Depression Era Cooking

[Bilby]

With food being expensive and we are all cutting back on things I've been looking up how they coped after the depression or WWI or 2, with food. Very basic get by things.

Does anyone have a favourite family recipe that comes from that era or the like to share or ideas on the possibilities?

A recipe I found was this one, anyone tried anything similar?
Ritz Mock Apple Pie

The classic pie, featuring Ritz crackers baked in a golden crust, is perfect for the holidays.

Pastry for two-crust 9-inch pie
36 RITZ Crackers, coarsely broken (about 1 3/4 cups crumbs)
1 3/4 cups water
2 cups sugar
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
2 tablespoons lemon juice
Grated peel of one lemon
2 tablespoons margarine or butter
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Roll out half the pastry and line a 9-inch pie plate. Place cracker crumbs in prepared crust; set aside.

Heat water, sugar and cream of tartar to a boil in saucepan over high heat; simmer for 15 minutes. Add lemon juice and peel; cool.

Pour syrup over cracker crumbs. Dot with margarine or butter; sprinkle with cinnamon. Roll out remaining pastry; place over pie. Trim, seal and flute edges. Slit top crust to allow steam to escape.

Bake at 425°F for 30 to 35 minutes or until crust is crisp and golden. Cool completely.

[Bilby]

Molasses Candy

1 cup molasses
3 cups sugar
1/2 cup water
1 tsp cream of tarter
Mix sugar and cream of tarter together. Add molasses and water. Stir until sugar is dissolved. Boil without stirring until it hardens in cold water. Turn onto buttered pan: when cool, work and cut into sticks.

[Bilby]

Sweet potato, damper,or US biscuits

50% flour and 50% mashed sweet potatoes and make up your biscuits.

Do you have any stories growing up in this era or stories for your parents or g'parents?

I guess now we just call it being frugal.

[barbszy]

There's a lady named Clara on Youtube doing videos about Depression-era cooking!

[ajrsmom]

We eat a dish called "tuna wiggle". It's simply a white sauce with canned tuna added to it. It's served over toast and topped with green peas (if you like them). This recipe came from my MIL.

We grew up eating sausage gravy over toast.



Has anyone tried the mock apple pie? I've often wondered if it really tastes like apple pie?

[Sammi1961]

Tami, I make that same dish using shrimp and peas. (my mom used to make it and called it shrimp pea wiggle) I serve it over toast.

I am always looking for new, inexpensive recipes to try and they have to use ingredients that I would actually have on hand as I am not one to go out and buy a special ingredient for one recipe.

Kathy, I remember the Ritz cracker "mock apple pie" recipe. I never tried it but if you have was it good?

[Pag36]

I have done the Tuna one too and with peas as I like them.
I like this thread good idea Bilby

[seleach]

SOS was one of my dad's favorites
1 lb ground beef
1 med onion, chopped
1 tsp oil
salt and pepper to taste
3 tlbs flour
2-1/2 c milk
buttered toast or biscuits
Put oil in deep skillet along with the hamburger. As beef begins to bown add chopped onion, salt and pepper.
Reduce heat and simmer, stirring often until meat is completely cooked. Sprinkle flour over top of meat and stir into meat and onion mixture until totaly absorbed.
Slowly add milk, stirring constantly, until thickened. Serve over toast or biscuits.

Can use chipped beef in place of the hamburger

This recipe and others can be found at
http://www.cooks.com/rec/search/0,1-...ession,FF.html

another good site is



http://www.geocities.com/NapaValley/1918/great.html

[MKS]

Early spring is the best time to harvest & cook free dandilion leaves. (Be sure they have not been sprayed or sprinkled with pesticides.) They need to be washed several times & can be boiled or added to salad. Allrecipes.com has a good recipe for then with potatoes.

[MKS]

My step mother has made the mock apple pie way back during my child hood. I don't remember what it was like. I'm thinking ritz aren't that cheap, but are they cheaper than apples? You could use the off brand too.