People ate THIS during the Great Depression to save TONS OF MONEY on food! | Depression Era Recipes

[@DvLnDsGyZ]

I hope those that have space in their yards, are able to plant seeds. Tip- For those that have SNAP food stamps, you're able to buy seeds that produce food with your card. It's our turn to build up our victory gardens. Good luck fam!

[@MealsWithMaria]

That’s a great tip! And never underestimate a small outdoor space! My sister used to grow tomatoes on her fire escape and got lots!!

[@cm-xq5zj]

And even vegetable plant starts and fruit trees with SNAP.

[@missalphaomegagod-2u]

Also if you have SNAP and shop at a farmers market they will double your purchase so say you want $10 worth of fruits/vegetables you can get $20 of them

[@shondawarren3673]

That's cool but I personally believe SNAP should be extended to the working poor. No way am I going to cut my hours at work to live off the Gov. I'm already over paying them lol

[@gregzeigler3850]

@@MealsWithMaria Might I suggest Hosta plants? They're food in Japan. Chives, scallions, bunching onions(certain types are perennial)or Egyptian Walking Onions? They'll come back every year, just like the Hosta plants. How about Dietrich's Wild Broccoli? Bi-annual that self seeds it's self. Korean Wild Celery which is extremely cold hardy and comes back every year. Even your common Dandelion has edible parts. Get old breeds of chickens whose nutritional needs are different than modern chickens. Modern chickens to perform well must have modern feed. Old breeds get by on grass clippings, scraps and bugs and still produce eggs.

[@ruthmiller5588]

I don't know how much all of the people you knew who lived through the depression had to eat but, my people scraped for everything they had. Mother told me most days she, her siblings and parents had only a big bowl of popcorn to eat for the day. They were lucky if they had rice or beans, bread too. They put out a big garden every year and grannie canned. That didn't last long with 7 people in the family. They put carboard in their shoes when holes appeared in the soles. They wore hand-me-down clothes. They moved a lot because landlords would raise the rent. Mother told me they lived in only one house that had a toilet inside. They didn't have regular mattresses. They slept on straw ticks. They bathed in a tub where the oldest bathed first and the youngest last then the tub was emptied outside. They rarely had meat to eat and I know they never bought a can of tuna! This is how most people lived during the Great Depression. Believe it. My daddy's family lived worse than my mother's family.

[@MealsWithMaria]

Thank you for sharing. I think there is something to be learned from that generation 🙏

[@wandamontgomery6030]

It's sad but true. Life was rough back then.

[@terrigomez6496]

Thank u. This video is B.S

[@ruthmiller5588]

@@terrigomez6496 She's trying to glamorize the Great Depression. MOST people lived way below the poverty level. MOST people knew great hunger. MOST adults couldn't find work. My parents and grandparents told me about their great struggle just to survive during those years.

[@AtlantaHospiceRN]

Frugality and thrift is a way of life.

[@shelzp7272]

I loved it when you said ‘It’s important to use what you have on hand’!!! I live by that credo. My mom used to fix tuna when she couldn’t think of what to serve and if it was lunch time she’d slice the tomatoes horizontally and layer it with the tuna for what she called tuna towers and it sounded special to us, everybody had their own tomato.

[@MealsWithMaria]

Love the layering idea! It’s my motto too!!

[@desireebailey611]

Smart mama!!

[@mickeymousey1239]

we ate it in celery sticks too low carb

[@ticqtocq721]

We had a special lunch similar to that when I was growing up that the Young gen call lettuce wraps today Peel a slice of lettuce off the head lay thinly sliced tomatoes then add Tuna salad I have always loved Kraft Singles so I was the one sneaking a slice and adding to my wrap

[@kathlynsteinman3599]

My guess is that what people ate during the Depression was different according to what region they lived in, as well as cultural and family influences. It's fun and interesting to read about. My mother rarely used any spices, but salt and pepper. Chili powder in chili, and sage in stuffing. She grew up during that time. They grew their own food and preserved it to last over the winter in Michigan. They were good at making something out of nothing for sure. Thank you for sharing these recipes!

[@MealsWithMaria]

That’s probably true!! Very fun to learn about food history.

[@pamh.5705]

I agree. I would Never put cinnamon in my savory food! To me, cinnamon belongs in dessert, certainly Not in my dinner. Nauseating!

[@liberty8424]

Yes, my mom cooked like that in Arizona; it's what most people had to eat.

[@liberty8424]

@@pamh.5705 try it in coffee, surprisingly good!

[@ThatGirlHoney]

@@pamh.5705 How do you really feel about cinnamon in savory dishes?

[@mountainmagpie]

I’ve never understood draining the fat but especially when you’re trying to ensure food and nutrition keep every bit of nutrition that comes out of everything. The fat helps you absorb more of the nutrients in the vegetables.

[@rustyhowe3907]

Not to mention my granny would beat me with a wooden spoon if I made no contributions to ye olden dripping pot to collect fat and use later.

[@shalona1974sweden]

Draining the fat seems like a new invention, had they done so during the depression my guess is that they would've saved the fat for like frying or something...? 🤔

[@rustyhowe3907]

@@shalona1974sweden Frying, baking, sauces, soups and anything that needed butter really. My granny taught me to use fat and combine it with crumbled stale bread for stuffing and dumplings as well.

[@shalona1974sweden]

@@rustyhowe3907 Thank you for the answer and granny's priceless teachings 👵 💕

[@PandaBear62573]

Something my grandmother, who lived through the depression, always did with tuna was just instead of using mayo squeeze in some lemon juice. My grandmother wasn't one for making bread and my grandfather wouldn't let her cut bread because she couldn't cut straight. So instead of making a sandwich she would make a salad with lettuce, tomato, and red onion, squeeze of lemon and a bit of salt. Then she'd have tuna salad on the side.

[@KC2DC]

My favorite tuna salad is new potatoes, tomatoes, tuna and parsley dressed with lemon juice and olive oil. I sometimes jazz it up with roasted garlic or olives, but the base recipe is absolutely delicious on a hot summer day!

[@brendamorris7263]

@@KC2DC mmm

[@robinoconnor553]

Hi Maria. I love your channel. I agree with other comments that you are here to cook, not ramble about politics or religion. You give good commentary without losing the focus of the food. There is another channel your viewers may enjoy. It's called Great Depression Cooking with Clara and it has many wonderful ideas to save money. Clara has passed now, but I still love watching her.

[@MealsWithMaria]

Aw what a great recommendation! I will need to check out that channel! And I really appreciate the feedback!!!!!

[@wheatie83]

I was just about to say that Clara channel is one of my favorite great depression ones. Maria- her grandson was the one who filmed it and edited it. He's a professional videographer.

[@carolynklestinec8589]

Me too she was great God bless her .

[@eleanorhansen6716]

I adored Clara. I saved everything she did. She reminded me of my Aunt Katherine.

[@ticqtocq721]

I Love watching her her age was 95 when I first found her I think it was 2015 or 14

[@janfoster9583]

I appreciate that your postings move right along. No rambling, no detours.

[@MealsWithMaria]

😀 so glad you like that! I try to keep it moving!

[@intuit5767]

I was basically raised by my Granny who was a young farm wife and mother of 3 during the Great Depression...she taught me SO much about gardening, raising meat and processing it, and of course cooking...even when I was growing up, none of us much money, but we ate very well because we produced most of what we needed. I hope people will get back to that way of living...and stop relying on Big Business for all the crappy "food" they sell.

[@deliamcmahon4603]

Well said. You were lucky to be raised in a time were everything you ate was organic and not some store brought crap. How old are you now?,, 60s, 70s,, ppl in your time were lucky.

[@Valleybeautiful]

My grandparents did ok too because they had farm animals for a little meat and dairy and grew a lot. They were share croppers but were very resourceful and extremely hard working

[@shaunaleessnackidies]

You could stretch meat by using canned drained and rinsed brown lentils also

[@snowysnowyriver]

For the first recipe, cut down the beef to half-pound and add some lentils. Lentils are very cheap, they will take on the flavour of the beef and also replace the protein. Don't remove the fat! That fat is full of flavour, essential calories and protein and there isn't enough to be health-damaging in a dish like that. If you use lentils in with the beef, the lentils will soak up the fat. Besides, what a waste of paper towels..... we're supposed to be saving money here folks! If you feel you have to remove the fat, tip the pan and spoon it out into a little dish. Put it in the refrigerator and use to fry your onions etc.

[@MealsWithMaria]

All true! Great idea with the lentils!

[@elizabethcope1502]

Cooked kidney beans can also be mashed & added to meat.

[@liberty8424]

Lentils aren't so cheap on Arizona now, neither are Navey beans, both over a $ a pound at Walmart, still cheaper than. $7-8 a pound hamburger!!

[@eleanorhansen6716]

That’s what my mom always did.

[@ecm8948]

@@liberty8424 Lentils are cheaper when bought at an Indian/Asian market... same with rice & certain noodles

[@hippiepisces9745]

Nice to see another Granite Stater :) I'm making Goulash with mashed potatoes right now but I am using canned beef that I found in the pantry. No tomato soup so I used tomato canned sauce :)

[@MealsWithMaria]

All sounds like great swaps!!!

[@tracydimond3759]

I add an egg or two, and a bit of dill pickle relish. I omit the celery. It's always good to find different versions of recipes, gives a bit of variety to your diet.

[@MealsWithMaria]

Agree! Love your variation!

[@ter8330]

I would love it if you did this as a series, like one video per week! Love the videos!

[@terryhenderson424]

Cooking dry beans is not my favorite thing to do. But, I will cook a "quantity" (ie a 2lb bag or bigger depending upon which pots and pans are free) then measure and freeze the measured portions for use later. I like to freeze in 1 and 2 cup portions in a re-used butter or other dairy container; it can be done in glass food storage but removal is a little trickier. Once frozen in a chub, I remove the beans as if they were ice cubes then stuff the chubs down bread bags with each chub separated by a folded piece of waxed paper (or at least 2 layers if waxed paper).

[@MealsWithMaria]

It’s so smart to cook everything ahead!

[@deniseodaniels7356]

Hi Maria. i love how u get down to cooking and show us all these recipes. alot of other channels get sticky in talking about religion and politics and this and that...i love how u just cook. thats what i love. just seeing a mama cooking up a storm and saving monies but not sacrificing quality in serving her family healthy.

[@MealsWithMaria]

I LOVE cooking up a storm for my family. I think I might have had my 3rd baby just to have another mouth to feed 🤣🤣 jk, jk! But love that you appreciate it!

[@deniseodaniels7356]

@@MealsWithMaria u are the best!! ☺

[@DaniElle-di4ho]

If you stop clicking on the religion and politics videos KZbin will stop suggesting them to you. I never get those videos, I only get cooking videos in my feed

[@deniseodaniels7356]

@@DaniElle-di4ho one cooking lady talks this stuff all the time. another talks alot of weird spiritual stuff. actually both do. if u watch enough cooking videos. u will come across this.😁

[@deliamcmahon4603]

@@MealsWithMaria thank you for your video. I appreciate the recipes. Please keep more coming. I live on a fixed income and I'm living in poverty. So please give me cheap and healthy recipes. God bless you.

[@susanwitte350]

I love the way you always give alternatives and swaps.

[@MealsWithMaria]

I think it’s so important! So glad you agree!

[@allyrooh3628]

You can use dehydrated veggies for the goulash too. For the beans you can add the little package of precooked bacon for convenience & it’s still $1.49 at my Aldi. Would love to see this as a series! Excellent video!

[@MealsWithMaria]

Love those ideas!!

[@donedennison9237]

I came across a tuna recipe somewhere that used hummus instead of mayo and I tried it and liked it. You don't even need hummus, just some smooshed garbanzos and lemon juice would be fine. I totally load my tuna salad with pickles, pepperoncini (or red bell peppers) and tomato. A squeeze of mustard for the tang makes me happy. I've used this as a base for macaroni salad too. I forget to do it, but I love fridge pockling red onions for color. I don't like onions raw, but soak them a day in vinegar.. yum.

[@MealsWithMaria]

I’ve always wanted to pickle onions! Heard it’s easy! And your tuna ideas sound delicious!

[@Weegeekatz]

I put onions in the juice in jars of pickles when the last pickle is gone. I use diced onions in the dill pickle juice and thinly sliced onions in sweet pickle juice, just for the fun of it. I also put sliced onions in the juice from jars of pickled beets.

[@lawriefoster5587]

Hi Maria..New sub here. Fantastic ideas and recipes. So many people that are younger just do not seem to know how to cook like this. I am 70 and my parents were married during the Depression and went through WWII with its rationing so I learned a lot from them. Thank you so much for your channel!!

[@MealsWithMaria]

You’re welcome!!! I’m so glad you’re here! There’s so much to learn from those times!

[@sherlynpatterson4304]

One of the reasons today's seniors are not so upset about food scarcity is because we grew up eating a lot of depression and WWII ration recipes and thought it was normal not a poor man's meal. We didn't have the luxury of a large variety of packaged foods and spices. We grew up with mostly seasonal choices. You are doing a fantastic job presenting your budget and emergency pantry meals. Keep up your good work. Here are some f.y.i. a lot of people are not mentioning on a regular basis. We saved the grease from the different meats in their own containers,. You may want to find recipes for using the grease, beef tallow plain or seasoned. Since they usually cook fish and other meats in the can during processing save the liquid from the can. The 12 ounce can of meat and fish proteins have about a half cup of protein broth. No need to add extra salt if you use the broth. You can put the protein broth and canned unsalted vegetable broth in with your frozen veggie scraps for a really good broth for soups and stews. Do not mix the protein broths. Her are the names for the different protein fats for cooking. Beef= tallow. Chicken= Schmaltz. Pork= lard, Lamb = Mutton suett / fat. Duck = suett?/fat. Bacon = bacon grease. Using these natural animal proteins will expand the flavor profiles of you recipes/meals. The reason McDonald's french fries tasted so good was they were cooked in beef tallow. Some people think duck fat is even better for french fries. Bon Appetit.

[@MealsWithMaria]

I do love duck fat on fries! Thank you for the tips!

[@sylvia496]

Just found this channel. Maria, you're a wealth of inspiration, information and entertainment. Keep up the good work. Looking forward to more!

[@karenwarsaw8511]

I sometimes make something called tuna on a cloud . It is tuna salad with onion, celery,relish and mayo served on top of instant mashed potatoes. I usually serve it with a side of canned corn for supper.

[@MealsWithMaria]

Super interesting! I need to try that out!

[@sarahr2055]

I really loved this!! Will you be turning this into a series or playlist? This will help so many of us! Thank you 😊

[@MealsWithMaria]

I might have to!!

[@countycalling]

@@MealsWithMaria it would be a successful series I think, so many need this information now. And people don’t all think alike (thank goodness) but seeing this does add to the knowledge they have

[@thekingsdaughter4233]

@@MealsWithMaria yes, please and thank you! 😊

[@marywalker2896]

Yum yum

[@bobbieschendel3144]

Thats a great idea. Please do this

[@corinnecardoza3521]

I always like your videos Maria. You give great ideas and I've made many meals or a variation of from what I've seen in your videos. I have MANY sweet memories of my grandparents on my father's side and my grandmother on my mother's side. They were AMAZING and HARD WORKING people. I distinctly remember that being wise with supplies and being frugal was simply the normal way of life without negative connotations or complaints. My grandparents were young adults in '29 when our country's economy crashed and we were thrust into what is now called 'The Great Depression'. They were all married with toddlers when we entered WWII and rations were the way of life. I don't recall ever eating in a restaurant or going thru a drive-thru with them but I DO REMEMBER the home cooked meals from scratch. My grandmother's both lived long lives, into the late 90s and the other the early 2000s and they lived simple and joyfully frugal until the end. I do LOOK FORWARD to seeing them all again in Heaven ❤️ Thank you Maria for all your budget hauls, meals and recipes. They always remind me of my nickel budgeting grandmothers and the sweet years with them in their kitchens ❤️❤️

[@jL-se4eq]

There is an old southern recipe called Tallerine that is delicious and similar to your goulash recipe. Basically you omit the water and mixed veg-add canned or frozen corn, cooked egg noodles, put in a casserole dish, poke chunks of cheddar cheese into the casserole and top with ketchup.

[@MealsWithMaria]

Sounds fabulous!!

[@liberty8424]

We do everything like you but ketchup; usually add a teaspoon of fresh chili powder to the tomatoe sauce, hamburger & onions!!

[@heavenlee1965]

I'm glad you came on board, love the vids.

[@MealsWithMaria]

😀😀

[@djridge7617]

Hey..first time watching and thanks for the tips. For the tuna, another really great option is albacore in extra virgin olive oil...drain yes but you will have the flavor remnants of the oil, add the onion, I prefer red for this, and celery...lemon juice takes it over the top. A drop or two of the bottle kind from the pantry might due...plus the tomatoes. Now that is super refreshing! Mayo not always so...but wouldn't count it out!

[@MealsWithMaria]

I’m so glad you’re here! That is a great suggestion!

[@figmorrow]

I basically make the same recipe but instead of tomato on the side, I stuff mine with the tuna mixture. Great for lunch or dinner.

[@MealsWithMaria]

Love the idea of a stuffed tomato!

[@LittleBitOfSunshine4u]

Yes! I stuff my tomatoes with the tuna salad. They sit nicely in a lunchbox too.

[@pamh.5705]

When I was a teen, in the dark ages, to me it was a treat to get a tuna salad stuffed tomato plate at Woolworth's lunchcounter!

[@JessicaSantos-gb8ht]

Hello from Puerto Rico 💜. Love these simple depression recipes. Please post more 💟

[@paulcarlachapman628]

We made these Smoky Stovetop Beans, substituting ham broth for beer, since we're not drinkers at all. We both loved it! Thanks so much for a delightful recipe, Maria!

[@sidneyvandykeii3169]

Depression era people had cupboards and cupboard full of random spices. Lots of frozen vegetables on hand also. I grew up in the 70s with little money. Here is my family Goulash recipe. Ground beef. Tomato paste, add water. Add salt and pepper. Boil pasta and add to mixture. If you happen to have vegetables or onion and other spices (Basil, Oregano, Thyme etc...) you can add those but they are optional. T I will add that I'm not sure if they had dried pasta in the 1920s but, they did have plenty of potatoes compared to other foods.

[@ecm8948]

They didn't have freezers in the depression era, nor tons of spices. Depression was 1929-39 then came a war & rationing began... bacon was a luxury as was fish; offal was the staple meat & you grew your own veggies & raised rabbits to EAT

[@sidneyvandykeii3169]

@@ecm8948 You statement is why I was Sarcastic. They had very few of her ingredients. Potatoes, onion and tomatoes. Maybe tomatoes paste. I'm not sure about canned goods in the 30s. Lucky to have salt and pepper so I'm confused as to this woman's ingredients for depression era cooking.

[@barbnauman705]

Maria, when i make tuna salad, i usually add a couple of chopped, hard boiled eggs too. Another nice addition can be some small cubes of cheese. If you’ve never tried hot tuna burgers, they’re yummy. Just use hamburger buns and wrap them in foil. Bake in the oven until hot-trust me, if you use sharp cheddar cheese in the tuna salad, they are delicious!!

[@easystreetwithjen]

Tuna burger like salmon patties or crab cakes or with tuna salad, like a tuna patty melt?

[@bobbieschendel3144]

Hot tuna open face sandwiches broiled with a piece of cheese on top Very yummy and filling

[@lilyrain7584]

Maria, Maria, I just met a girl named Maria, and suddenly I found a wonderful new batch of low-cost TASTY meals for these trying times! Thanks so much for your videos, they are truly helpful. I was eating a pack of tuna with discount greens when while watching this! You are a beautiful, intelligent woman with some absolutely gorgeous kids! Good luck with your channel! 💖🙏✝️

[@spencerhasting1258]

Another good one my meemaw makes is sauerkraut, and hotdogs with friend potatoes. I’m actually making it tonight cuz I’ve been craving it!

[@MealsWithMaria]

That sounds like great comfort food!!

[@mkshffr4936]

That reminds me the skin of the potato is probably the most nutritious part of it. lots of potassium in there.

[@ninajones1175]

We make elbow macaroni and add to goulash. Serves at least 8

[@karenbenavente1124]

This looks very delicious and filling too 😀 thank you!

[@MealsWithMaria]

You’re welcome!!

[@meluvs2read]

My mom used to add crushed up soda crackers to extend her salmon or tua salad..

[@MealsWithMaria]

I did that in my poor man’s meals video!!!

[@mwahl1686]

I was remembering someone saying they added small pieces of white bread to their tuna and that's what I would have done when I realized how MUCH mayonnaise was actually in the recipe Maria made for this video. 😂 I don't know if I could have stomached that as is! 😢

[@cindydaniel6125]

Great ideas..using up leftover veggies in the goulash would be a money saver. Maybe using already cooked pinto beans as a second meal but different in the baked beans. Thinking depression era...you know reuse. 😃 Love the tuna salad idea.

[@hollycaffeinatednerdgirl940]

I keep a little container in my kitchen freezer and when we have a little bit of corn, peas, carrots etc after a meal I toss them in there and when I make potpie or soup I add them in with any other veggies I'm adding.

[@rbkhcrw2752]

My favorite tuna salad grandmother made for us with only four ingredients ... portion to taste and texture ... tuna, mayo, apple (a slightly sweet) and dill pickles. Add nuts, celery etc. but my favorite is just the apple and pickle combo! Enjoy your videos. Does the word "video" age me?

[@MealsWithMaria]

I don’t think it does! I call them videos…but then again…lol maybe we’re in the same boat! Love the apple idea!

[@azoreanprincesa8170]

Please more recipes on great depression cooking. 🙏 These are hard times. I think it will be harder before it gets better in our world. 🙏🇺🇲🙏

[@YT4Me57]

Just toss another can of tuna in there and you'll have enough for leftovers. I add a bit of sweet relish in my tuna salad. Delicious.

[@jamiecee4960]

I had tuna salad last night with a bit of cucumber sandwich. With frozen cauliflower that I cooked mashed it up. For my side dish. It was filling and healthy. And yummy. 🙂

[@MealsWithMaria]

Yes! If only I had another can on hand 😅

[@ladyinred8867]

Here's one I just learned from my neighbor whose 93. One pork loin, cut up Several whole onions Baby carrots 2 cans cream of mushroom 2 cans water 2 packets onion soup mix Cook in crockpot on high for 4 hrs. Eat as a stew or serve over rice. I've made it twice already, it's pretty good.😊

[@MealsWithMaria]

Yum! That sounds delicious!

[@Casper-jx1zd]

Excellent video and very good recipes. Thank you 🙏

[@MealsWithMaria]

You’re welcome 🙏

[@bettyadkisson1681]

Try making milk gravey,torn bread pieces and diced fresh garden tomatoes and mix together. And yes its so good. Mother always used day old gravey and stell bread. But you couldn't tell it after mixing. All together. And another meal stretcher was leftover northern beans and elbow macaroni or homemade drop biscuit dumplings.And she even made multiple berry sweet drop biscuit dumplings .

[@MealsWithMaria]

Yum!

[@mickeymousey1239]

That goulash and the beans looks awesome, I make a hobo strew similar just add whatever veggies I want to use up. Too much mayo on that salad I would have used a couple good tablespoons personally. Going to make the beans for dinner actually I have everything too haha. cheers from Canada ps; food prices sky rocketed here too so we need to be budget friendly.

[@sofieg5406]

Hi Maria! Thanks for the recipes, you have some easy- to- follow recipes in your videos and I appreciate that! Keep it up🙂

[@MealsWithMaria]

So glad you like them!!

[@geg3758]

I was fortunate to have many lessons in cooking from my Grandmother & mother. We often have Goulash or Stew, hubbies favourite served with rice or toast

[@MealsWithMaria]

Sounds delicious!!

[@stefaniamalatesta8076]

Great Depression Cooking channel got me through some hard times.

[@julsjewels3185]

My mother said they ate canned creamed corn over bread. They ate wilted dandy lion greens.

[@cayennetote5387]

I live in Hawaii and we regularly live on canned goods. I make this goulash with the canned vegetables that has the potatoes already in it. The easiest way is Campbell’s vegetarian vegetable soup, hamburger and onion. They’re all yummy

[@hippiepisces9745]

speaking of the great depression!! dandelion greens salad!!

[@MealsWithMaria]

I’ve been wanting to use my dandelions on my lawn!

[@hippiepisces9745]

@@ajay-vu6or never heard of that before but I do have dandelion jelly in the fridge that I got from a town sale

[@mkshffr4936]

A good option for the very expensive bacon is smoked hog jowl. It is about half the cost of bacon or even less and is much more flavorful than ham. I like to trim the tough hide off. It takes a little longer to fry up but yields a ton of tasty grease. Don't you dare toss the grease it is great for sauteing or frying eggs and will save on the coconut oil.

[@Ljordan43]

Where would you buy it? Walmart doesn't have it,neither does our grocery store. 😒

[@thevictorianedge5465]

I reckon I have been eating depression era food my whole life and didn't even realize that's what it was called. That's some good eaten too.

[@gretchadkins]

I know that's what I was thinking! I was like wait a second... we make these same meals all the time. My husband ate a lot of rice growing up so we would probably have rice with our soup and pintos. And while he isn't a big fan, I make tuna salad for lunch or a snack weekly when I don't feel like cooking.

[@micahmiller5923]

I like to mix a can of tuna with 1/4 t of dill and the juice from 1/4 of a lemon and have it on romaine leaves like little lettuce boats. The lemon and dill cut through the fishiness of the tuna and it's a light and easy lunch on busy summer days.

[@MealsWithMaria]

Love that idea! Thank you for sharing!!

[@gloriapeel1749]

Been adding tuna to my pantry! There is a lot we can make with it,! I like market basket brand chuck light tuna!

[@MealsWithMaria]

I’ll get that one next time!

[@kimberlynw1799]

You always make your meals look delicious.

[@extractdigit]

The English love baked beans on toast or baked potatoes for a meal---can't get much cheaper!

[@shellyturner2766]

Yes! The baked bean grilled cheese sandwich has become a favorite of our home.

[@MealsWithMaria]

Omg yum!!!

[@MealsWithMaria]

Baked potatoes is a great idea!!!

[@bettyadkisson1681]

For good baked beans keep the juice of the beans add 1/2- 1 lb. Browned ground beef 1/4 c. Ketchup, 2 tbs. Soy sauce,1/2 honey 2tbs. Brown sugar,1 chopped onion, 2 2tsps. Garlic powder. Mix well bring too a boil then reduce heat too low for 2 minutes then put into 350 oven for 45 minutes.

[@MealsWithMaria]

Yum! Great recipe!

[@christeenprice5637]

Absolutely awesome recipes and ideas, thanks for sharing ❤️❤️❤️

[@lisamartin3346]

One thing I would like to add. My dad was a teenager during the depression. He said no one EVER had chicken because they were so expensive. So, get rid of those chicken legs, girl! Haha

[@MealsWithMaria]

😅 part of the meal was from one era and another from another era 😂

[@rogerrabbit80]

An interesting point is that in 1928, an ad for Herbert Hoover's campaign promised 'a chicken in every pot'. This was considered desirable because at that time, chicken was a very expensive food. The modern equivalent would be something like, 'steak and lobster for dinner every night' or 'a Lexus in every garage.'

[@reneehenderson4818]

I cant believe how expensive everything has gotten. Its crazy, crazy nuts. I have to shop at the discount stores whenever i can get out there, even the bus pass price has doubled. Love the tuna salad with tomato.

[@MealsWithMaria]

Good on you trying to shop the discount stores. It’s definitely tough out there but there are still ways to save.

[@tammyporte755]

That goloush is very similar to mine but I add elbow macaroni while it's cooking. And sometimes throw shredded cheese in or ontop when served.

[@MealsWithMaria]

Yum!!

[@jenniferrice5877]

I like very ripe garden tomatoes 🍅 put directly in my tuna salad; turns it pink. Very tasty indeed. Especially, with onion powder and garlic power and alittle onion and garlic salt and fresh parsley chopped and all the ingredients you mentioned. 😋 Add the mayonnaise I make myself by degrees.

[@beckywszalek726]

That's my go to tuna recipe, I use a little less mayo and put it on sliced tomato and dip carrot sticks in it too.

[@MealsWithMaria]

Yum!

[@BergenholtzChannel]

My mother, who was born in 1926, used to make that tuna salad, but she would serve it on the tomatoes and the extra mayonnaise stimulated putting mayonnaise on the tomato as well as in the tuna.

[@amandashomesteadjourney]

The recipes are very nice. One thing I would like to throw in there....the fat you removed is calories. If things do get tough-er calories will count. Not saying you should just consume a lot of fat but that little that was in the ground beef would be more beneficial in the soup then thrown out.

[@MealsWithMaria]

So true! Kinda wasn’t thinking and followed the recipe exactly 🤷‍♀️

[@ambyg720]

True, Fat was saved. Real Southern grandmas and mamas always have a jar of bacon grease 🤣. That was used for gravy, bread biscuits chapstick....

[@deliamcmahon4603]

@@ambyg720 I save my bacon fat for frying home made french fries.

[@lorylou2281]

My dad really liked cold butter bean sandwiches. And told us of eating lard sandwiches. They didn't talk much about it but in the summer, the children had to go live with farmers. They worked for food, and we're happy to eat.

[@gratefulacres4107]

add Sweet garden peppers chopped with tuna too. Sliced cheese or butter with slightly less mayo. Adds more bulk to the protein

[@MealsWithMaria]

Yum yum yum!!

[@lindabonomi7274]

love these videos, Maria...

[@carolynek1875]

We were poor growing up and when we make tuna like you just did ..my mother would add cooked macaroni noodles so we'd have tuna fish and noodle salad it was really good I made it for my kids all my life and they loved it so did my hubby

[@shannonmorrison8055]

My Aunt used to watch us when we were little and she made what she called "Junk Yard Soup"... it looked a lot like your first recipe. Was basically hamburger meat, tomato sauce and what ever leftover veggies from the week all put together, we loved it! She also took bologna and hotdogs, chopped and fried, then added BBQ sauce, served it with some mac n cheese... that was also one of my faves.

[@liberty8424]

Even a 1 lb.package of Oscar Meyers hot dogs is now $8 here in Az!!

[@alanbirkner1958]

I got a big bag of pinto beans on sale. I soaked them overnight. I made vegan refried beans. I've also made 3 bean salad, egg and macaroni salad, and tuna and macaroni salad. We seldom eat beef and never eat pork. We have chicken or turkey once or twice a week. I also make lentils and rice, chili, and 15 bean soup. Tina, Al's wife

[@athenamissinghome619]

I like your video. But I’ll say that in a true depression, these ingredients would be considered a luxury that most won’t have. And also- That fat is precious! Don’t discard! But, overall great recipes for everyday life:))

[@MealsWithMaria]

I wasn’t even thinking discarding the fat 🤦‍♀️

[@dianatennant4346]

I enjoyed this just for different ideas I love the tuna salad like that and if you're not watching carbs which you apparently are add a can of peas or some thought frozen peas if you like them I have also use it used broccoli I actually almost steamed it clear through and leftover broccoli works just great. I am going to enjoy this channel you actually cook like I do a lot

[@jgodwin717]

Wonderful ideas!

[@MealsWithMaria]

Thank you!!

[@peachhipgirl75]

I bet that Spam would work instead of ham or bacon for the baked beans as well! I may try that!

[@MealsWithMaria]

Totally!

[@Hasenkind1]

this recipe sound so good. hello from germany. for the 2 recipes i ould use "white beans" they´re so much cheaper in germany and other countries/areas. Thunasalad is so soo super yummy

[@MealsWithMaria]

Oh that’s so interesting that one bean is less expensive than another!

[@Hasenkind1]

@@MealsWithMaria it is. i pay 1.89€ for a kilogramm of white dried beans. one can of pintobeans would cost me 1.19 up to 2,29 euros for ONE little Can thats CRAZY:-/

[@judytieger8976]

Made some pseudo baked beans with pork and beans I had on hand. Very good side dish for ribs. They were delicious at a good low cost. I use chunk kite tuna and think it is very good.

[@heathersumner4497]

We use macaroni to stretch goulash. My family loves to stuff tomatoes with guns salad but, I can't eat it. Looks to die for but, it tastes like I am chewing aluminum foil. I ate them as a kid and it was good. I think the low does chemo med I take makes it taste metalic. They eat them and I get crackers or bread out and we are all good!

[@MealsWithMaria]

So weird the taste changed I’m sorry 😞 I should try macaroni with that!

[@eer4465]

God bless you and heal you, dear!

[@jofipps376]

I pray God will heal every cell in your body in Jesus’ name, Amen

[@sheilapurvis6467]

I have a picture of my grandmother where she just caught a chicken for supper. Though she became wealthy in later years she was always very frugal. She couldn’t shake the old days yet they did have chickens on a tiny farm.

[@mov1ngforward]

My momma was first generation Irish with older parents and five older siblings. She would never eat or cook barley and she always pocketed condiments...to the tune of mustard and catsup bottles from the SF Palace Hotel. 😊

[@Heyitsbrittany]

Whoah double the tuna with that much mayo for sure. Wish my fam liked tuna! I love it.

[@MealsWithMaria]

Next time 👍🏼

[@JennyB957]

I believe i will do tomatoes with the tuna as well , instead of bread . The hamburger stew looked great , plus the pintos brought back the days when I use to cook the dryed version , made oven fried potatoes and corn bread , ooch I know the carbs . Thanks

[@terryhenderson424]

I actually drain the meat juices and fat then place in the fridge to harden the fat. Often when you skim or remove the fat there are meat juices or aspic at the bottom. Aspic is the jelly or gelatin that some meat and cooked bones generate. It is the stuff of Jello and other gelatine, although full of seasoned meat juices and veggie fluid. When it is warm it melts and, generally is full of protien. I then use the left over meat juices and aspic in other cooked dishes taking note of the spices and flavorings it contains.

[@janellcrews6108]

My great grandma made it like that but she added 1 hard boiled egg and pickle it was so good.

[@wandasellers3899]

My mom served her tuna in tomatoes she would slice in half then quarters but not cut all the way down to make cups that looked kinda like flowers. Fill them up with the tuna which she made with pickle, egg, onion, celery, 1/4 cup mayo dash of mustard, pepper garlic powder. That was dinner many Florida summer nights.

[@sarasorensen2650]

Saturday was always tuna sandwich day...thanks for reminding me. And Wednesday was always spaghetti night.

[@amysteele9778]

It’s good to see a smiling enthusiastic person!

[@MealsWithMaria]

😀

[@marthamora6648]

To the tuna add a little small elbow noodles. Taste awesome and takes me back to my younger self it was delicious.

[@carriedugan6769]

Good job on this video!

[@MealsWithMaria]

Thank you!

[@trinaaldridge3076]

I just love you! I pray that you know Jesus so we can be sisters in Christ, God is so good, I pray that you get to know him and share him with your children, the same way you share your meals ! My sister you will be blessed! God loves you and he has given you a great gift!Thank you for sharing your meal ideas, you have helped so many of us during these hard times! Inflation is really hard, but with your help with meal planning I know I can make it work! Hat's off to you great helper of God!

[@MealsWithMaria]

You can do it! God is good ✝️

[@trinaaldridge3076]

@@MealsWithMaria 🤗

[@evelynburley6106]

I’m opting for cabbage stir fry.. so yummy cheap and very healthy..

[@Valleybeautiful]

My grandparents depression Era cooking was lots of beans...cornbread..... zucchini from the garden....dumplings.... and one I don't hear much about.....milk toast. So when your bread was stale you toasted it and dipped it in warm milk. Nothing was thrown away. I also don't throw away stale bread but I cut it into stuffing cubes or grind it up for bread crumbs

[@cptcosmo]

Oxtail, shanks, etc. are wonderful low cost cuts of meat if you cook them for 3+ hours (use a solar oven to save the energy costs)

[@ecm8948]

Oxtails & shanks aren't cheap anymore... even @ the Asian markets; since they became posh @ higher-end restaurants, it's put the cost out of reach. I can buy Goat for a Jamaican curry goat - cheaper than Oxtails. (Asian market lol)

[@MealsWithMaria]

I’ve looked for those things and they are always soooo expensive in my area 🤷‍♀️ I’d think they’d be cheaper but they are more expensive than regular beef and chicken!

[@poppa5904]

I admire your knife skills.

[@MealsWithMaria]

😀 thank you!

[@amberleestevens2052]

They look great!

[@MealsWithMaria]

Thank you!

[@villagesteader3552]

I know we all worry about fat, but those are calories thrown away. Fat is flavor also. I get it we’re not at that point…yet but if your portions are shrinking leaving the fat in will help with the feeling of satiety. Thank you for helping people use what they have on hand. One other thought, albacore tuna has more mercury in it than chunk light. Homemade Mayo is the best and so much more thrifty than store bought!

[@FlannelDeer]

When you mix too much mayonnaise in the tuna salad, you can add bread crumbs to get it back to your preferred consistency 🙂. It stretches the tuna salad as well!

[@MealsWithMaria]

So smart! Or saltine crackers!

[@FlannelDeer]

@@MealsWithMaria Yes! Saltines are great! 😀👍

[@ThorneyRose]

Just a little question… I wondered if in the depression era they might have drained the fat off for seasoning, frying, flavouring another dish? In this era, people wouldn’t have worried about fat as they needed all the calories they could get. I do like your method of removing the fat though. I always end up having to rescue half of my mince from the sink where I’ve been draining it! I’ve recently found your channel and I’ve been binge watching. Thank you for sharing these segments of your beautiful boys and all the recipes/meals. I’m now an almost empty nester; we have four boys and two girls. Only one son still at home. Thank you again. 🌹Rosie of Oz🇦🇺 & 🐶Omega the Cavalier (she likes watching KZbin with me 😊)

[@MealsWithMaria]

You’re not the only one thinking this 😀 the recipe is probably a modern day adaptation, I should have thought to mention that.

[@bobbieschendel3144]

Yes... my mom recycled all the fat esp bacon and deep frying veg oil She lived during the depression She put it in the frig labeled drippings..the bacon fat You can sometimes find containers in the antique store that say this

[@AhJodie]

Yes...I do.

[@mkshffr4936]

​@@bobbieschendel3144 Yep, and the drippings from pork roast can be used just like bacon or jowl fat. Back in the day fat from the roast goose was sometimes used for lighting. One goose renders a heck of a lot of fat. Of course wild goose would have less.

[@bobbieschendel3144]

@@mkshffr4936 thats interesting. Thank you I make pork gravy with the drippings from a pork roast, thats it. Lol I try to better my cooking skills