Trying Recipes from the Great Depression Part 3 | Vintage Recipes | Dollar Tree Dinners

[@eddiem6975]

Just want you to know that your videos really help with my depression. You are very calming and also really thourough describing what you are making ❤

[@DollarTreeDinners]

Thank you so much that is a truly incredible compliment 🥰

[@eathomelive]

Me too. I am struggling. I am getting better, but some days, all I can do is watch videos, TV, etc... Her videos make me smile and actually make me more useful because I am learning so much to save us money. I am trying to cut our grocery budget by a third. I think it's going to happen with all of the ideas I have gotten. Anyway, Rebecca, I don't think you can know some of the ways people like you can help others in multiple ways. Keep on doing this. You are awesome!

[@Anarchyinthe603]

Likewise, I totally agree with this commenter - I find you very soothing, like the Bob Ross of food, and more than just your demeanor and voice. Bob made beautiful art accessible to so many people who felt like creating art was out of their reach, and he did it with such an ease and a gentleness. You do the same with food. I'm an enthusiastic gourmet home cook, from a long line of professionals, but I'm also a woman in the middle of a two year and counting disability fight who's going through all of the mental health struggles that come along with it. Because I'm no longer working, haven't for almost three years now, and I'm in chronic pain and struggle with my mental health, my budget has gotten very small as well as my energy and ability most days. You help me feel inspired in my kitchen again, with meals I can afford and that fall into whatever level of ability I can muster on any given day, and that means a lot to me. This video is months old, but I hope that you see this comment and understand just how many lives you affect in such a positive way.

[@StephanieGiese]

I really like that sugar trick because it uses the whole fruit with less waste. I learned an old-fashioned 3-2-1 lemonade recipe from the Mennonite community when we lived in the Lancaster, PA area, and that’s the one I still use. The original recipe is the juice of 3 lemons, 2 cups of sugar, in 1 gallon of water. But the lady I learned it from told me she always added the juice of one orange too. It turns out perfectly every time that way and makes an entire gallon.

[@curiousKuro16]

Well now I'm gonna have to try it!

[@stevensonjc21]

This the one!

[@lifewithroscoe6513]

Here is a tip. Do your stock the day before and let it sit overnight. the next day, you can easily skim the grease off as it raises to the top

[@Sweetrottenapple]

Yes. Basically that is how you meant to do it.

[@docink6175]

or stick a couple ice cubes in a baggy and drag it thru the stock, a clean dish towel also works

[@sunniertimer598]

It's like magic.

[@cziegle3794]

Sometimes when you think you need more salt in a dish, try adding lime juice first. Look it up. It's a thing.

[@oneoflokis]

Nice tip! 🙂👍

[@maryhekker4166]

I’m on a sodium restriction and we use a lot of lime to season dishes with, also use a product called True Lime which also helps.

[@angelika_munkastrap4634]

Really? It’s a natural substitute?

[@maryhekker4166]

Yes, True Lime is an all natural substitute for salt. It actually enhances the flavor of my foods.👏👏

[@jimajams7080]

Wow I never knew that. I'm going to try that. Thank you

[@janmclain6301]

As a 71 yr old granny, I have long watched your videos to calm down at the end of every day. So, thank you!

[@jmfranklin]

I am a Northerner, and LOVE tomato sandwiches!

[@adriannakilichowska8798]

As a Pole im surprised you know about our Gołąbki (cabbage roll) it was really sweet to hear about it from u ♥

[@candyeolney30]

Oh I love that movie too. I used to watch Julia Child The French Chef as a child. I love to cook.

[@Layl.e]

You’re such a comfort channel for me! Always look forward to new videos.

[@gabarella]

Nice series. Just FYI. I’m 54 and when I was a kid in the 70’s they sold pint baskets of fresh produce, including tomatoes.

[@mes9766]

We grew up eating sugar on sliced tomatoes. My grandparents used to argue gma liked salt n pepper and gpa liked sugar.

[@cziegle3794]

Yay first like and comment. Love this channel. Best to you and your family. Thank you for making these videos. Especially love these Great Depression videos.

[@lisasprite3322]

💕🩷💕 I really appreciate all the love you put in your channel! … My Grandma lived through depression when I was wee the “entire” family would go to the beach. First meal would be a huge turkey dinner - and that’s what we ate the entire two weeks (at least one meal/d). Turkey ala king, soup, sandwiches… We make the cabbage casserole (unwrapped cabbage rolls) - I like sour creme if available. The recipes you try are creative. I just cleaned the morgue aka fridge. Trying to be more mindful - so seeing you collectively planning meals/ingredients for the week will be of great help (to keep fridge tidier, and save). Usually start a more complex meal night b4 - if organized, have energy 😉 Thanks for the variety ✌🏽🫶🏽💫

[@DollarTreeDinners]

I’m glad you enjoyed it and I hope it brought back some fond memories of your grandmother 🥰

[@jeaninetodd8693]

My dad ate his tomatos that way. For people who will say not healthy he lived for almost hundred years. 2 months shy of 100

[@angelaschaefer5883]

Both of my grandparents lived into their 90s. My grandpa lived to be 97 years old. Then my grandma lived to be 98 years old. They ate at McDonald’s twice a week.

[@janinerichardsfink1903]

I have that same cookbook.I was surprised to find how many of our family favorite dishes come from that era. It does make sense since my Grandma was a farm wife on the prairie at that time .

[@michaelshields5921]

You can add a splash of apple cider vinager to your bowl of cabbage , that is how we ate it as kids in the 70s and early 80s.

[@Tobywedinikki]

That’s how I eat my cabbage now n always have. Love it that way.

[@stephaniemeads]

I have this exact book and love it! I used to make the coffee cake every week for my family. I need to start using it again. Love these videos! Thank you for sharing them!

[@stephaniemeads]

Going to make the lemonade tomorrow! Can’t wait to try it!

[@DuchessOfQuilt]

I grew up eating sliced tomatoes just sprinkled with sugar. I’m going to try them with mayo now too! Also, we used to love eating the marrow from the cooked soup bones. We’d spread about 1 tsp marrow onto a saltine crackers and sometimes added more salt. Yum! Love the cabbage casserole - very similar to “lazy cabbage roll casserole” that I make. I’m really enjoying this series!

[@MrJsv650]

Oh yeah mayo and a bit of black pepper maybe a sprinkle of salt 😋 we used to eat them with sugar as kids also.

[@mariandreaduncan2172]

Try Miracle Whip on tomatoes!

[@allyrooh3628]

The depression era veggie soup would have been cheap back then, but not necessarily now. The beef bones are not as cheap as they used to be, and most people grew the veggies the put in soup during the depression. That would be interesting to compare the cost in 1929 vs 2023 for these meals. Good video!

[@DollarTreeDinners]

Totally agree, and I should have mentioned that I spent $48 on the ingredients to make these handful of meals, not including some items I already had on hand

[@allyrooh3628]

@@DollarTreeDinners that seems high. Shows how much you can save growing things. I made your spicy lentil soup this week-it was a hit!

[@kellymcfalls1458]

@@DollarTreeDinners That’s way too much money for “Dollar Tree Dinners “ you can buy cheaper ingredients like the store brand and “doctor them up “ by adding some extra spices like garlic or whatever

[@kellymcfalls1458]

@allyrooh3628 Nothing is as cheap today than 1929 ! But some people spend to much money I try to economically buy my groceries sometimes I don’t always spend less but I buy in bulk and when it’s on sale and freeze

[@donnanorman340]

My mum used to get her meat bones free from the butchers back in the 50s.

[@jms7313]

Just had my first home grown garden tomato sandwich today. It was glorious! Great video!

[@wendybroadhurst8658]

You Crack me up. Julie and Julia is one of my favorites too.

[@dianethoroughman9541]

The lemonade sounds really good. Thank you for making these recipes.

[@coffeelover1763]

Here we make lemonaid with a cup of lemon juice and 1 cup of sugar, water, makes a normal sized jug of juice. Can be made less sweet. It's easiest to use lemon or lime juice in a bottle.

[@TheLippyMom]

We have a very small yard where my son grows tomatoes, this is such an easy "new" way for him to have them! Also you are like bronze goddess today ❤

[@Purple0fairy0bunny]

We like to slice the tomatoes in half to make tomato sandwiches. Thick slices are best

[@Kristine14]

She is beautiful ❤

[@connieblack5276]

Loved it!

[@ravinhud4979]

yeah a whole lot of onions, i cooked frittatas for my Daddy before he died and I was taking care of him

[@robetpeery9084]

great video I enjoyed it very much you are a delightful charming person thanks for sharing have a great day

[@SeattleTrainer]

Rebecca, growing h up my mom made cabbage casserole a LOT so this brings back childhood memories 😍 Here are my hacks as an adult: I use a can of pasta sauce instead of tomato soup to add a lot of spices and flavor. And I buy two bags of “coleslaw cabbage” which is essentially finely chopped cabbage. Saves me the trouble of chopping and cooks faster too! I also use a bag of frozen chopped onions when I brown the ground beef to save chopping there too, and garlic from a jar or tube. Final hack: to drain my beef without losing too much fat and flavor I fold a paper towel around my spoon or spatula and stir it around in the pan until the excess grease is absorbed, then toss in the trash. Easy peasy!

[@linda11640]

next time you are at DT pick up a pizza pan, it makes a great lid for any pot.

[@hoovesandpaws]

It does! I have one that I screwed a drawer handle in for ease of picking it up and setting it down. It works great!

[@tinashort9098]

I 💯 know what you mean about the scents during the night!! I don’t cook in the crockpot at night because it makes me sick!!

[@DollarTreeDinners]

Same for me! I cover it with a towel if I have to 😂

[@jejrstans]

Oo! Love the extra tip of frying the potato skins. YUM!

[@robzombieshot]

Also.. toast the skin of the onion then blend it into powder or add salt. Vwalla!! Table seasoned or just for cooking.

[@earlenebrown7181]

I enjoyed watching, cooking from scratch does take a long time but we’ll worth it. I like the fact you even used the potato skins. Waste not want not, is what my Mother always said who grew up in the Depression. And I have always followed her advice.❤

[@tanishahogan9396]

Any crockpot DT recipe ideas? I use a crockpot a lot (often for beans or broth) but not for much else.

[@tinag8725]

Thank you for the recipes I'm definitely going to give a few of them a try

[@DollarTreeDinners]

Hope you enjoy

[@VashtiWood]

I just have to say... I put the cabbage casserole in the oven about half an hour ago and it's smelling SO good! I'll definitely be putting this into rotation! 👏👏👏

[@Purple0fairy0bunny]

Love this! Would absolutely love to see recipes from the cookbook adapted to dollar tree, or recipes that would still be roughly $5 to make today.

[@ragamuffinukes2779]

Good video! Thanks

[@sweetlifehappywife3460]

These vlogs are my favorite. Thank you for your content 😊

[@susanrobinson408]

I always enjoy your videos! These recipes are interesting!

[@cziegle3794]

I'm the same way when it comes to smells at night. It's so weird and annoying ESPECIALLY since I sleep on the couch - by choice-most nights with my dog

[@mollymollie6048]

Roasting the bones prior to making stock is a fantastic idea!! Thanks for that! All the scraps of celery/carrots/onions can be tossed in with the boiling bones (and strain and toss, feed to the chicken, whatever works at your house) adds great flavor. Poorman’s Soup (Clara!!) is one of those ‘everything but the kitchen sink’ if you have it, and it’ll work, throw it in! Use pre-made broth if you have nothing else. One thing, my Depression Era/WWII mother (born/raised during that) taught me…probably not common for the time or area, is a great flavoring for most any (not the cream ones) broth/gravy/stew is soy sauce. It doesn’t taste like Asian food but gives a great depth of flavor with a small amount (I guess…umami? Richness? Depth?) I was a 70s/80s kid so it was LaChoy…I’m a Kikkoman girl now…chicken gravy, chili, beef stew…soy sauce is in it, totally works. (Plus, as a kid, all green vegetables were served with butter and soy sauce…delicious…I love green vegetables, and I am a super picky eater!) Thanks for doing the the vintage depression era foods…most of them look really tasty…and gives you a whole new sense of respect for cooking a meal with no pre-made anything, no microwave, no fancy appliances…time and labor…then you had to clean the house, do the laundry, take care of the kids…respect!!!! Thanks again for another great video!

[@helenprice5336]

Thoroughly enjoyed your video! Thanks fir sharing!

[@michelepastele5347]

I love your idea of going thru the cookbook and making allthe recipes. Thanks for sharing it. Everything came out great1

[@marygrayson-smith7488]

I really enjoyed it too. As the saying goes you are never too old to learn.

[@PamIAmChronicles]

I've really been enjoying these recipes, so much so that I got myself a copy of that book! I'm looking forward to going through it, already saw quite a few gems in there! Thanks for the great content 🥰

[@sharonhall2277]

5 lemons and one orange should make a gallon of lemonade

[@janiceh4521]

For diluting your lemonade try plain seltzer water (I don’t like seltzer drinks) this is next level of refreshing and super light drinking! Love the depression era cooking

[@katherinenelson5905]

Running to go pull out my copy of the book at home!

[@naomidunbar719]

My mom always used a ham bone, so bean soup often followed after a few days of eating leftover ham. She didn't use any other meat as the stock was very rich from the ham bone and she'd finish taking the bits of meat off the bone to add to the soup. She also used carrots in addition to the veg you used.

[@chrisjahnke2439]

I just discovered your channel recently and I love your videos. Thanks for putting out such great content!

[@rs2343-o4e]

Love your recipes and videos. one complaint is I would like to see more videos, Like one every other day but I know how much work it is to create videos thanks and keep them coming. We cant get enough you and your videos.

[@lowballmama6775]

I just recently found your channel and I am just in love with it. I find it to be so pleasant and very informative and entertaining 😊! Thank you so much for doing all this and sharing, I am getting so many great ideas.

[@Hasenkind1]

i think you would like that Poor mans Soup from my british relatives too. Soup for the poor INGREDIENTS Bacon - 3 rashers, streaky Butter - 1 tbsp Onion - x1, large Carrots - x2 Celery - x2 sticks Yellow split peas - 300g / 11oz / 1.5 cups Mint - 2 sprigs Stock - 2 liters / 4pts, vegetable or meat stock Salt and pepper, to season How to make it: Soak the peas overnight in plenty of cold water, then drain. Peel and chop the vegetables, and dice the bacon. Fry the bacon in butter, and add the vegetables to the pan. Cook for a few minutes and then add the peas and stock. Bring to the boil and simmer for 45 minutes until the peas have split. Add chopped mint and seasoning to taste, and cook for a further 5 minutes before serving hot.

[@bridgetmarden7224]

I love these videos ❤

[@corinneparker2519]

Love your videos. Great idea with potato skins.

[@tomsik11style]

So with the same ingredients of cabbage casserole you can make stuffed cabbage. Also another one is stuffed onions. It’s a Moroccan dish, using beef or Turkey ground. And it all freezes well

[@susanmccoy1992]

When I was a little girl, my mom would occasionally fix stewed tomatoes which we sprinkled sugar on. I've never seen it with Mayo and then sugar.

[@seekingserenitydaily]

I love the movie Julie/Julia too! What a fun project! I think that the yummy cake with a steaming mug of coffee would be delicious!

[@shaunaleessnackidies]

I love the instant pot for bone broth, perfect!❤ oh, and of course hot sauce makes everything better 😊

[@Elphiyero10]

things like the tomatoes with mayonnaise are such ingenius ways to make a tasty snack with very little to work with! you can tell why it's in a depression cookbook! i'm not a fan of mayo or tomatoes (unless they're fresh from the garden) but i'm glad it would be good for people who do like those things!

[@leegerstmann]

These recipes look really good and the process of making the food seems quite easy and I'm sure I'll enjoy making the food. I like the process you show of making the food and the commentary about how and why the recipes are done the way they are. You do great videos. I enjoy your channel.

[@jerripeterson4689]

The cabbage casserole is so good with lots of dill and crumbled bacon!

[@Last_Green_Man]

The poor man's soup is very similar to Senate bean soup from 1918! One cool thing that really elevates the flavor of these kinds of soups is one or two alspice pods (wrap em in a little bouquet with some thyme and parlsey) and a little nutmeg.

[@Wil_Soles]

Oh man.....that cabbage casserole looked really delicious!!!

[@kathy3178]

Once it has finished, I like to add cheese and sour cream to the unstaffed cabbage rolls. Then put mixture in a tortilla and eat as a burrito. You also add taco seasoning before putting in the oven. That gives it a good taste as well.

[@lifewithroscoe6513]

I make something like your cabbage casserole. To save time, I use a Cole Slaw mix

[@MrJsv650]

That lemonade 🍋 looks great. Watching the rest now. I have to water down grapefruit juice 🥤 because it's so strong 😊

[@robinabernathy2829]

The Ultimate great depression meal is super simple. A few potatoes fried with some cheap hot dogs with some diced onions. Add a little pepper and light salt. Can get a huge bag of potatoes for just a few bucks so it should last for days. Plus hot dogs re cheap if you get the generic brands. Onions are actually optional.

[@oxymoronassoc]

A pint is usually a punnet of small fresh tomatoes like Sweet 100/cherry/sungolds etc.

[@joannematzuka1592]

I remember my grandmother getting free soup bones from the Butcher but since Bone broth has become a thing those bones can cost as much as a steak!

[@DollarTreeDinners]

I think these were $3.99, I was surprised they weren’t more expensive. If I didn’t find these I was going to find a different recipe to try because a whole ham was too expensive haha

[@joannematzuka1592]

@DollarTreeDinners you got lucky on the bones girl!

[@sallygordin2869]

I have that cook book also. Thanks for doing this video. Blessings 😊

[@danielintheantipodes6741]

Thank you for the video!

[@wynnkidsnannylorivance4111]

I'm from Baltimore. Tomato sandwiches with salt and pepper and good mayo is the bomb!

[@mariaTsounakis1521]

This was so much fun!! I loved this! Ty!!

[@rbirkheimer59]

You did a great job. The soup looked good. I think I would like some corn bread with it. Cabbage thing I would like too. Desert yes please!!! You do things so well. Your a sweetie. Thank You for all your hard work. God Bless, Hugs, Rebekah

[@javonpablo3036]

Omg I knew I loved for a reason. My favorite movie is Julie and Julia too! And I love period movies! I love the 20s.

[@hoovesandpaws]

Back then, a pint would have been, more than likely, a homecanned pint jar of tomatoes. However, it could have been a can as there were many canning factories back then, too.

[@agramby2022]

I love your videos! I subscribed cause you are easy to listen to. Plus, I love you shop at foodlion! I am so used to seeing great value and people look at me crazy when I talk about foodlion. I can’t wait to watch so many more videos

[@itsbaxagain]

@5:35 the things I do for the internet - haha love the video btw - thank you

[@DollarTreeDinners]

Haha I was pleasantly surprised by it

[@docink6175]

I think you're right that crops have gotten larger but I wouldnt mind that veggie to egg ratio but Id like some cheese in it, the breakfast burrito sounds awesome.. Again with the tomatoes, they may not have been as sweet back then or people just liked sweet. My aunt was from Ohio and she made "tomato salad" really just a bowl of quartered tomatoes with onion slices and mayo.. The cabbage roll casserole is DEFINITELY going in my book, Ive always loved cabbage rolls but not the time to make them so Ive been making deconstructed cabbage roll soup for ages.. my brains already figuring ways to cut time and use prepackaged ingredients like rice cups, coleslaw mix, rotel... hhhmmmmm...

[@DollarTreeDinners]

Haha the cabbage casserole is a game changer for sure plus you can use the whole head and not just the outer leaves

[@VashtiWood]

Oh my goodness! I just smashed a full bowl of this and am going back fur seconds! This is SO good! Next time I make it, I'll use a full can of water instead of only half a can... And I'll use more cabbage (cause i *love* cabbage) and having only HUGE heads I wasn't sure how much to use... SUCH a great recipe... I can't recommend it enough!

[@gwenvann7279]

I love these depression era recipe videos! I did want to let you know that the sound on this video was up and down. Too loud then too quiet. I had to keep adjusting my volume.

[@DollarTreeDinners]

Thank you for letting me know! I’ll try to equalize it more next time :)

[@rajimac]

It’s interesting that depression era food in the USA seems to still have a lot of ingredients that many people in other countries would consider luxury. I know from talking to people who grew up in the 30’s in Ireland that dinner was a big pot of potatoes turned out on the table , skins and all , with a pinch of salt and a cup of buttermilk. The butter was sold to make sone money so the family only had the buttermilk. Breakfast was maybe porridge, or a slice of brown soda bread and a cup of milk or tea. Minced beef , garlic or tomatoes would have Bern unheard of. They would eat ham or bacon from the pig they slaughtered once a year , and cabbage was the main veg. It was a healthy diet but very very plain. If you lived in the countryside you had a better diet as you had the cows and pigs but ripple in the towns fared less well . A depression era meal in a small Irish town would really depress you

[@michelepastele5347]

Do you recall how much you paid for the bones? Thelast time i lookedforsoup bones I was surprised at how pricey they were!

[@DollarTreeDinners]

These were $3.99 :)

[@michelepastele5347]

@@DollarTreeDinners thanks! I live in New Mexico and bones can be hard to find here. A real shocker was WholeFoods wanting over $ 12 for a few bones!! I remember when I could go to the store and ask for bones an theyd give them to me NO CHARGE!

[@phridae4613]

I noticed the Cabbage Casserole recipe says to bake for 2 hours. That seems like a lot, did you bake it that long?

[@DollarTreeDinners]

I did! I thought it seemed long too but I followed along. I looked up similar recipes and they have a similar cook time as well

[@tanyamckinnon5376]

Julie and Julia is one of my sisters favorite movies

[@donl1410]

Most likely electric mixers would have been an extravagance in the depression. Most folks probably used a hand egg beater. I still have one.

[@cindywyatt4477]

These old time recipes may be labor intensive, but they yield great results!

[@SusanHendrix-e3j]

Julie and julia is one of my favorite movie also.

[@judymcpheron5955]

So interesting. Fun to follow and learn. ❤😊❤

[@justnina8023]

This is awesome.

[@dwilloughby1969]

Get a chunk of lettuce and put mayo and salt on top.

[@turquoisegrace]

You seriously are my sister from another mother! All your little comments is exactly what I would say you had me laughing. I am stuck home with the bad kidney infection on a strong antibiotic so I watched a lot of your videos as I laid in bed. You helped me forget about my discomfort and made me laugh at your comments feeling less alone😢, especially when you bit into the tomato.😂

[@pigoff123]

I would eat the omlet without the pepper.

[@sherrygaskill6122]

BTW the stickers on fruit and veggies are edible. They have to be so if you accidentally eat one it's not a big deal

[@MrJsv650]

I'm going to try the label on my bananas 😅 have to try

[@allyrooh3628]

Oh, I forgot to tell you a couple of new items at my DT. They had Thai sweet chili sauce! I haven't tried it yet, but I got some! Also they had Pho sipping broth. I didn't get that, but wondered if you have seen it in your area?

[@alidaroxana12]

Haha! Scents keep me up too. I cannot do overnight crockpot 😂

[@DollarTreeDinners]

I can’t either, I try all the time with chicken bones and I just can’t sleep those nights. I end up putting a towel over it to help

[@momof2momof2]

Sounds like the name of the cake was appropriate lol My Dad always sprinkled sugar on his tomatoes, much to my Mom's dismay lolol. Thanks for sharing ! 🥰🪷🌺🌸🌼💗✝💖🇺🇲

[@chefbabyryan1]

Really liking your content. May want to look into leveling your audio just a bit between shots. It’s clean it just goes really quiet to real loud here and there. Just subbed ;)

[@DollarTreeDinners]

this one was different because I think for some of it my mic wasn't recording and I didn't notice until I was editing

[@TBIJourney]

I made the lemonade for my family. I'll be making this one again!!! 😁

[@DollarTreeDinners]

Me too!