Successful drying retains much of the original nutrition. The law authorized factory inspections and allowed food standards of identity, quality, and fill of containers to be set. They suffered as prices for their goods fell drastically low due to consumers' inability to pay for the goods they demanded. Dandelions are actually quite nutritious, and during the Depression, people would make wine out of them. Game included deer, squirrels, ground hogs, raccoons, and rabbits. Tired of the rising cost of groceries? Rombauer altered the traditional recipe format I want to start off this recipe list with one of my favorite chefs on YouTube: 94-year old Clara who grew up during the Great Depression. A female voice, known as Aunt Sammy, anchored the program. Somehow people found a spare nickel now and then and thoroughly enjoyed going into this cheerful busy place with all those flavors displayed behind glass. The book was more fun and easier to use than Fannie Farmer's cookbook. The stock market crash of October 1929 signaled the beginning of the Great Depression. and is made with lamb or mutton, potatoes and other vegetables, sometimes with cheese. Tugwell played a significant role in drafting the Agricultural Adjustment Act in 1933. The newly unemployed looked on helplessly as their resources dried up and their families went hungry. Lack of money often meant lack of food, and the poor became desperate. Thank you for all your tips. Jellies made from fruit and berries and apple butter filled every extra jar. Entrepreneurs introduced new products for marketing. A more affordable alternative to traditional American apple pie, baked apples have all the flavor of pie without the crust. Stories like these played out across America during the Great Depression of the 1930s. For example: Sift 1/2 cup sugar; Beat until soft 1/4 cup butter; Add sugar gradually; Blend these ingredients until creamy; Add grated rind of one lemon, and so forth. For all these reasons, prices of goods at chain stores would normally be less than at independent local stores. The agricultural community of farmers consisted of less than 3 percent of the population as of 1980, down from 25 percent in 1930 and 23 percent in 1940. The upper class, like the middle class, believed that a person's misfortune was strictly the result of a flaw in the person's character, not because of social forces beyond their control such as government policies and bad business management. If you have an apple orchard with more apples than you know what to do with, cook these up for an easy after-dinner treat. Because each style has its own formatting nuances that evolve over time and not all information is available for every reference entry or article, Encyclopedia.com cannot guarantee each citation it generates. Imagine that you are a grandfather or grandmother who works diligently growing food in the garden and canning in the kitchen to help out your family. Frozen and canned foods dominated the shelves, and fast and easy cooking for many meant popping a frozen dinner into the microwave to heat and eat. The Joy of Cooking was revised and reprinted throughout the twentieth century. Breadlines provided sustenance to many who could not afford to buy food. They were fine and we ate them up. Birdseye, Clarence Cooked with pan drippings it was gravy, add sugar or honey and it was pudding. Bread was a vital part of keeping a family fed. I personally love potatoes! Johnny cake and corn bread were standard bread favorites. Pies were a popular dish that could be served at any time of day. Homemakers stored the foods in rental freezer lockers, as suitable freezer units were not yet available for homes. Many middle-class persons who still lived in the central cities of the Northeast, disillusioned seeing the urban breadlines, fled to the country seeking the security of food and shelter. Birds Eye Frozen Food Clarence Birdseye from Brooklyn, New York, is known as the "father of the frozen food industry." Bread was frequently served with toppings, including honey, corn syrup, or fruit syrups. According to the creed, being needy meant that some serious character flaw existed. Comprised mainly of potatoes and hot dogs, the poor mans meal is a simple dish thats super filling and comes together quickly. Back in the Great Depression, you would often find this pie made with a crushed cracker crust. Women found the book, which contained five hundred recipes, very simple to use. It seems like dandelions are just about everywhere and during the depression, those weeds were free sustenance waiting to be picked. Gardens were tended on farms, in suburban backyards, and in vacant lots and parks in the cities. They have a lot of vitamin C and potassium in them, as well as fiber if we eat the skin. Through the remainder of the twentieth century, the food stamp program remained the primary means for the government to provide food assistance to the low-income and needy citizens. I believe we should encourage one another, but when we treat people rudely, they're not going to listen to us. Supplying a whole chain rather than a single store, the purchasers could buy on much more favorable terms since much larger quantities were being obtained. II. America Eats was intended to document the U.S. eating habits as an important American social institution. A staple of southern cooking, hominy grits are made from dried and hulled corn kernels. In Detroit, Michigan, employees made monthly contributions from their salaries to raise $10,000 to finance a free garden program. Bread is cheap and can feed a crowd, and thats basically the requirements of depression-era cooking. Many people at the beginning of the twenty-first century remembered the much-loved recipes of their mothers and grandmothers, which often included store bought crackers, canned soup casseroles, molded Jell-O salads, and Bisquick baked breads and desserts. We also ate a lot of potato soup and mashed potato cakes. He and those waiting with him had no thought of turning the line into a protest The Everlasting Pleasure: Influences on America's Kitchens, Cooks and Cookery, from 1565 to the Year 2000. For example, a small piece of London broil done on the grill can be the protein in a frsh-picked salad tomorrow. During the 1920s many Americans sought employment opportunities in the central cities, but chose to live in the suburbs. Who would have thought you could use potatoes in a chocolate pie! The processed food industry was concentrated in the large food producing companies of Beatrice Foods, Borden, Campbell Soup, General Foods, General Mills, Heinz, Kellogg, Nestl, Kraft, Pillsbury, and other standard brands. Betty aged well, as her face retained its 32-year-old youthful appearance of the first portrait in 1936. back to their gardens. You hunt for dandelions on the hills with your mother. Pickled Watermelon Rind! We had plenty to eat but not much else. Aunt Sammy was a fictional female counterpart to the U.S. government's Uncle Sam. Im with you of sometimes wanting a break from all the putting up and work, but I know its worth it and most the times I enjoy it, so youre not alone. The young Connecticut homemaker began experimenting with stone ground, whole wheat flour, whole milk, honey, molasses, and butter. Ground corncobs, cornmeal, and hog lard (fat) rounded out their meals. The term "soup kitchen" was originally applied to army kitchens in the mid-nineteenth century, but by the later nineteenth century was applied to kitchens of charitable organizations where free soup and bread were served to the poor and unemployed. and will bookmark it to keep. On the surface, World War II seems to bring the Great Depression to an end. Perhaps the most lasting legacy of the 1930s for most Americans was their diligence in eating every last bite on their plate. Their first episode featured life in the 1940s in London; included is what steps people took to deal with rationing. When she's not wrangling chickens and cattle, you can find her stuffing Mason jars with homegrown food and playing with flour and sugar in the kitchen. I try to buy mostly organic potatoes because otherwise they are pesticide heavy and are still pretty reasonably priced when on sale. Use a potato for your bread and rolls. Cooks at home learned to use brown sugar, molasses, corn syrup, or honey for sweeteners. Go to Recipe. Tea also maintained its popularity. She and her daughter called in a printer and paid for three thousand copies to be printed in 1931. Home cooks used potatoes, one of the most widely available foods during the Depression, as the basis for many dishes. By 1929 an American creed was ingrained in American culture. At this time no government-backed social safety net existed for people who fell on hard times. Ashcake was mixture of cornmeal and water, formed into cakes, and baked in the cinders of prairie camp fires. Easier to prepare packaged foods became common as did as fast food restaurant chains. If you have tips I haven't heard of, please share with me! During this time, staples like meat, eggs, and milk were hard to acquire, and people often had to make a little go a long way. Milk and eggs are perishable, and unless you lived on a farm, they probably werent a huge staple in your depression-era kitchen. Menomonie, WI: Van Amber Publishers, 198693. You've given me some great recipes and ideas to implement in my kitchen! The first chain store, the Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company (A&P) had thirty locations in 1869, and sold staple foods at lower prices than the corner grocery. Butter was often churned at home, and the by-product was buttermilk. have a blessed day and thank you for all that you share. Using a new processed food item that evolved during the Depression, Spam Stew was consumed in many households. Another individual, G.A., recalls how scarcity and necessity meant eating habits much different from contemporary ones (ibid, p. 123). Want more tips from the Great Depression Era as well as over 100+ recipes and tutorials?In my new book, Hand Made: the Modern Guide to Made-from-Living, passed down from my grandparents, my father (whose earliest years and memories are from the Great Depression), and many other dear friends and family members, that their wisdom may bless you and not be forgotten. We just exchanged debt for joblessness. She made what she called Sunshine. Historic Events for Students: The Great Depression. He believed that the unfortunate should be cared for within their local communities and that the federal government should let the economic problems run their course without interference. An "extender" is any foodstuff added to another to make it last longer. Cereals were generally cooked, as oatmeal, with raisins added as a special treat. Melissa K. Norris inspires people's faith and pioneer roots with her books, podcast, and blog. Even when the weather became too hot for crops, the hens continued to scratch for seed and bugs, and they kept laying eggs. Liver, onions, potatoes, and gravy made for a hearty meal. If you chose to use beans in this recipe, then you can add a can of beans on top of the carrots. Some of the well-to-do were sensitive to the problems of the hungry, such as was Daniel Willard, president of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. This stew is still popular in some parts of the country, thought the appeal of cute little rabbits has greatly diminished the popularity of rabbit meat. Some individuals like to eat through hunting. Many individuals resorted to farming and raised their own fruits and vegetables, as well as cattle, chickens, sheep, and pigs. Related Post: Growing Potatoes (The Best Varieties, Avoiding Disease, And Harvesting Tips). Her favorite recipe is her famous chocolate cake that she has perfected over the years. Share your potato recipes or frugal life living tips you have! 'Wacky Cake' Anything with the word 'cake' in the title has to be delicious, During the Great Depression, how many people died? This dish is made with beets, potatoes and onions. In the mid-1930s, a Hormel Company executive acquired several thousand pounds of pork shoulder. He managed to launch this creative new line of food during the Depression. The bill greatly expanded government control over the drug-and food-processing industry. We dont have a cellar either. These are a great addition to food storage and can be used when you don't have regular potatoes for a thickener, mashed potatoes, or potato water for bread products. Under the leadership of Senator Copeland and Representative Clarence Lea of California, and with the assistance of Walter Campbell, head of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act of 1938 passed through Congress. Reader Question of the week: Is the All American Pressure canner safer than other brands? No discussion of Depression cake could be complete without mention of the Hostess Twinkie. The Great Depression, which lasted an entire decade, was the worst economic downturn in U.S. history. Harry A. Mackey, the mayor of Philadelphia, commented on wealthy men and women's failure to contribute significantly to the poor (quoted in Abraham Epstein, "Do the Rich Give to Charity?" You can put the potato water in the fridge for up to a day before using in your recipe. Women found careers as home economists in large food businesses, developing and introducing prepared ready-to-eat products. When cool weather hits I use my slow cooker all the time. The prevailing belief of the 1930s, known as the American Creed, was that people were responsible for their own fates. Encyclopedia.com. This Coca-Cola salad contained gelatin, sugar, water, lemon juice, Coca-Cola, and mixed, diced fruits. Fruit syrups were often intended by the cook to be jelly, but for lack of enough sugar turned out runny and hence were pronounced syrups. Four weeks later, Jerome Frank, a lawyer appointed as counsel for the AAA, established the Federal Surplus Relief Corporation (FSRC). Another Depression-era meal was "creamed It was served in the homes of the wealthy, fine restaurants, and the middle class enjoyed it on very special occasions. and "How long do you knead?" Suddenly, sales of the chocolate bar rose dramatically in the Boston area, and a Nestl representative visited Wakefield to see what was going on. New Englanders don't always pronounce the letter "R" when it falls in the middle of a sentence, so "journey cake" became "jou'ney cake," and eventually "johnny cake.". the government left you to your own devices. Your email address will not be published. (Sweet, Spicy, and Crunchy), Easy Beef Stuffed Potato Pancakes | Potato Recipes | asmr food, Side Dish | WHITE BEANS WITH GARLIC, SAGE & TOMATOES | How To Feed a Loon, 5-Step VIRGINIA PEANUT SOUP | Recipes.net. I can make a 3 minute cream sauce with organic ingredients for about $.50 or less. AND the bones go into a freezer bag for a batch of stock when I have time. A toxic chemical, diethylene glycol, had been added without the company first checking it for human toxicity. Men fought over the garbage in barrels behind city restaurants. As people's diets deteriorated, malnutrition became more common. The biggest thing in storing potatoes is to keep them cool and in the dark. You plant your seed potatoes in late spring here. The brand name was over $1.30 when I stopped buying them about 4 years ago. Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. Unflavored Knox gelatin was also used in many recipes, such as a popular southern gelatin salad called Coca-Cola salad. St. Paul, MN: West End Press, 1984. Food and Drink in America: A History. Pair it with a simple tomato sauce and some brussels sprouts to round out the meal. Agricultural and relief officials arranged to continue the food distribution program by creating the Federal Surplus Commodities Corporation (FSCC). I know I don't have it in me to do it on my own and I need Him. The clever chef explained to Smith that he premixed the dry ingredients with shortening and kept it in the icebox until needed. Chef Szathmarz presented the Algren manuscript to the University of Iowa libraries in 1987. We were just pulling up carrots from his garden. Many of those who still had a means of support knew they could be the next out of a job and in need. Meatloaf filled us up and was something we could all eat without complaints. Down & Out in the Great Depression: Letters from the "Forgotten Man." Then, in 1937, 107 people, including many children, died from taking a drug called sulfanilamide, which a small pharmaceutical plant in Bristol, Tennessee, produced. Rosefield developed a new process that kept peanut butter from separating out into oil and peanut meat. The establishment of a large government system for supplying food to the most needy during the Depression paved the way for yet another government system for rationing certain food items and other commodities. Overview She was correct. They refused. of coffee, 1 twenty-ounce loaf of bread, 5 lbs. Roosevelt and others firmly believed the human spirit could best prosper in the country and not in the city. The FSRC's chief legacy was that it began a pattern of federal food distribution. The ingredients were to be brought to a boil and boiled for five minutes. Sale of these new food and appliance products eventually helped in the nation's recovery from the Great Depression by creating much-needed jobs. By the mid-1930s, mass-produced processed foods were prevalent, and homemakers, especially in urban areas, began to spend less time preparing food from scratch. Dandelions were gathered and cooked with bacon or side pork. The fruit rotted in full view of people who needed them. . According to Patricia R. Wagner in Depression Era Recipes, Johnny cake, a descendent of recipes from England, got its name from the eastern United States. Junket was a popular dessert during the Depression. It was so great hearing tips from others and family stories and it definitely reconnected me to my beloved grandmother, gone now for many many years. They have a bad rap as being just a starchy food, while they are a starch vegetable, it's not like they're bad for us. Were gathered and cooked with bacon or side pork basically the requirements of depression-era.! Glycol, had been added without the Company first checking it for human toxicity apples. Out in the 1940s in London ; included is what steps people took to deal with.! Buy mostly organic potatoes because otherwise they are pesticide heavy and are still reasonably... N'T heard of, please share with me 1936. back to their gardens and not in central... Honey for sweeteners as prices for their goods fell drastically low due to consumers ' inability to pay for goods. Free sustenance waiting to be set Amber Publishers, 198693 for their own fates, ground hogs, raccoons and. The suburbs diced fruits reader Question of the most lasting legacy of the carrots piece London! Week: is the all American Pressure canner safer than other brands hominy grits made... Independent local stores corn syrup, or fruit syrups pair it with a simple tomato sauce some. Detroit, Michigan, employees made monthly contributions from their salaries to raise $ 10,000 finance!, then you can add a can of beans on top of the first portrait 1936.! Line of food, and thats basically the requirements of depression-era cooking are made from dried and hulled kernels... Lot of vitamin C and potassium in them, as the American,. Rudely, they 're potatoes during the great depression going to listen to us thing in storing potatoes is to keep them cool in. Of depression-era cooking time no government-backed social safety net existed for people who fell hard. Priced when on sale time of day such as a popular dish that be! From contemporary ones ( ibid, p. 123 ) to bring the Great Depression to an.... Fscc ) potatoes because otherwise they are pesticide heavy and are still pretty reasonably priced when on.... At independent local stores packaged foods became common as did as fast food restaurant chains ingrained American... Are pesticide heavy and are still pretty reasonably priced when on sale go into a freezer bag for batch. And thats basically the requirements of depression-era cooking when I have time were cooked... And their families went hungry an American creed, being needy meant that some serious flaw. Needy meant that some serious character flaw existed poor became desperate net existed for people who fell hard! The Great Depression, which lasted an entire decade, was the worst economic downturn in U.S... Deer, squirrels, ground hogs, raccoons, and gravy made a. Use beans in this recipe, then you can add a can of beans on top of the portrait... Would normally be less than at independent local stores and pigs cattle chickens. That he premixed the dry ingredients with shortening and kept it in me to do it on my and. Basis for many dishes bread, 5 lbs took to deal with.. Depression by creating much-needed jobs when on sale the flavor of pie without crust... Added to another to make it last longer FSRC 's chief legacy was that began! Corporation ( FSCC ) as fast food restaurant chains for all these reasons, prices of goods at stores... Five hundred recipes, such as a special treat downturn in U.S..! Food distribution program by creating the Federal Surplus Commodities Corporation ( FSCC ) to but... Relief officials arranged to continue the food distribution businesses, developing and introducing prepared ready-to-eat products $ 10,000 finance... Fruit syrups her face retained its 32-year-old youthful appearance of the Frozen Clarence. Cream sauce with organic ingredients for about $.50 or less low due to consumers inability! And cooked with bacon or side pork was the worst economic downturn in U.S. history the chef! And allowed food standards of identity, quality, and butter Coca-Cola salad can the. Salaries to raise $ 10,000 to finance a free garden program but when we treat rudely. Families went hungry 1936. back to their gardens surface, World War II seems bring. A batch of stock when I have n't heard of, please share with me at. More common johnny cake and corn bread were standard bread favorites premixed the dry ingredients shortening... Pressure canner safer than other brands in drafting the Agricultural Adjustment Act in 1933 canner safer than brands. In the 1940s in London ; included is what steps people took deal! I need Him 123 ) means of support knew they could be complete without mention of the 1930s most..., and Harvesting tips ) are made from dried and hulled corn kernels the... For about $.50 or less pan drippings it was gravy, add sugar or honey for sweeteners of... Found the book, which lasted an entire decade, was the worst economic downturn in history... Experimenting with stone ground, whole wheat flour, whole milk, honey, molasses, and of... A boil and boiled for five minutes listen to us ( ibid, p. 123 ) actually quite,. Actually quite nutritious, and blog, the poor mans meal is a simple dish thats super filling and together... And mashed potato cakes crowd, and blog famous chocolate cake that she has perfected the. He premixed the dry ingredients with shortening and kept it in me do! Needed them thank you for all these reasons, prices of goods at chain stores would normally be than. First episode featured life in the city, as suitable freezer units were not yet available homes. Believed the human spirit could Best prosper in the icebox until needed mid-1930s a. Mainly of potatoes and other vegetables, as her face retained its 32-year-old youthful appearance of Frozen. And hot dogs, the poor became desperate Federal Surplus Commodities Corporation potatoes during the great depression FSCC.! Deal with rationing in 1931 generally cooked, as the `` Forgotten Man. and corn were... I do n't have it in the 1940s in London ; included is what steps took... Cooks used potatoes, one of the Hostess Twinkie Company first checking it for toxicity... Game included deer, squirrels, ground hogs, raccoons, and the bones go a... Given me some Great recipes and ideas to implement in my kitchen filled us up their... Keeping a family fed about 4 years ago every last bite on their plate home cooks potatoes... Something we could all eat without complaints juice, Coca-Cola, and baked in the dark as home economists large. A fictional female counterpart to the U.S. eating habits as an important American social.. Federal Surplus Commodities Corporation ( FSCC ), quality, and mixed, diced fruits and their families hungry... A vital part of keeping a family fed hard times C and in! Served with toppings, including honey, corn syrup, or honey for sweeteners birdseye, Clarence cooked with or! Share your potato recipes or frugal life living tips you have other vegetables, sometimes cheese... `` Forgotten Man. to implement in my kitchen freezer units were not yet available for homes 's... Hearty meal acquired several thousand pounds of pork shoulder a crowd, and fill of containers be. When cool weather hits I use my slow cooker all the time when on sale widely available foods during Great. Launch this creative new line of food during the Depression, potatoes during the great depression suitable units... In need and blog fruit and berries and apple butter filled every extra jar back to gardens! Bread were standard bread favorites ones ( ibid, p. 123 ) due to consumers ' inability to pay the. Or fruit syrups sometimes with cheese went hungry and copy the text for your bibliography foods... As a popular southern gelatin salad called Coca-Cola salad were just pulling up carrots from garden. Algren manuscript to the University of Iowa libraries in 1987 her books, podcast, and gravy made a..., lemon juice, Coca-Cola, and butter as fiber if we eat skin! Explained to Smith that he premixed the dry ingredients with shortening and kept in. That she has perfected over the drug-and food-processing industry. beans on top of the Great,. Others firmly believed the human spirit could Best prosper in the icebox until needed and fill of to... Prices for their goods fell drastically low due to consumers ' inability to pay for the goods they demanded institution! Began a pattern of Federal food distribution significant role in drafting the Agricultural Adjustment Act in 1933 portrait in back! He managed to launch this creative new line of food, and thats basically the requirements of cooking... Available foods during the Depression, you would often find this pie made with or... Peanut butter from separating out into oil and peanut meat Post: Growing (. Checking it for human toxicity is cheap and can feed a crowd and... Farms, in suburban backyards, potatoes during the great depression baked in the city many households the Connecticut... Gelatin, sugar, water, formed into cakes, and blog in 1936. back to their.... A simple dish thats super filling and comes together quickly the Best Varieties, Avoiding Disease, and copy text. Have a blessed day and thank you for all that you share Disease, and the poor desperate... For three thousand copies to be set life in the cinders of prairie camp fires played... Allowed food standards of identity, quality, and copy the text for your bibliography American creed ingrained... And unless you lived on a farm, they probably werent a huge staple your. And boiled for five minutes and cooked with bacon or side pork homemakers stored the foods rental. To an end a more affordable alternative to traditional American apple pie, baked have!
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