Alpha Consumer

Video: Cooking Tips from the Great Depression

By Kimberly Palmer

Posted: February 26, 2009

The newest YouTube star is 91-year-old Clara, who gives cooking demonstrations based on the recipes her families used during the Great Depression. She jokes that every night her family ate a different version of pasta -- pasta with peas, pasta with garlic, pasta with beans. She even shows how to turn the heat off and let the pasta cook in the heat of the water to save energy. (Thanks to Baking and Books for the link.) Below, watch Clara make pasta and peas:

Cooking Tips from the Great Depression

This is so wonderful. http://feastonthecheap.wordpress.com also ran a story from a woman who grew up in the GD and then raised six children on a small budget.

LidyaCal of IN @ Mar 15, 2009 11:27:06 AM

depression cooking

These meals have been around on thousands of our tables for many decades. My mother who was also from the depression era raised us on these meals and I in turn have raised my children (of the nineties) on all these same foods. I am always very amused when I go out to dinner and pay $15.00 for a small dish of beans and bread, or string beans and potatoes. My kids now call from college for instructions on how to make them and they will, I am sure raise their children on these meals. It's good food, full of vitamins and vegetables. Many of these meals have worked their way onto menus at some very trendy restaurants. We really don't need a depression however to enjoy them.

TM of CT @ Feb 27, 2009 20:06:29 PM

mangia

Ms. Clara, you remind me of my mother and all the recipes she taught us growing up from her Italian heritage. My family still eats these meals and we enjoy them so much. Thank you for showing our younger generation what delicious meals are all about....this is not fast food, it is what good meals are all about. Caio!

Rose Ruopoli of GA @ Feb 27, 2009 19:45:10 PM

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Alpha Consumer

Alpha Consumer

Kimberly Palmer, senior editor for U.S. News & World Report, writes about how to save money, avoid scams, manage debt, and be a savvy shopper. Send your personal finance questions to her for expert money advice.


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