If you’ve been prepping food for long-term storage, you’ve probably seen mylar bags recommended everywhere. They’re the default answer on forums, YouTube channels, and prepper blogs. And for a lot of foods, they work fine. But when it comes to dry pasta specifically, there’s a better option that most people overlook. This isn’t about being […]
The post Why You Should Store Dry Pasta in PVC Pipes, Not Mylar Bags appeared first on Ask a Prepper.
Estimated reading time: 8 minutes
The Great Depression brought out both the resiliency and ingenuity of literally millions of people. With few options, people had to make do with what was on hand. Clothes were sewn with spare flour sacks and shoes repaired with cardboard.
Food, however, is where things got really interesting. Some foods were still plentiful and reasonably affordable, but others were scarce. How do you make a full meal when half your ingredients are missing?
You improvise and invent a whole host of crazy foods in the process. Here are some strange meals people ate during the Great Depression—meals we might all be eating again someday. (Most of the list items include a link to the recipe in case you want to try it.)
Cabbage and dumplings together may not sound like the most pleasant meal to eat, but it was dirt simple and cheap to make. All you’ll need to make this meal is fried cabbage and dumplings (as the name suggests), but to add extra flavor, you can add onions and/or egg as well.
→ Cabbage and Dumplings Recipe
Even when times are tough, there are two staples for breakfast you can always count on: coffee and toast. Have you ever thought about pouring your coffee with a little bit of cream into a bowl and then breaking up the toast into smaller pieces in the bowl as well to make a soup? You may wonder ‘why not just have the toast and the coffee separately?’ but the Amish swore by it.
So corned beef salad doesn't sound that bad…until you learn that it's made with mayonnaise and Jello. Well, gelatin anyway. It's a mixture of corned beef, eggs, mayonnaise, horseradish, and some vegetables, all held together in a loaf with plain gelatin. Yum…beef jello.
This is also known as sh*t on a shingle, which sums up the thoughts of those that had to eat it. In a nutshell, it's dried beef that's re-hydrated a bit in a sauce made with flour and butter, and then served on toast. All you need is some milk, butter, flour, dried beef, and some pepper and parsley.
Do you have beef, bread, milk, and cream cheese in the fridge and pantry? If so, you can make a very filling creamy beef fondue appetizer that doesn't require much work to make either. People struggling through the Great Depression didn't always skip appetizers, and often reserved this meal in particular for holidays and special events.
These days, the foodie movement has just about everyone open to eating foods foraged from your yard, but back then dandelion salad was just weird. They did it because it was a way to get free food onto the table, and a bit of added vitamins in an otherwise bland depression diet.
Not anything like the egg drop soup you can order in modern Chinese restaurants, this soup started with fried potatoes and then added water. The mixture was brought to a boil, and then scrambled eggs were stirred in while the water was boiling. The whole thing was served over toast. I'm not sure why they didn't just have eggs, potatoes, and toast, but perhaps the spirit of creativity took hold.
This particular dish was considered the ultimate treat for the holidays. There are many variations of this salad, but all have the same basic feel. Start with canned fruit and add whipped cream, eggs, flour, and any manner of other things (marshmallows, nuts, or whatever is available). Freeze the whole thing in trays and then serve.
‘Mashups’ were what people ate when they had to put together whatever they had in the pantry. The Garbage Mashup is one such example. All you’ll need is a bit of round beef, some baked beans, home fries, and macaroni salad. Then you can add onions, chili, mustard, ketchup, and/or hot sauce for extra flavor.
During the Great Depression, many people couldn't afford meats like beef and chicken. So instead, bologna became a common staple. This casserole takes advantage of that by using bologna as the main ingredient. It might not sound that great, but by the time you add chili, cheddar, peppers, garlic, onions, and pork and beans, it becomes absolutely mouth-watering.
→ Great Depression Casserole Recipe
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. Recipes varied, but usually involved hot dogs, canned vegetables, and pasta or macaroni.
What do you do when you want a sandwich, but don't have any meat or cheese to put in it? Put some ketchup between slices of bread and call it good. Mayonnaise sandwiches were also common, and honestly sound a lot better than the last option, plain onion sandwiches.
→ Recipe: Put ketchup, mayonnaise, or onion between two slices of bread. Eat.
This one isn't very strange, but we included it because it was invented during the Great Depression. Kraft mac and cheese was advertised as an exercise in frugality. These days it's commonplace, and it's still a cheap way to put calories on the table, but back then a shelf-stable box with powdered cheese replaced a traditional homemade meal full of expensive ingredients like cheese and cream.
→ Just buy a box and follow the instructions.
These days, meatloaf is a simple and relatively cheap weeknight dinner. But how do you make it without ground beef? That's how it became just “loaf” and it was made out of just about anything put into a loaf pan. Cheap foods like liver, peanuts, and raisins found their way into this catch-all food.
Invented by scientists at Cornell University in 1933 when they were looking for inexpensive ways to feed the masses, it's a gruel made from dried powdered milk and cornmeal. Other variations like milkwheato (using wheat instead of corn) were also invented and were just as appetizing.
This stew was invented by the homeless. They would put a big pot over a campfire, and everyone would contribute whatever food they had on hand—-meat, potatoes, bread, onions, rice, tomatoes, and so forth. Sometimes they would even add lint or sawdust to make it more filling.
How do you make an apple pie without apples? It turns out there are a number of ways. One popular recipe involved stuffing a pie crust with Ritz and then covering them with cinnamon, butter, and sugar syrup. Other recipes substitute fruits or vegetables, like this mock apple pie made with zucchini.
Actually recommended by home economics teachers, peanut butter stuffed baked onions found its way onto tables during the Great Depression. Basically, you just bake an onion, then scoop part if it out, and replace with a scoop of peanut butter. You won't be surprised when I tell you it wasn't very popular.
A mixture of hot dogs and potatoes, poor man's meal was actually quite tasty. Potatoes were fried with onions until browned, and then chopped hot dogs were added. My grandmother made this for me as a child, and my mother had her own version, substituting kielbasa for the hot dogs, which made it much tastier.
Potatoes were one of the most widely available foods, and they found their way into many dishes. Simple potato pancakes are some of the more appetizing ways they were eaten. They were made either by frying mashed potatoes or by binding grated potatoes together with flour and eggs.
Actually served at the White House as an act of solidarity with “the people who are suffering” in the streets, prune pudding is a simple mix of boiled prunes, sugar, and cornstarch. Sometimes seasoned, sometimes not, prune pudding had to fill in for dessert. It was generally served in small dishes, to prevent disastrous prune related consequences.
These days you can find red velvet cake recipes on fancy food blogs, but back then it was a cheap way to make an “almost” chocolate cake. Substituting vegetable oil for real butter, and using almost no cocoa, what the cake lacked in flavor it made up for in color.
Eleanor Roosevelt herself recommended this dish for the frugal cook. It involved a casserole made out of intentionally overcooked mushy spaghetti and boiled carrots, covered in a pasty white sauce made from flour and butter.
Though mock apple pie was one option, other pie recipes tried to get a “fruit pie” feel by substituting the tartness of fruit with vinegar. The dessert was made with a pie crust filled with butter, flour, sugar, and vinegar. Sounds horrible to me, but I guess it can't be that weird, even Martha Stewart has a recipe.
Know of any other strange meals people ate during the Great Depression? Tell us about it in the comment section below!
Originally published on Homestead Survival Site.
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The post 25 Strange Meals People Ate During The Great Depression appeared first on Urban Survival Site.
This is my monthly series on “What to Stock Up On In May.” I started my monthly bargain tips in January several years ago, and now add new content to them each year. Here’s the deal: We all want to stock up on items when they are priced well below the regular price and fit in with our overall goals to be best prepared.
This year is probably the first year that we may not be able to get everything on our want or need list. I’m starting to see many grocery store shelves empty, and I believe they may become even more sparse in the coming months.
If you see something you need, please grab it, particularly if it’s priced well. You may not see it next week or the week after that. What shortages have you experienced, or are you having trouble getting items this year? We can get Ball/Kerr canning lids here in Utah; canning supplies have doubled or tripled in price. Now that new brands have come out, I will only use Ball/Kerr canning lids based on my positive experience with them over the years.
The price of gas to fill our cars or trucks is cheaper this year than last; hopefully, it stays at this level. Bacon, my beloved bacon, is reasonable right now, at least at Costco. Please tell me your shortages and which items have seen price increases more than ever.
Every month, stores have sales based on items coming in or going out. This is a perfect time to buy items you may have listed on your “needs” list.
If you think about it, the stores continually buy new stock to beef up their inventory. This could be new popular colors, styles, or improved designs. The current discussions about pending tariffs for certain goods from other countries could prompt some changes in that regard.
Watch for the best strawberries this month!! And don’t forget to watch for raspberries, rhubarb, artichokes, spinach, garlic, and snap peas. Don’t you love fruit and vegetables that are in season? They taste the very best, right?
Oh, my gosh, it’s the Cinco de Mayo celebration early this month! Watch for sales on taco shells, salsa, taco sauce, corn husks, tortillas, and your favorite Mexican seasoning. It’s a great month to stock up for the year so that you can enjoy Taco Tuesday every week at home! You may see coupons in the mail or online that offer 20-30% off. I
Don’t forget Cinco de Mayo is on May 5th!! Bring on my favorite Mexican food!
I love the month of May because it’s party time. That means I can stock up on party supplies that go on sale for summer activities almost every week this month.
This is when to buy red, white, and blue plates, cups, plasticware, tablecloths, and holiday decorations. Life is fantastic when we have a festively decorated table on sale.
Don’t forget that Memorial Day is in late May each year and often sets the stage for outdoor activities all summer. I’ll never forget the Memorial Day holiday when Mark and I traveled to Durango, CO. We saw many new sights, but the highlight was the train trip up the canyon to Silverton, CO.
Just think about beach parties, pool parties, lake parties, and backyard get-togethers. You can have plates, trays, cups, and candles in just the right colors priced below retail.
You can stock up the day after Memorial Day to get paper plates, cups, and plasticware at up to 75% off at some stores. Score! This makes them cheap enough to stock up for emergencies when we don’t want to use water to wash dishes or fuel to heat the water.
It’s a great month to buy a barbecue grill because stores are offering discounted snow blowers and shovels. If your barbecue grill has seen better days, this may be a great time to pick one up when they are discounted during the month.
The prices go up just before July 4th and back down again after the big holiday.
May is a great month for outdoor furniture. The box stores have just sold off their space heaters and want to sell as much outdoor furniture as possible. This is when the sale prices will appear in your mailbox, in emails, and in newspaper ads.
At the beginning of the month, they want to get you excited about painting your deck, replacing your patio railings, and trading out your patio furniture for the finest new outdoor furniture colors.
Replacement pads, pillows, and chair pads will be advertised at discounted prices to encourage you to barbecue outdoors and enjoy time with your family and friends around the pool or at the picnic table.
If your lounge chairs are broken beyond repair, this is the month to replace them at drastically reduced prices. If your glass-top table has broken too often, grab a new one at bargain prices.
I love finding some deeply discounted home decorations for my home. It’s fantastic when one or two little potted plants on my living room side tables bring me joy or a smile.
I’m not a big knick-knack person because I don’t like to dust. Thank goodness Mark has taken on that job. This month is excellent for looking at discount stores like TJ Maxx, Ross Dress for Less, or HomeGoods. Some stores have merged, but you get the idea. You can get gifts for mom to give her on Mother’s Day at huge discounted prices at these stores this month.
This month, we honor those who have died protecting our country and the freedoms we enjoy. It’s a great day to thank the Veterans we have lost in the various wars. Please watch for parades in your city honoring the veterans who have served or are serving our country now. It’s patriotic to see everyone waving small American flags during the parade.
I have to laugh because mattresses always seem to be on sale. When a holiday weekend comes around, you’ll see deep discounts on regular mattresses, foam mattresses, and twin, queen, or king-size mattresses.
Watch for coupons in the mail, online, or in the newspaper. If you have time to check out the mattresses before buying one, take a look at them. Then wait for the best price. I have seen them drop 50%. You can do it, I promise.
May is the best month to look for a house. Most people want their kids to finish the school year and find another home to move into when the summer starts. They want their kids to settle into the new neighborhood before they start school in August or September.
Sellers may be more willing to negotiate the sales price this month. May is a perfect time to buy or sell before vacation time starts. The weather is good, and many kids are out of school or close to being so. Depending on their family situation, some people buy bigger homes, while others may downsize. In my opinion, interest rates need to come down to justify the high prices of homes these days.
All indications are that home prices will hold steady or be slightly higher this year. Who knows when things may return to more normal pricing, but you may want to talk to the real estate experts to see if now is the best time. I used to own a mortgage company and was a realtor for several years, and I feel strongly that a market correction is way overdue. Of course, if rates come down their may be more pressure on home prices as demand goes up.
Watch for flyers in the mail this month to purchase vacuums at deep discounts. You may also see ads online for the vacuum you have wanted for a long time. We have had these babies for years, so why not get a discounted one? A clean house is a fabulous house!
Again, after doing some research online, look at vacuums at different stores. See if the weight and how well it cleans are okay for you to push and pull around. Then look for the sales. You can see discounts of 25-40% off some brands.
If you think Black Friday has the best deals on refrigerators, think again. Often, on holiday weekends, people tend to stroll through furniture stores or large box stores. I have seen them marked down close to or below Black Friday prices.
It’s an excellent idea to scope out the stores or go online to find the refrigerator you may want. THEN watch for the best price. If the new models are coming in, consider opting for last year’s models to save some money. It’s all about saving money on the one you want, not just buying based on a low price. I always tell my readers to buy right the first time rather than settle for cheaper products.
We all know someone getting married or graduating in June, right? This is why you’ll see 20-40% off some small kitchen appliances and some really good name-brand cookware.
It’s great to give a gift that will last many years to a young couple getting married and starting on life’s journey. We’ll see kitchen tools, toasters, toaster ovens, stand mixers, can openers, and more kitchen products marked down drastically.
Office furniture typically goes on sale this month because the new colors and designs will arrive at stores around July and August. This month, you’ll find swivel chairs for pennies on the dollar.
The stores usually stock up on these for the previous year-end purchases. Now, they want to unload them as soon as possible. If you need a new padded office swivel chair, this is the month to buy it.
Okay, thrift stores are overloaded in May because people have done their spring cleaning and decluttering. Therefore, your local thrift stores will have clearance prices on the “new” items people just dropped off.
It’s a great time to find even better deals on slightly used items at thrift stores in your neighborhood. The other day, I found some adorable plates at a fraction of the original cost. Yay!
This month, the stores will discount their athletic apparel because they know people are back to walking, riding their bikes, and other fun activities after a cold, brutal winter in many locations, or beautiful summer days are just around the corner.
Bring on the exercise clothing, and let’s strengthen our bodies. Look for shorts, airy slacks, lightweight jackets, and sweaters. Don’t forget the walking shoes.
Here’s to buying some new, fresh colors in summer clothes at substantial discount prices. You may see great buys on Memorial Day and July 4th clothing to celebrate the holidays!
Check for leftover Easter dresses, hats, shoes, and gloves. You may find the right Sunday dress for you or your children at deeply discounted prices.
May is perfect for shopping for summer clothes when you see the ads in the paper or online specials. Every dollar we save can be put in the bank or saved for a rainy day.
May 4th is Star Wars Day, which celebrates George Lucas’s Star Wars film series. It’s a super month to pick up the Star Wars memorabilia you’ve been waiting to buy when it goes on sale.
You can pick up costumes, hats, mementos, and one-of-a-kind items to prepare for that special day. Buyers can also pick up party favors, plates, cups, and plasticware at a discount to celebrate your Star Wars party. You may have heard: “May the Force be with you.” Sometimes you can see autographed items at 50-60% off.
If you want to give a special Star Wars gift for Christmas or birthdays, grab them in May to save money. May the Force be with you!
May is one of the best months to buy swimwear because prices soar in June and July. The best ones start coming into stores this month, then become scarce.
Well, when people are still going on vacation and swimming in June and July, they need swimwear. Plus, if your little ones have outgrown their suits from last year, they need a bigger size this year. Sometimes the beach towels get a little ratty from wear and tear. It may be time to replace them, too.
Mother’s Day is this month, so look for things other than chocolate, flowers, or jewelry, as they will be priced at a premium. Look for more personal items like pictures, artwork, pretty notepads, or boxes of notecards.
The closer we get to the holiday, the higher the price for those most-wanted items. Once we get past the holiday, look for several “mother”-related gifts to go on sale.
May is also Date Your Mate Month and National BBQ Month!
Thanks for stopping by today; it means the world to me. I hope this post about What To Stock Up On In May encourages you to buy only what you need and do so at prices that make sense. It’s all about saving money for the unexpected. Thanks again for being prepared. Hard times are coming, my friends; we must be prepared. May God bless this world, Linda
Copyright Images: Deposit photos_38637003_m-2015, Memorial Day Deposit photos_113355162_s-2019, Hot Dogs Adobe Stock,
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You are buckled in, the car just went off the road, and the door will not open. The seatbelt is jammed. The car might be filling with water. That is not a hypothetical situation. It happens. And in those moments, the only thing standing between you and a way out could be a A seatbelt […]
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