Learn About The Strange Foods People Had To Eat To Get Through The Great Depression
There were many needs and uncertainties during the Great Depression. Food supplies were limited, and ingredients were rationed. The human race had to endure some real hardships. People have to think beyond the box while selecting their cuisine. This inspired a number of inventive cuisines that were also affordable. Some of those foods are regaining popularity since they are quick and simple to prepare while yet providing a balanced diet.
Save Our Stomach
A typical dish during the Great Depression was creamed chip beef. Additionally, it was used in both World Wars. It had dried meat. Using a combination of milk, flour, and butter, the beef was moistened.
Save Our Stomach
Then it was placed on a piece of toast. It was a tasty dish. People called it “Save Our Stomach.” Some locations in the Mid-Atlantic still serve this delectable delicacy.
Mulligan Stew
There were shortages and needs throughout the Great Depression. Since they had to prepare their meals with the extremely few resources they had, they had to be inventive. In reality, homeless folks invented the Mulligan Stew.
Mulligan Stew
They would assemble every scrap of money from every household in the area and deposit it in a sizable pot. They would then prepare it over a campfire. Today’s version of this dish is a veggie stew.
Bologna Casserole
Given ongoing inflation, beef was highly expensive during the Great Depression. So they went to Bologna. These would provide the necessary protein that the body requires. Bologna casseroles started to gain popularity during that period.
Bologna Casserole
That was because the food was flavorful, delectable, and full. They had bologna, cheddar, bacon, onion, pepper, chili, and beans in a can, along with canned pork and beans. This dinner was regarded as the ideal one for the Great Depression.
Poor-Man’s Meal
Clara, 91, displayed this meal to the world in 2007. Her family created this dish during the Great Depression. Hot dogs and potatoes are used to prepare this dish. After being fried, the potatoes were then served with diced hotdogs.
Poor Man’s Meal
Clara stated that because potatoes were so hearty at the time, her mother used to make a lot of their meals with them. However, despite the name, they were not so inexpensive, with a sack costing $1.
Hot Water Pie
The recipe for this dish was initially made public by the YouTube user “@emmymade,” whose grandmother used to cook it during the Great Depression. Simple materials are used to make hot water pie.
Hot Water Pie
The ingredients for the crust include butter, flour, and sugar. The custard filling is the next component and is prepared with butter, eggs, sugar, and boiling water. Making this was simple and deliciously sweet.
Jell-O Ice Cream
In the depths of the Great Depression, this Jell-O ice cream was a genuine treat. It was produced by blending Raspberry Jell-O with milk, sugar, heavy whipping cream, vanilla extract, and. It resembled no-churn ice cream in essence.
Jell O Ice Cream
A YouTube channel recently tested this meal. Glen from Glen and buddies wrote it. This meal came together quickly, simply, and cheaply. It received more attention because of this during the Depression.
Hoover Stew
A popular food during the Great Depression was stew. However, they weren’t created in the same way as now. They were manufactured with inexpensive, readily available ingredients. That was something like Hoover Stew.
Hoover Stew
It had beans, macaroni, hot dogs, corn, and tomatoes in cans. President Hoover inspired the creation of this meal. This dish is frequently compared to macaroni and hot dogs.
Egg Drop Soup
The egg drop soup you find in restaurants is not like this one. Brown potatoes, onions, a saltier water broth, and scrambled eggs are all ingredients in this egg drop soup. These components scream at the time of the Great Depression.
Egg Drop Soup
Many recipes at the time included eggs and potatoes. Some parmesan cheese was added to the soup before it was presented with a slice of crusty bread. Clara’s Depression Egg Drop Soup is another name for it.
Peanut Butter-Stuffed Onions
We would never dare combine peanut butter with onions. However, during the Great Depression, individuals were unable to consider flavor. To function, they required calories. Students were advised to eat this dish.
Peanut Butter Stuffed Onions
An onion was baked to make this dish. The inner components were then taken out. It was then filled with peanut butter. It was cost-effective. The ingredients that were available during the period determined how people prepared their food. Not to their taste, anyway. The Great Depression was indeed a time of surprises.
Dandelion Salad
There are so many varieties of salad available today. There are many different dressing choices. Today, we rely on our sense of taste. People living throughout the great depression didn’t have that convenience. The dandelions that they had in their gardens and lawns were used to make the dandelion salad.
Dandelion Salad
After that, they were seasoned with salt, olive oil, and lemon juice. It doesn’t look all that horrible, even though it was created out of need and poverty.
Garbage Plate
Ever since the Great Depression, this dish has not been lost. In Rochester, New York, diners still serve it. The Garbage Plate combines a few different foods. Macaroni salad, fries, baked beans, sausage, and cheeseburger are put on a platter.
Garbage Plate
Then, white onions, ketchup, mustard, and beef chili are added to this meal. This dish makes a filling dinner. Even though the combination of foods on this plate seems unusual, we must keep in mind that it was made during the Great Depression. All the readily available things were there.
Cooked Bread Cooked Again
It was not like typical bread when it was cooking. . They would create this bread when the previous loaf got too tough. Since there were only a few ingredients, they couldn’t simply make another one. They would slice the hard bread and then sprinkle salt and olive oil on the pieces.
Cooked Bread Cooked Again
After that, they would pour hot water inside of them to soak the bread slices. They would then mash the bread and start eating.
Cabbage and Dumplings
A pair of cabbage and dumplings are served in this dish. The dumplings were prepared at home using flour and eggs. Then it was served with roasted cabbage and onions in a cast iron pan. This recipe was delicious and healthy.
Cabbage And Dumplings
Making this dish is quite simple. The fact that it could be made with so few ingredients was another important aspect of the cuisine during the Great Depression.
Amish Cold Milk Cereal
During the Great Depression, Amish households frequently served this cold milk soup. It was a substitute for cereal. On warm summer days, it was served. Bananas were placed in cold milk that had been sweetened. These days, a banana smoothie is made from this dish.
Amish Cold Milk Cereal
The fact that this recipe just only a few ingredients made it a popular choice during the Great Depression. It was cost-effective.
The Depressed Apple Pie
This pie is nothing like the apple pie portion of its name. Instead of utilizing apple filling, Ritz crackers are used as the filling in this pie. Even though there are no apples in this pie, it tastes just like an apple pie. And it tastes good.
The Depressed Apple Pie
People had to use their imagination during the slump. If the ingredients were not available, they found replacements for their favorite dishes.
Eat as Long as You Can
Since ingredients were scarce during the depression, people made their food selections based on a variety of variables. The stew made from rabbit was essentially the last meal one could eat. The rabbit was initially cooked and eaten. The beef would be stir-fried the following evening.
Eat As Long As You Can
After two or three days, dumplings and a stew with rabbit were cooked. This dish was kept in the refrigerator for as many days as feasible.
Pie for the Desperate
The vinegar pie is very straightforward. This pie was enjoyable to attempt during the depression when ingredients were difficult to come by. When certain ingredients were unavailable, vinegar was frequently employed as a substitute. Vinegar enhanced the flavor.
Pie For The Desperate
Apple cider vinegar is used to make the filling for the vinegar pie. Fruits were difficult to find during the Great Depression. This dish served as a fantastic substitute for it. It has a delightful, apple-like flavor.
Stovetop Baked Beans
During the time of the Great Depression, beans were a common ingredient in cuisine. They were affordable and widely accessible. Beans were a common ingredient in many meals during the Great Depression. During the Great Depression, stovetop baked beans gained popularity as a side dish.
Stovetop Baked Beans
For many families, they even served as a whole dinner. All they required were beans and a few basic seasonings, like salt and pepper. They were then ready to travel. It was affordable and simple to create.
Breakfast Sugar Cookies
During the Great Depression, these breakfast sugar cookies were considered a luxury. They were produced with the traditional ingredients for Depression-era desserts: eggs, sugar, and flour. Due to the limited resources available during the depression, people had to be inventive.
Breakfast Sugar Cookies
Rationing of ingredients made it impossible to make elaborate cookies. However, in light of the Great Depression, these were quite opulent. At the time, these were the ideal Sunday snacks.
Peanut Butter and Mayo Combo
Food products were created during the Depression based on the components available rather than taste preferences. They had little choice because of the limited resources and rationed ingredients. During the Great Depression, mayo and peanut butter sandwiches became a mainstay in homes.
Peanut Butter And Mayo Combo
The taste of this sandwich was acidic and nutty. Since meat was considered a luxury at the time, this sandwich provided them with the essential protein they required. They had enough food from this sandwich to sustain them.
Peanut Butter and Pickle Combo
During the Great Depression, the Peanut Butter and Pickle Sandwich was a go-to and beloved lunch option. They were made at a low cost. They only required bread, peanut butter, and a pickle on the side. Even with these few ingredients, it was quite wonderful. It became a favorite because of this.
Peanut Butter And Pickle Combo
Some people still eat sandwiches with peanut butter and pickles nowadays. There are now several pickles to choose from and a lot of bread of higher quality.
Milkorno the Superfood
People in the Great Depression era searched for readily available, inexpensive alternatives to food. Researchers were also working on ways to feed those affected by the Great Depression. Milkorno was created by Cornell University scientists.
Milkorno The Superfood
It consists of cornmeal and dried milk powder. As oatmeal gruel, it was consumed. It was also used in other dishes. At that time, this milkorno caught people’s attention.
Loaves Made With Anything
During the Great Depression, people were unable to afford meat. Even those who were wealthy couldn’t afford it. So a classic meatloaf was out of the question. Anyone who had bread was sought after. It is made with whatever is readily available. It was made with bread, leftovers, raisins, and almonds.
Loaves Made With Anything
All of them were placed on bread and eaten for supper. It was both affordable and satisfying.
Kraft Macaroni and Cheese
Many families were able to endure the Great Depression because of Kraft Macaroni & Cheese. In 1937, Kraft made the first appearance of this culinary item. There were four servings in each package. People who were looking for inexpensive meals seized this opportunity.
Kraft Macaroni And Cheese
It sold more than eight million boxes as a result in its first year. This mac and cheese were popular during the Great Depression because it successfully blended taste and affordability.
Pasta With Boiled Carrots
The pasta and carrots that had been cooked provided food. It had very little flavor. A quarter-hour was used to cook the pasta. Carrots that had been boiled followed. The pasta and carrots were covered with a white sauce.
Pasta With Boiled Carrots
This kind of sauce was a go-to for dinners on a low budget. Salt, butter, pepper, and milk were used to make the white sauce. It had the flavor of a boring, mushy dish.
Milk, a Wonder Food
In terms of food value during the Great Depression, milk was quite important. It was regarded as miraculous food. Vitamins, fat, sugar, and protein are all present. The combination of nutrients in a single product caught people’s attention.
Milk, A Wonder Food
In many dishes, milk was used. Milk started to appear regularly in school lunches. Their menus were designed using milk as the focal point due to its abundant nutrients. Every day, students were instructed to consume one quart of milk.
Not Your Regular Pizza
During the Great Depression, many dishes changed. They were hard to prepare because of the scarcity of the components. Pizza in its most basic form is one illustration of this. The ordinary pizza we currently enjoy, which is topped with all kinds of deliciousness, is nothing like this simple pizza.
Not Your Regular Pizza
A piece of dough was laid out and cooked for the basic pizza. There were no toppings on it. A little butter was sprinkled on top of it.
Poor Man’s Boiled Cake
According to the women who prepared it, this meal tasted just like the Great Depression itself. There are no eggs, milk, or butter on this cake. It was seasoned with cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg and cooked with lard, which served as the necessary fat.
Poor Man’s Boiled Cake
It tasted like a spice cake. Although this cake was far from ideal, it was the best they could do during the Great Depression.
Chop Suey
In the 1930s, many families loved this Chop Suey. This entrée was affordable, tasty, and filling. During the depression, these were the qualities people sought in their meals. Ground meat, macaroni (some individuals also included rice), and tomato sauce were used to make this Chop Suey.
Chop Suey
When these components were combined, a delicious and nutritious feast was produced. This chop suey and the ones cooked today are fairly similar.
The White House Pudding
During the Roosevelt administration, this prune pudding was a well-known dessert in the White House. During the Great Depression, Eleanor Roosevelt turned the prune pudding into a delight. She convinced President Franklin Delano Roosevelt to let her serve it to the visitors at the White House.
The White House Pudding
Prunes were an inexpensive fruit. Compared to other fresh fruits, they lasted the longest. Therefore, during the Great Depression, this pudding was a statement. The prunes were also utilized as a filling for other pies.
The Depression-Era Cake
Food rationing limited the variety of numerous pies and pastries. However, during the Great Depression, people learned how to be inventive with scant supplies and materials. The Wacky Cake was created by them. There were no dairy ingredients needed for this bizarre dessert.
The Depression Era Cake
Even without the need for butter or eggs. Anything else you have on hand, such as chocolate chips, chocolate sprinkles, whipped cream, etc., can be added. This dish’s adaptability during the Great Depression helped it become very well-liked.
Soup of the Navies
A comfort meal staple has long been soup. There were many different types of soups prepared during the depression. A popular soup was the navy bean soup. We know that during the Great Depression, beans were a typical element. Ham, carrots, onions, garlic, and of course beans were used to prepare this soup.
Soup Of The Navies
This cuisine meets a wide range of nutritional requirements. It includes vegetables, fiber, and protein. Because it was a common dish in the US Navy, navy bean soup got its name.
Potato Pancakes
A lot of the cuisines from the depression era contain potatoes. They appear in a plethora of recipes from cookbooks published during the Great Depression. Potatoes were adaptable and went well with a variety of foods.
Potato Pancakes
Baking soda, flour, and eggs were used to make potato pancakes. They had a decent flavor and were fried. The potato pancakes gained popularity in plenty of homes during the Great Depression.
The Pudding of Poor
In the depression, the Poor Man’s Pudding was discovered. Brown sugar, maple syrup, and sugar were used to make this pudding. This pudding only required only three ingredients. It was discovered in a French Canadian residence.
The Pudding Of Poor
The maple syrup alludes to this desert’s Canadian origins. It was a luxury during difficult times. With its modest ingredient requirements, this sort of food made a statement during the Great Depression.
Vegetable Cabbage Soup
During the Great Depression, vegetable cabbage soup was common in families. At that time, cabbage was a common ingredient. Therefore, this soup was within most people’s means. People might also add any other veggies if they didn’t like the taste of cabbage.
Vegetable Cabbage Soup
Depending on taste and availability, any item could be substituted in this soup. You may adapt this soup to any dish that uses cabbage.
The Cheap Luxury Snack
During the Great Depression, rice pudding was a special treat. But they were really affordable. This meal gained popularity, especially during the Great Depression, since it was affordable and delicious. They were regarded as a type of meal that stuck to your ribs.
The Cheap Luxury Snack
The rice pudding has seen numerous changes over the years. The rice puddings of today bear no resemblance to those of that era.
Casserole of Frozen Fruit
As a special treat, the frozen fruit salad was prepared. It was offered during the summer and on holidays. It was created using whipped cream, canned fruit cocktails, and egg yolks. It was a very tasty treat for someone with a sweet craving. People didn’t have a lot of food options during the great depression.
Casserole Of Frozen Fruit
They had to make a selection from the ingredients on hand. Even while it might not be a fantastic dish today, it was popular back then.
Abundance of Loaves
During the Great Depression, loaves were extremely popular. They were created using shabby, stretched-out components. A lima bean loaf was available; it had a falafel-like flavor. It was served with a gravy that was quite flavorful.
Abundance Of Loaves
There were loaves fashioned from beans, peanuts, and other substances that were readily available at the time. The meatloaf was described as a sparingly lavish dish. Since beef was a luxury during the Great Depression.
Chocolate Cream Pie
This pie has every component that makes a great pie. Actually, it is a hybrid of pie and pudding. This pie was a common sight in many homes during the Great Depression. The filling is creamy and filling.
Chocolate Cream Pie
The majority of people’s favorite components are combined to make it. The pie was a rich and substantial dish during the Great Depression since it contained cream and chocolate. Many people remember their grandmothers preparing it fondly.
A Cutting-Edge Source of Protein
During the Great Depression, gelatin was the ideal protein source. Since they were affordable, everyone could buy them. Modern cuisine was served. Most homes have a favorite dish that was well known.
A Cutting Edge Source Of Protein
It was prepared using tinned corned beef, unflavored gelatin, peas, vinegar, lemon juice, and if any, cabbage. The gelatin was widely used in homes and cookbooks during the Great Depression.
The Depression-Era Cornbread
The Great Depression era’s cornbread recipe was simple and quick. There are numerous cornbread recipes available nowadays. They are challenging. This is the cause of the resurgence of depression-era cornbread recipes.
The Depression Era Cornbread
In cornbread, there is cornmeal, water, and salt. It doesn’t need sugar, baking soda, or flour. Depending on the ingredients available, it was produced. Because of this, it rose to prominence during the Great Depression.
Depression-Era Bread
The bread then was different from the bread now. The ideal heat and other things that we use today weren’t necessary for them. The primary three ingredients were then used to make bread. It had warm water, yeast, and flour.
Depression Era Bread
Other elements were frequently difficult to control. On the other hand, the bread created from these three ingredients was equally good. They made the stomach happy and provided the nutrition it needed to survive.
Hot Dogs
During the Great Depression, hotdogs were a popular food item. The most well-liked street snack, they could be had for just a nickel. Everyone in the 1930s had a favorite hotdog stand.
Hot Dogs
During the Great Depression, a hot sausage in the middle of a bun with fries and any veggie at hand became a standard. It was a hearty supper that cost less than one dollar. It was trustworthy for everybody.
The Cousin of Chocolate Cake
Actually, red velvet cake served as a less expensive alternative to chocolate cake. It was regarded as chocolate cake’s cousin during the depression. A tiny bit of cocoa powder was added for taste along with vegetable oil, which was simple and affordable.
The Cousin Of Chocolate Cake
The cake’s vinegar, buttermilk, baking soda, and traditional cocoa powder were combined to create the hue. The cake was given a fancy appearance by the crimson hue.
The Soup of Depression
Because they were affordable and readily accessible, potatoes were frequently used as a component in cuisine during the Great Depression. They were strong, which was another aspect. Social media has recently caused the potato to be in the news.
The Soup Of Depression
It was well-known during the Great Depression because only a few ingredients were required, making it simple and inexpensive. To this, additional components could be added. Back in the Great Depression era, the traditional form was a mainstay in homes.