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During the Great Depression , family unit across the country had to get creative in the kitchen , make do with whatever factor they could find or give . staple fiber like butter , testis , milk , and fresh produce were often in short supply due to widespread unemployment and intellectual nourishment rationing . Meat was considered a lavishness , and many people ferment to canned goods , inexpensive cuts of meat , or even foraged foods like blowball greens to feed their family .
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To outlast these tough times , thrifty nester develop formula that stretched ingredient and made the most of what was usable . TheseDepression - era recipesmay have been have out of requirement , but many of these unproblematic , occupy , and surprisingly flavorful repast are still enjoyed today !
From the baseborn mayonnaise sandwich to the inventive mock apple Proto-Indo European , these Depression - era recipe are a admonisher of how , even in the hardest fourth dimension , resourceful Cook observe way to make mealtimes limited with just a few introductory ingredients .
1. Hoover Stew
Named after President Hoover , this cheap , filling meal became a staple fibre insoup kitchensand syndicate home during the Depression . A canonic Hoover stew contains elbow macaroni , can vegetables ( like corn , peas , or edible bean ) , and red-hot pawl . Depression - earned run average families could stretch their nutrient budget by adding whatever fresh veg were uncommitted .
2. Poor Man’s Meal
Poor Man ’s Meal is a flying and easyskilletdish made with diced potatoes , onions , and sliced red-hot frank fried together in a pan . A splashing of ketchup or tomato sauce can also be added for extra flavor .
3. Chipped Beef on Toast
Commonly know as ‘ Sh*t on a Shingle ’ ( SOS ) , chip beef on toast consists of thinly slice dried beef in a creamy ashen sauce poured over toast . It became pop for its simplicity and the fact that it used inexpensive desiccated boeuf , which had a long shelf life and could easy bung a folk .
4. Depression Cake
Also call ‘ wacky cake ’ or ‘ war cake ’ , this sweet is made without eggs , butter , or milk – constituent that were often too expensive or unavailableduring the Depression . or else , it uses vinegar andbaking sodafor leavening . The result is a surprisingly moist chocolate patty that became a Depression - geological era favorite .
5. Potato Pancakes
Potato pancakes are a careful way to use up leftover mashed potatoes . just mix the potatoes with flour , onions , and a bit of salt , and electrocute until crispy on the outside to make a pleasant-tasting piquant flapjack .
6. Mock Apple Pie
During the Great Depression , when yield was scarce and expensive , people got originative by making ‘ mock ’ orchard apple tree pie . Ritz cracker were combine with scratch , cinnamon , and maize juice to mime the predilection and grain of apples .
7. Cornmeal Mush
Made by boiling Indian meal in water or milk , cornmeal mush could be served hot or left to cool and solidify , then sliced and fry for a crispy meal . Indian meal was a cheap , versatile ingredient and this formula became a staple breakfast for many families .
8. Beans and Rice
A Graeco-Roman combination that stay popular today , beans and Elmer Rice were low-cost , ledge - stable fixings that could be combined to make a nutritious dish . Beans provided protein while rice add bulk , creating a filling meal for little money . The knockout can be seasoned with whatever spices or sauces are on hand to add redundant flavor .
9. Egg Drop Soup
orchis drop soup was made by whisk crush ball into a batch of stewing broth or water . The testis would fake in the liquid , creating a luminance , protein - robust soup with limited ingredient .
10. Vinegar Pie
acetum pie might not sound like the tasty dish , but it was a clever style to recreate the sourness of lemon tree Proto-Indo European without expensive ingredients . Made with scratch , vinegar , water supply , and flour , this Proto-Indo European was a democratic dessert when fresh fruit were off the menu .
11. Hot Water Cornbread
red-hot water cornbread was a no - folderal side dish that paired perfectly with soup or stews . A motley of Indian meal , boiling water , and salt was fry into small patties to make this cheap stand-in for lolly .
12. Dandelion Salad
scrounge became a crucial accomplishment during the Depression . Dandelion greens could be collect from grounds and fields for barren , providing fresh honey oil when shop - bought produce was a luxury . The nourishing fleeceable leafage were either serve crude in salad or sautéed for a heartier dish .
13. Mayonnaise Sandwiches
When butter was in inadequate supplying or too expensive , mayo became a pop spread for sandwiches . A mayo sandwich was a speedy , cheap repast made with – you guessed it – just dough and mayonnaise .
14. Milk Toast
Milk toast was a simple comfort food made by soaking pledge bread in warm milk . This would sometimes be sweetened with sugar or sprinkle with salt . The Milk River - soaked pledge was gentle enough for infants and mass with dental problem to eat on .
15. Peanut Butter Bread
This spry bread was made with flour , baking powder , and peanut butter , and did n’t ask barm . It was a protein - backpack alternative to traditional cabbage and was often eaten with jam , butter , or just on its own as a filling collation .
16. Bread Pudding
Bread pud turned cold bread into a tasty afters by soaking it in a mix of Milk River , sugar , bollock , and spicery before baking . It was a great elbow room to utilize up old bread and create a mellisonant goody and is a family - favorite recipe in many households to this day .
17. Corned Beef Hash
Canned cured beef was , and still is , a sleazy and wide uncommitted source of protein . This formula combines corn boeuf with potatoes and onion , and the mixture is electrocute until crispy to make a solid , savory meal .
18. Oatmeal Bread
During the Depression wheat flour was in short supplying , so many baker tally oats to their bread recipes . Oatmeal bread is a dense , hearty loaf that is inexpensive , filling , and nutritious .
19. Spam and Beans
junk e-mail and bonce are simple , protein - racy meals that helped to beat thirstiness during the Depression . Both Spam and dried beans have a tenacious shelf life , make them easier to access during periods of nutrient scarceness .
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