Great Depression Style Foods: Quick Cheap Comfort Food to Make You Happy and Help You Save Money
EducationGreat Depression Style Foods: Quick Cheap Comfort Food to Make You Happy and Help You Save Money
I love quick meals made from cheap comfort food. Maybe it’s because we’re in the midst of an "economic downturn," or whatever they’re calling it these days. Maybe it’s because these foods remind me of dishes my maternal grandmother made. She lived through the Great Depression with her twelve brothers and sisters, and cooked basic but delicious comfort food when my family visited. And if you're looking for quick meals with limited prep work, it doesn't get much more convenient than this.
True to its humble roots, this Great Depression style comfort food requires no recipes. Each meal is “to taste.” These aren’t gourmet dishes, and most wouldn’t qualify as health foods. But comfort food doesn't have to be completely devoid of nutrition. So, in no particular order, here is my list of comfort food suggestions to help you devise quick meals, warm the heart, and keep the pocketbook fat.
1. Spaghetti with milk and butter: Pasta makes some of the best quick meals possible, and is delicious to boot. Think of this cheap comfort food as a poor man’s Fettuccini Alfredo. Real butter and whole milk work best. Let the sauce cook on low heat for a while to make it really creamy; thicken to taste. Gourmet Great Depression food!
2. Bean sandwiches: I know – sounds weird, right? Most comfort food eaten during the Great Depression seems odd because it's simple and preservative-free. Drain and heat canned white northern or baked beans. Slather mayo - the ultimate comfort food condiment - on bread (white is best here), and add optional yellow onion slices. Onions promote the growth of “good” bacteria and are thought to be immune system boosters, allowing you to rationalize this, one of the quickest of the quick meals, as a healthy recipe. The beans also add protein and fiber, making them a great vegetarian entrée. I like a bit of black pepper. Spoon heated beans onto bread. Enjoy one of the cheapest quick Great Depression style meals out there.
3. Velveeta soup: The absolute yummiest processed comfort food has helped cooks whip up quick meals since 1928, just before the Great Depression. Make a delicious, cheap soup by browning inexpensive onions and / or bell peppers in a bit of butter or olive oil. Add milk and Velveeta to taste, dicing the “cheese” for faster melting. Although loaded with preservatives, you can feel better about using Velveeta by reminding yourself that a serving of has only 80 calories and 15% of your RDA of calcium. How many quick meals from the drive-through can make that claim?
4. Tomato sandwich: By far the healthiest comfort food on the list, and one of the cheapest quick meals ever, this one works best with garden-fresh tomatoes. During the summer, I eat them for 2 of my meals a day when I can. French bread is ideal, and can be had cheaply at most bakeries or grocery stores, but any type of bread will work. Slice fresh tomatoes, green peppers, and / or hot peppers and slap them between two slices of bread. Mayo makes a fabulous, simple finish to a comfort food Grandma might have made during the Great Depression when people actually grew their own food. Even Grandma liked quick meals that didn't break the bank.
http://www.kraftrecipes.com/Products/ProductInfoDisplay.aspx?SiteId=1&Product=2100061689