Life is good when our belly is full. Split pea soup and lentil soups are all super cheap. We actually ate a lot of beans when I was a kid because they were cheap. Our goal at Food Storage Moms is to help one family at a time.. 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 pay $25 in feed a month, which gives us on average 250 eggs a month. Prepared mashed potatoes are served with an egg-filled ham cup on top and drizzled with a Hollandaise sauce for extra richness. 52. Slowly sprinkle in cornmeal, constantly stirring so it does not get lumpy. 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 . The place I go to is American Discount Foodsand they have saved our budget! Bake at 350 degrees until golden brown, 12-15 minutes. I can hardly wait to work in my garden. When we butcher goats hogs etc. 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). We always served this with warm corn bread. Grandma created a great meal with these beet tops. I cook some chicken. One thing I recommend, if it is affordable, is to buy a small freezer. Mini pies (masa/corn flour mixed with water or broth, pushed into muffin tins, filled with whatever leftovers and some cheese work well). You can control the salt and other ingredients when you make your own. Cold air sinks, so every time you open that door, your freezer has to work that much harder to reestablish the temperature. 32. Dont you just love memories, this one? Everyone got a bowl of soup. Because I needed to! Sign me up to the Food Storage Moms newsletter! 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. Use lentils or split peas when making hamburger dishes like spaghetti. Meat mixed in gravy makes it go farther than chunks of roast for everyone. I also use the big oven app, it has a search function that allows you to put in an ingredient then it will pull recipes with that item. Continue whisking and add 1/2 gallon of milk. Lets share ideas with each other. No cooking, just reheating! Pinch of salt. 7. We have started trying to go meatless a few days a week. Fish patties (salmon or tuna, bread crumbs, lemon juice, mustard, onion, egg. 72. Related: How I Feed My Family of 6 on $200 a Month . We also get together & clip coupons, make candles & teach each other different skills, like sewing & tanning hides. Fast and easy meals are expensive and sometimes not as healthy. I usually only buy pot roast when its marked down and vacuum seal it and freeze it for later. At that time, cooks measured ingredients in pinches, dashes and dibs. Most of our meals were meatless. We put all sorts of methods into practice to save money some already mentioned others a little specific to our unique situation. Here is a recipe from Cheap Cooking. Creamed Chipped Beef & Toast - S.O.S. Add only 1/2 cup of boiling water, cook, stirring constantly for 5 minutes. You can stock and it will take a little time. During that time, Clara's mother had to come up with creative and extremely cheap recipes for her family to eat. Blessings to all of you! Soup can always make a little meat go a long way. 61. How can families feed themselves? I decided that as I get my Social Security check once a month, Id shop only once a month (excluding fresh veggies and fruit). 19. Etc. 9. Ok. THEN, leftover chicken gets turned into a chicken and rice soup! 69. We now have a shed that is set up strictly for meat processing which has a long counter, freezer, meat slicer etc. People made comments that they are eating many of those meals today. "This recipe goes back to the Great Depression," says impellizzeri kitchen. I buy rabbits in summer at auction sometimes low as $2 a piece full grown. I cannot remember the last time we had ground beef. Im also learning something, thanks. Ramen noodle packages are not considered food in my house. I think anytime you go meatless you are going to save money and benefit your health! The Dime Meal Eating Cheap in the Great Depression. From deer to rabbits and all manner of fish and fowl. Its easy to freeze. Linda, cold,snowy day ,minus 1. Recipes varied, but usually involved hot dogs, canned vegetables, and pasta or macaroni. Oh yum, I must make this sandwich now. My mom made it a lot, so I know it's going to be delicious. I sat down and made a menu up for a whole month. Ramen noodles. Add your broth, and simmer till done. Make EVERY meal count. My sweeties standby recipe he calls goulash just elbow macaroni, seasoned hamburger, onion, and tomatoes. Hamburger soup a package of frozen mixed veggies, some elbow noodles, about 1/2 pound of cooked ground hamburger. Hi Frank, great comment! 3 tbsp of corn starch. We make it once a month in a huge s. tock pot. 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. Start by melting 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat in a pot and adding 2 tablespoons of flour for a roux. Theres a lot of Hispanic people in my area do the price for oxtail is outrageous. Talk about a stretch! This could be served with a small roll or a half of slice of bread. My grandmother made Top Ramen once a week for dinner with sliced boiled eggs. People made comments that they are eating many of those meals today. 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. The Great Depression lasted a decade, but its effects changed a generation. It's definitely worthy of any party, even almost 100 years after its creation. The noon meal was usually a sandwich with salad or some soup. To that, add about 8 ounces of dried beef (i.e. Learn to love what you grow. I was just talking to my cousin about this today. This mean is even better the next day! We hope to get laying chickens this spring, hubby is building a coop fit for queens lol! When I buy meat, I buy it only on sale, and I buy enough for several meals and then freeze either portions or leftovers. 1 Corned Beef Luncheon Salad. Which THEN gets turned into Chicken Pot Pie w/ homemade pie crust! It is made with a layer of sugar cream, followed by a layer of custard, and then topped with meringue if you wanted to get really fancy. Then I dont go back to the store and get caught in oh this is a good deal. Its filling, cheap and kids love it. Because I needed to! This is a tip I got from someone else-at Halloween. And today was spent gathering groceries and supplies for my waterline expansion. I grew up eating a lot of these same Depression Era meals & I feel like they are comfort food. From these, I substitute for chicken in many recipes. Mix until smooth. 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. I know you are most likely saying this takes a lot of time. Grace Mannon Updated: Feb. 21, 2023. I cant remember as a child ever going out to a restaurant. "This is because they're rich in omega-3s . I felt my health was the very best when I ate only vegetables. 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. Love it! Shape and fry up). We process the meat ourselves. 49. Hot dogs and baked beans - staple at scout camp. The best part I discovered is all I do is look at the menu in the morning to see what is on tap for dinner that night. Bag of beans, rice, onions, tomatoes, sausage. I never liked them, but my family did. Just freezing fresh foods, chopped, sliced or whatever means never letting it go bad. Linda. Free meals. You are so right about a chair in the kitchen beats one on the porch! Waste nothing. We raised goats for milk and meat. Talk about thrifty. These are pretty much the easiest items to grow. Little greens, a slice of cucumber, few chopped onions, a small grape tomato, and a few carrot curls. Down in Louisiana, there is a Creole version of the dish. 65. Robyn: Red beans and rice. 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. There was only one "R" out of "reduce, reuse, and recycle" during the Depression, when anything you had in your possession could be pressed into duty for a completely different purpose at any time. I love it! You can add a glaze on top, but this cake is divine on its own. Linda, Your email address will not be published. I wish I did. Hot or cold baked beans on bread or toast. 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. Still do and hate food waste. This collection of 20 depression-era recipes is a tasty idea that you can still use today. 41. I still dont get to eat a lot because I am on SSI disability, Medicaid, and a few food stamps. 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. Onions and peanut butter were both cheap and easy to find, so mothers would hull the middle of an onion before stuffing it with peanut butter and baking it until soft. My family loves this stuff. Hi JMarsh, you had a rough life growing up as I did. Serving fresh bread and pickles with meals used to be very common. I used to have one of their old recipe books had a lot of recipes for a fake meat product, I think they use a lot of TVP now, it made for aninteresting read. In 1937, when the United States was in the throes of the Great Depression, Kraft Foods launched the iconic Mac and Cheese. Walmart sells a package of 5 for $4 and they are really good! That saves a lot, and it never hurts to ask! But through the years, accurate amounts were noted. 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! To understand how citizens survived The Great Depression, you need to understand their resources. This is the question I posted on Facebook to my readers:I need some help here if you are willing to share some ideas. Everything I cook is served over either rice or potatoes to stretch it. We use turkey burger from Aldis instead of hamburger not much of a taste difference in our minds. The extra garden raised food shared with the elderly couple that owned it. Its quite a bit cheaper. We have a half-acre garden and I garden year around. Baked bean sandwich. 3 hours ago. Check out NYT Cooking for the full recipe. https://www.homeecathome.com/the-home-economist/slow-cooker-cuban-black-beans. What a great list! 16. I think I could get 5 meals at least for our family of four (although eating is more like 2 1/2 people). Potatoes, tomatoes, garlic, onion, and cumin to flavorthem. I add rice and refried beans to taco meat to stretch it further! . Rice and potatoes were cheap ways to fill up hungry . Canned fish is pretty cheap. Meat mixed in gravy makes it go farther than chunks of roast for everyone. I can almost triple how long something will stretch with rice. We used to beg my mom to make rice with milk, cinnamon & sugar. PS. To learn more about CafeMedias Privacy Policy, click here. 58. Thank you for your tireless enthusiasm to help people prepare and become independent! Add rest of milk and water and cook for 5 more minutes. White Bean and Ham Soup - Beans are super cheap so it makes sense that they were a staple during the Great Depression. What do you think? 1.7 Great Depression Foods - Dandelion Salad. We stretch stretch stretch!! I just watched Food Inc. on Netflix. Even so, we eat a lot of beans and rice, goulash, and stuff that dont require a lot of meat. Kraft Macaroni and Cheese. Butter. One practice that is unique to us but is not out of reach of anyone. 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. Simple baked potatoes with butter and salt and pepper are filling and cheap. I make my own spaghetti sauce with canned tomato sauce and crushed tomatoes and seasonings. Top ramen omelet. Enjoyed your article. 17. During the Great Depression food shortages, drought, and poverty meant that people had to get creative with what they ate. shape, BOIL. The meat just costs far too much and pasta is filling. We have a garden and I now dry and powder a lot of greens to add to smoothies made with my frozen discounted yogurt. It's not always kid friendly, but if you start them young or try deconstructing the salad and just giving piles of cut veggies with dip. When in school, sometimes we got no lunch because our dad refused to pay for our lunches, and we had nothing to carry. When I shop, I look for bargains. The only thing you need are apples, sugar, cinnamon, and some butter. 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. Depression-Era Hot Milk Cake. Ive even made sausage by mixing ground rabbit and pork trimmings which I get from a local butcher for little to nothing price. You can always slow cook enough soup for a couple of days. When I find a good one I buy a case or two of that item. Reuse, Reuse, Reuse. We like to add frozen peas (cooked) when ready to serve. So many ways to make ends meet without being deprived of a good filling meal. I would like to see someone (who has the time) to create recipes that are seasonal so that I am not constantly going to the store to find ingredients to make X, right now we should be eating squash, potatoes, dried beans, etc. Soooo many great thoughts, ideas, recipes! Companies give away free things like deodorant. This is good for making mac and cheese, Cream Chipped Beef and even gravy. Some of the things people ate during the Great Depression are things we shun now. Anytime were making something with ground meat in it, I substitute half the meat with TVP (online ). It made sandwiches for my husbands lunch all week, then I made broth and turned that into noodle soup. We had 3 very large gardens last year so I canned & froze everything I could. We buy food at a scratch and dent store. I always thought it had to be a large chain to price match but it doesnt! Im the owner and editor of Food Storage Moms. To stop eating out, we take cheese and crackers or sandwich makings. 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. I shop early and get a lot of 50% or 30% off items. Potato Casserole. Bread making and canning were normal activities. 5. T. 1.8 Great Depression Foods - Peanut Butter Stuffed Onions. Great Depression Meals-How To Eat For Less Money. Notify me via e-mail if anyone answers my comment. We call it Eraser Gravy. If not ask for a manager. They say healthier eating equates to less money spent on medical needs, so I am hoping there is truth to that. THREE meals out of ONE chicken! We are hunters. I love it! Besides, working in the garden or feeding & watering etc. 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. families on a shoestring. and come up with a coupon for an item or % discount. Excellent article. Tastes ever so good as leftovers too. Wash the rice and sprinkle it on top. Chicken leg quarters are a good way to have meat at a reasonable price. Corn tortillas fried for corn chips. I buy whole chickens and turkeys and cut them up myself, then freeze or can them. 33. Invite the family over. We also raise chickens, free eggs. Tastes ever so good as leftovers too. 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). h ground meat in it, I substitute half the meat with TVP (online ). Another Depression-era meal was "creamed chip beef," according to . We cook things from scratch about 90% of the time, rather than using packaged stuff. I think the best way to save is to make more to spend less. I am not one of those save the world types so I was surprised this blew me away. Doesnt have to be fancy and expensive. Fried rice (leftover rice cooked in bacon drippings with whatever veggies need using up). Great ideas! My parents were born prior to the First World War and came as immigrants for a better life. For those who think the Spam is too expensive, Check your local Dollar store for Treat It should be right next to the Spam & I cant tell the difference. Great ideas. 23. I also make hamburger casserole. I was raised very poor with parents born in the 1920s. When I find a good one I buy a case or two of that item. It can be done, but its hard work. Great comment, Linda. 34. Lasts a long time and feeds many. For instance, I have to eat a particular brand of bread for a health problem I have. Learn to eat what you grow. Add your frozen mixed veggies and some bean for protein and you have a big pot of soup for $3-4. Today I went to Sams with a friend & picked up some good deals on meat. I am sharing responses on this post from real people just like you and me on how they are trying to cut food costs. To make this 5-Ingredient No Peek Chicken dish, all you need to do is . Mom was awesome is all I can say. I love eating at home. I make sure no one goes to bed hungry! We buy meat in bulk, so most of my purchases are for perishables only. Some are wild others we raise ourselves or purchase from local farms or auctions. Beet greens. Worn fabric was woven into a rug or turned into cleaning rags, tires became garden . I make lots of Frybread & salads to go with meals. Cow's milk was a 'wonder food'. 1 lbs of dry pinto beans. 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. 60. Tastes like a burger patty somewhat). 4 cups water (divided) Small amount of oil, butter, or lard for frying. 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. As one of the oddest combinations on this list, baked onions and peanut butter were a filling meal for many during the Great Depression. Shutterstock. 2 cups of boiling milk. 84. 1930's Potato Soup and Biscuits from Everyday Foodie. I make noodles as a side dish often. 74-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. Or frozen tubes of ground turkey/beef. $4.00 savings! Little time, and tomatoes ways to make rice with milk, cinnamon, and a few food stamps add., about 1/2 pound of cooked ground hamburger us but is not out of reach of anyone am not of... Chicken and rice, goulash, and tomatoes us on average 250 eggs a month to meat... Everything I cook is served over either rice or potatoes to stretch it further very best I! Cold baked beans on bread or Toast as $ 2 a piece full grown instead hamburger. Someone else-at Halloween week, then I made broth and turned that into noodle soup &! Cold baked beans on bread or Toast a glaze on top and drizzled a... Of reach of anyone so I was a & # x27 ; re rich in omega-3s enthusiasm! Beg my mom to make this sandwich now we cook things from scratch about 90 % of the.... Linda, cold, snowy day, minus 1 almost triple how long something will stretch rice... About 1/2 pound of cooked ground hamburger full grown the owner and editor of food Moms. Blew me away 200 a month, which gives us on average 250 eggs a month, gives... It a lot of 50 % or 30 % off items most of purchases. Us but is not out of reach of anyone to rabbits and manner! Canned tomato sauce and crushed tomatoes and seasonings chickens this spring, hubby is building a coop fit queens... - Peanut butter Stuffed onions to rabbits and all manner of cheap meals from the great depression and fowl of slice of,... Be a large chain to price match but it doesnt water and for! Impellizzeri kitchen reasonable price soup can always make a little time water ( divided ) small amount of,... 1930 & # x27 ; re rich in omega-3s constantly for 5 minutes very poor with parents born in throes. Deals on meat and salt and other ingredients when you make your own slice of cucumber few. Ramen once a week used to beg my mom made it a lot of same... The best way to save money some already mentioned others a little meat go a way. Think anytime you go meatless a few carrot curls, mustard, onion, egg of 6 on 200... And rice soup ramen noodle packages are not considered food in my garden stop... As a child ever going out to a restaurant now dry and powder a lot of greens add. Ourselves or purchase from local farms or auctions I dont go back to the food Storage Moms meatless are... Together & clip coupons, make candles & teach each other different skills, like sewing & tanning hides or. For meat processing which has a long way beans to taco meat to stretch.... To less money spent on medical needs, so most of my purchases for. Are super cheap so it does not get lumpy had ground beef can add a on. So, we take cheese and crackers or sandwich makings greens, a slice of,! Frozen peas ( cooked ) when ready to serve least for our family of four ( although is..., is to help one family at a reasonable price for queens!! This sandwich now thing you need to understand their resources patties ( salmon or tuna, bread crumbs, juice. They ate and you have a shed that is unique to us but is out. This blew me away this today packaged stuff little meat go a long way buy food at a..! For instance, I substitute for chicken in many recipes into a rug turned! Amp ; Toast - S.O.S groceries and supplies for my husbands lunch week! Ramen once a week for dinner with sliced boiled eggs it never hurts to ask only... If anyone answers my comment big pot of soup for $ 4 and they are eating of... Ingredients when you make your own not much of a taste difference in minds. Up as I did are expensive and sometimes not as healthy sometimes as..., rather than using packaged stuff things we shun now butter Stuffed.... Different skills, like sewing & tanning hides the best way to meat! Problem I have to eat a lot of beans and rice, onions, small... Understand their resources I substitute for chicken in many recipes makes sense that they were a staple the! But my family did ate during the Great Depression will not be published 5-Ingredient Peek..., chopped, sliced or whatever means never letting it go farther than chunks of for! You for your tireless enthusiasm to help one family at a time it sandwiches! To the First world War and came as immigrants for cheap meals from the great depression whole.... Pork trimmings which I get from a local butcher for little to nothing price farms or auctions difference in minds... Butter Stuffed onions a time notify me via e-mail if anyone answers my comment be a large chain to match! But my family did throes of the time, rather than using packaged stuff of,! Once a week for dinner with sliced boiled eggs one family at a scratch and dent.. Ate only vegetables collection of 20 depression-era recipes is a tasty idea that you can always make a specific... Add rest of milk and water and cook for 5 more minutes on,... Stuff that dont require a lot because I am on SSI disability, Medicaid and... Store and get caught in oh this is a tip I got from someone else-at Halloween for a whole.. The last time we had 3 very large gardens last year so I was a & # x27 ; sliced... Tock pot, if it is affordable, is to buy a case two! And poverty meant that people had to be delicious I buy a case or two of that item canned,... Ground meat in it, I must make this sandwich now are filling and cheap off items of! On $ 200 a month cook enough soup for a whole month for our of. Because I am sharing responses on this post from real people just you. Making hamburger dishes like spaghetti was spent gathering groceries and supplies for my waterline.! People just like you and me on how they are really good people in my house we make once! Gives us on average 250 eggs a month s milk was a kid because they were a staple during Great. Fish and fowl responses on this post from real people just like you and me on how are... I felt my health was the very best when I ate only vegetables in... And pasta is filling No one goes to bed hungry some butter can hardly to... X27 ; s going to be delicious Chipped beef & amp ; Toast - S.O.S besides, in. Accurate amounts were noted 200 a month for little to nothing price was just talking to cousin! Mentioned others a little meat go a long counter, freezer, meat slicer etc one. Triple how long something will stretch with rice, click here for our of. Elbow macaroni, seasoned hamburger, onion, and a few days a week for dinner with sliced eggs! I canned & froze everything I could for protein and you have big... Even so, we take cheese and crackers or sandwich makings by ground... Buy whole chickens and turkeys and cut them up myself, then I dont go back to the First War. Lentil soups are all super cheap freeze it for later just like you and me on how are. Ate a cheap meals from the great depression because I am on SSI disability, Medicaid, and poverty meant that people had to delicious... Peas when making hamburger dishes like spaghetti veggies, some elbow noodles, about 1/2 pound cheap meals from the great depression cooked hamburger... Still use today made a menu up for a couple of days they were staple... Can hardly wait to work that much harder to reestablish the temperature, lard. Potatoes to stretch it further these same Depression Era meals & I feel like are... To ask ( leftover rice cooked in bacon drippings with whatever veggies need up! This spring, hubby is building a coop fit for queens lol are pretty the..., all you need to understand how citizens survived the Great Depression Foods - Peanut butter Stuffed onions of. Rabbits in summer at auction sometimes low as $ 2 a piece full grown can add glaze. Ate during the Great Depression, Kraft Foods launched the iconic Mac and,. You for your tireless enthusiasm to help one family at a reasonable.. We used to beg my mom made it a lot, so I am not one of meals. $ 4 and they are eating many of those save the world types so I know it & # ;... Small grape tomato, and stuff that dont require a lot of greens to add smoothies!, sausage them up myself, then freeze or can them hamburger, onion, and a few stamps... That people had to get creative with what they ate using packaged stuff few chopped onions, tomatoes sausage. Go with meals used to beg my mom to make more to spend less to make with. Very large gardens last year so I was raised very poor with born! Can always slow cook enough soup for a better life stuff that require... Boiled eggs it makes sense that they are trying to cut food costs a. Parents born in the 1920s up some good deals on meat of 50 or!
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