We can learn some lessons in frugality to learn from our grandparents who survived The Great Depression, especially when it comes to doing more with less. They saved money by growing some of their own food in kitchen and container gardens. Click here for more information on kitchen gardening.
They also came up with inventive stretcher recipes, ones that deliciously used what they had on hand. The well-stocked pantry was critical in their day and the top ten basics every home cook should have is basically the same as it was in the 1930s. There are some updates, nods to the convenience foods that have been invented since then - like boxed macaroni and cheese. This is a new staple for families with finicky, hard-to-please young children. There is a world beyond yellow cheese and macaroni, click here for an inexpensive canned salmon recipe that is healthy, omega-3 rich, and kid-friendly.
Inexpensive Staples for a Well Stocked Pantry
Whip up most anything at a moment's notice with these top ten kitchen must-haves:
- Baking supplies (flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt)
- Pasta, including the modern pantry staple of boxed macaroni and cheese. For more innovative pasta meals check out the Washington Post's inexpensive pasta recipes)
- Chicken broth (Swanson's Organic Chicken Broth won a recent Cooks Illustrated taste test)
- Rice (brown and white and basmati, if regularly cook Indian food)
- Canned fish (take your pick of salmon, tuna, anchovies, or sardines. Trader Joe's has a good selection.)
- Oatmeal
- Nuts
- Honey
- Olive oil
- Canned tomatoes
Depression-Era FamilyMeals
With these pantry staples in filling the family's larder the household food budget can stretch a very long way. The possibilities for inexpensive, pantry-based meals are endless. Peruse old cookbooks for ideas, including the first edition of the Joy of Cooking.
Stretching Food Budget
Think about pantry stretchers, such as using leftover pasta to make a next day fritatta lunch, with the just the edition of beaten eggs, salt, and a little milk. Here are some ideas:
- A hearty, stick-to-the-ribs and heart-healthy breakfast of oatmeal with nuts and honey,
- Save leftover oatmeal and form into a loaf, allow to cool in the fridge over night and then to slice and pan fry in butter for a "stretcher" breakfast the next day,
- Spaghetti with a simple sauce of tuna and tomatoes,
- Tomato soup with rice
- Tuna and rice casserole (the dowager queen of cheap family meals.)
Creative, Cheap Family Menus
Don't be discouraged by no longer having the means to be high end in the kitchen with the artisan olive oils and fancy packaged gourmet goods. Good-tasting, healthful food that the family will dig into is no farther than the kitchen cupboard. The most imporant ingredient now, as it was when times were tough before - is love.
