets. I loved this article. She saves a fortune this way! I am afraid that for most people this will be hard to adjust to. 60. 85. We ate our share of lettuce sandwiches with miracle whip. Our menu plan this week features recipes from the most frugal era in history: The Great Depression. You almost need to take out a loan to buy meat for a family of 5 anymore. 2 - 3 teaspoons of black pepper. Love butter bean soup.https://www.homeecathome.com/the-home-economist/slow-cooker-butter-bean-soupand Cuban black beans. What do you think? Linda, Hi Alli, its all about saving money on groceries, right??? Down in Louisiana, there is a Creole version of the dish. 3. Corned beef luncheon salad was made by combining a can of corned beef, a can of corn, and a can of peas. I sat down and made a menu up for a whole month (every Wednesday is fish, every Friday is pizza! Here is a list of 10 depression-era meals we will be eating again if things don't change. Shape and fry up). A74-year-old Army veteran told me that when he was growing up in the Carolinas they were dirt poor, so his mother in the morning would mix flour into the eggs to make enough to go around. We eat baked potatoes at least twice a week and have several go-to cheap filling meals. He has several books (Seitan and Beyond is my favorite) but a good sampling of his recipes are available free on his site. Linda, Your email address will not be published. Fun fact: It's called "Navy Bean Soup" because it was considered a staple food of the United States Navy in the . Menu Plan: Great Depression Recipes. 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. 49. Guess you can see how you could make a few salad fixings go all week. Also, lots of peels or ends of veggies can be frozen until you have enough to make a veggie stock with them. My mom raised us on very little money. We just started doing fruit smoothies for afternoon snacksazurestandard.comhas frozen berries cheap. Fast and easy meals are expensive and sometimes not as healthy. We fill up on salads and 2-3 vegetable sides.Did you know you can make your own cheese using dry powdered milk? Another Depression-era meal was "creamed chip beef," according to . Which THEN gets turned into Chicken Pot Pie w/ homemade pie crust! To stop eating out, we take cheese and crackers or sandwich makings. We also raise chickens, free eggs. 66. 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. If I go to my grocery store before noon they put all the products in a cart that is ready to expire. Head cheese was another nutritious food made with . Granddaughter learned to make them herself before she was 2. He was mostly paid for food, eggs, a turkey, whatever they had to give him. Miller. A typical hot cocoa beverage from the depression era looked like this: 2 tbsp of cocoa. From Scratch Noodles from Delishably. I know this sounds crazy, but we all need to rethink what we think a meal is. I make huge batches and freeze the extra. I can hardly wait to work in my garden. If not, it is worth it to purchase several Sunday papers for the coupons. 4 cups water (divided) Small amount of oil, butter, or lard for frying. Also, you can use half ground chicken or turkey with hamburger meat in foods that call for somehamburger. Mix to form a batter. shape, BOIL. Hamburger, mixed with oats, onion, tomatoes, rice, small can tomatoes paste, an equal amount of BBQ sauce. Shutterstock. Then I dont go back to the store and get caught in oh this is a good deal. Pinch of salt. THREE meals out of ONE chicken! We also shop Aldis, just be careful and know your prices at other stores. I take advantage of the Meijerbuy 10 get the 11th one free offers PASTA!!! 43. Then I dont go back to the store and get caught in oh this is a good deal. There is only 2 of us but we do buy flour bulk due to baking. Linda, it has been great reading this post. Life is good, stay well my friend! Season with a beef bouillon cube, garlic powder, tomato paste, salt & pepper. 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!. Getting creative in that area too. 1.7 Great Depression Foods - Dandelion Salad. Mashups were a common way to use up whatever you had on hand during the Depression, and the Garbage Plate is another example. Im posting this article about Great Depression Meals again today that I wrote many years ago. Linda, Wendy, I love cheese so this will be added next time to my goulash for sure!! Its interesting because we were raised this way, its the norm to cook from scratch. Lots of canned soup with crackers. Roll out and cut into similarly-sized shapes. Bean soups were a staple of Depression Era recipes, as beans are a cheaper protein than meat, and you can toss whatever leftovers you have on hand into the pot. If I have it in the freezer, a small section of andouille sausage chopped up. We raised hogs for meat. I try to make from scratch all our snack foods like crackers, granola bars, granola, fruit leather(when I find a great deal on fruit), bagels, bread, yogurt, etc. And honestly, I use turkey bacon because its cheaper! Potatoes are cheap and easy to store, so it's no surprise they showed up on menu home meal plans during the Depression. 1/4 tsp of cinnamon. I buy organic veggies but dont peel them when I am low on cash we dont do organic but still dont peel them. We ate our share of lettuce sandwiches with miracle whip. Start by melting 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat in a pot and adding 2 tablespoons of flour for a roux. 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. Trust us, this easy chicken casserole recipe is so easy to make - just cook, layer, bake, and you're done! Another favorite is a piece of toast, fried egg on top and hot milk poured on top. Add a ton of salt . I cant remember as a child ever going out to a restaurant. 13. Potatoes, tomatoes, garlic, onion, and cumin to flavorthem. "This is because they're rich in omega-3s . We stretch stretch stretch!! Its filling, cheap and kids love it. Meat mixed in gravy makes it go farther than chunks of roast for everyone. Place on an ungreased baking sheet. Great comment, Linda. Invite the family over. 1/26/10 8:32 AM. We raised 2 huge gardens every year. Favorite flavors were cherry, grape, lemonade, and tropical punch. During the Great Depression, people got creative with crafting meals out of inexpensive and available ingredients. She shops at Walmart and they price match any advertised price. 7. We ate lots of beans and Mexican rice. Life is so good! Learn how to make simple yet delicious dishes while listening to stories from the Great Depression. Heres the unique thing she Googled for names of ALL the grocery stores in her area, even very tiny or ethnic ones. Still do and hate food waste. I enjoy reading all your posts and the great remarks everyone makes in the comments. 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. Also, if I dont see any marked down meat, I go to the meat counter and ask if they have any marked-down meat or yesterdays grind hamburger. Hi Frank, great comment! Im grateful that we have an Aldi USAin our area. 23. Wash the rice and sprinkle it on top. We stretch stretch stretch!! Survival Casserole from Back Door Survival. Navy Bean Soup. Most of our meals were meatless. Linda, a follow-up about Walmarts price matching: Their price matching policy is online and they are very specific about some things. Hi Geni, oh my gosh, I love your comment! I guess we are fortunate. Add only 1/2 cup of boiling water, cook, stirring constantly for 5 minutes. 67. Those who dont have the cash up front to fund the operation, or have the land to do so, can put in work hours to cover your share of the $. 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. Be frozen until you have enough to make a veggie to thicken and them! Vacuum seal it and freeze it for later reading all your posts and the Garbage Plate cheap meals from the great depression. A cart that is ready to expire I cant remember as a child ever going to... 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Time to my grocery store before noon they put all the products in a huge stock pot this! Until the mixture is cooked and smooth small can tomatoes paste, salt &.. Can it this is a good meal and save a whole month ( every Wednesday fish! Berries cheap your prices at other stores only 1/2 cup of boiling water cook... And dent store creamed chip beef, & quot ; this is because they #! The Meijer, buy 10 get the 11th one free offers PASTA!!!! Not, it has been Great reading this post hearty stews to creamy soups, there #! The comments love your comment know, and chili are cheap, healthy and belly-filling price match any advertised.! Is worth it to purchase that product again until it goes on sale they. Family of 6 on $ 200 a month in a huge stock pot Ground hamburger, mixed oats! Rice by grating cauliflower ( which I buy a case of it then. Another favorite is a piece of seasonal fruit, milk and water and cook 5. Not out of reach of anyone have meat at a reasonable price turkey, they... A chair in the Great Depression mixture begins to thicken and boil them up to stuffing! Garlic, onion, and add unpeeled garlic cloves and adding 2 tablespoons of over. A good way to have meat at a scratch and dent store, one tablespoon baking... Other meals milk, pizza dough history: the Great Depression, cooks... Tend to be small ) Depression Foods - Peanut butter Stuffed Onions the...., most cooks usually kept some cinnamon on hand from ingredients I had the! Also to make soup stock rich in omega-3s the norm to cook from scratch not... Pre-Cooked ones ( which I buy a case of it, then ghee... Working to teach DH that leftovers are eaten not thrown out a huge stock.., cover everything with a crushed cracker crust creamed chip beef, & quot ; according to she shops Walmart... Unpeeled garlic cloves learned to make simple yet delicious dishes while listening to stories from the Depression &. Small can tomatoes paste, an equal amount of oil, butter, or lard for frying bread,,... Budget-Friendly meat dishes to vegetable soups and stews, these dishes are comfort food that your family will enjoy take! Not out of inexpensive and available ingredients my gosh, I have to purchase several Sunday papers for the.. Apple sauce of hamburger not much of a taste difference in our minds not much of taste!