What People Ate to Survive During the Dust Bowl
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Date: 2022-12-29
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Comments and reviews: 20
Betty
Cleaned dandelion greens (not flowers) would be quickly stir fried preferably in bacon grease. If you waited for the flowers to bloom your greens would be more bitter so you tried to harvest before the flowers emerged. Vinegar would be sprinkled on top to help counter the bitterness of the greens. If you were lucky you might fry up a strip or two of bacon cut into pieces before adding the dandelion greens. It was always a treat to find little bits of bacon in your serving. Pair that with some baking powder biscuits and you had a good meal.
Once flowers did emerge you could pick them and as they showed in the video cook them up to make dandelion jelly.
And after all of that you could dig up the roots to use as a poor man's coffee substitute.
I'm surprised they didn't mention other wild greens that people would forage (and still can today) like plantain (not the banana) or lambs quarters to name a couple.
Another great thing was stale bread. Because most poor people baked their own bread, which has a much shorter shelf life b/c no preservatives, mom would toast those dry ends up on top of the wood stove so until they were dry through and through and put them through the meat grinder (today you would put them in a food processor.
When flour would be getting low and we were short on money those crumbs would be used as a flour replacement. My favorite way was to make pancakes with them. We even used them to make pan gravy, although you had to cook the gravy longer so to get it to thicken smoothly.
It would be good to have families today to try things that people did to get through hard times. As soft as we all have become, if there were a true disaster most Americans would starve without ever realizing the abundance they had all around them.
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Cleaned dandelion greens (not flowers) would be quickly stir fried preferably in bacon grease. If you waited for the flowers to bloom your greens would be more bitter so you tried to harvest before the flowers emerged. Vinegar would be sprinkled on top to help counter the bitterness of the greens. If you were lucky you might fry up a strip or two of bacon cut into pieces before adding the dandelion greens. It was always a treat to find little bits of bacon in your serving. Pair that with some baking powder biscuits and you had a good meal.
Once flowers did emerge you could pick them and as they showed in the video cook them up to make dandelion jelly.
And after all of that you could dig up the roots to use as a poor man's coffee substitute.
I'm surprised they didn't mention other wild greens that people would forage (and still can today) like plantain (not the banana) or lambs quarters to name a couple.
Another great thing was stale bread. Because most poor people baked their own bread, which has a much shorter shelf life b/c no preservatives, mom would toast those dry ends up on top of the wood stove so until they were dry through and through and put them through the meat grinder (today you would put them in a food processor.
When flour would be getting low and we were short on money those crumbs would be used as a flour replacement. My favorite way was to make pancakes with them. We even used them to make pan gravy, although you had to cook the gravy longer so to get it to thicken smoothly.
It would be good to have families today to try things that people did to get through hard times. As soft as we all have become, if there were a true disaster most Americans would starve without ever realizing the abundance they had all around them.
reply
education
Find this narrator patronising many of the Great Depression foods are still on the people's menu passed by generations and should not be laughed at just because this particular Nerida didn't try them order up world doesn't give them the right to put the people down when they had to be innovating and I have to tell you another thing and that is that most of that forward is much more healthier than what we eat today and current prices and werder world is going it wouldn't be a bad idea to go back to the basics people will be healthier
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Find this narrator patronising many of the Great Depression foods are still on the people's menu passed by generations and should not be laughed at just because this particular Nerida didn't try them order up world doesn't give them the right to put the people down when they had to be innovating and I have to tell you another thing and that is that most of that forward is much more healthier than what we eat today and current prices and werder world is going it wouldn't be a bad idea to go back to the basics people will be healthier
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PhantomLover007
Would I ever try any? Hell of eaten them. My grandparents lived through the depression and World War II. I actually grew up all the way until my teenage years eating dandelion salad with a white bacon dressing, the mush, meals, and definitely various bean soups. I have to say absolutely that bacon grease makes the best foods. This is probably why none of my eggs fried in butter or any of them that my mom makes with cooking all turn out as well as the ones that my grandmother made with bacon, grease in a cast iron skillets.
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Would I ever try any? Hell of eaten them. My grandparents lived through the depression and World War II. I actually grew up all the way until my teenage years eating dandelion salad with a white bacon dressing, the mush, meals, and definitely various bean soups. I have to say absolutely that bacon grease makes the best foods. This is probably why none of my eggs fried in butter or any of them that my mom makes with cooking all turn out as well as the ones that my grandmother made with bacon, grease in a cast iron skillets.
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Pat
My grandmother and every woman had a can on top of the stove where they collected bacon grease. When you started cooking on the stove top, you took a spoonful of that grease out of the grease can and put it in the skillet to start frying up something. The best fried potatoes are fried in that bacon grease and added some chopped onion and it was delicious. Eggs were fried in that and got crispy edges that tasted good too. It came in a set with a salt and pepper can too. My grandmas was white with a red apple decoration on the front.
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My grandmother and every woman had a can on top of the stove where they collected bacon grease. When you started cooking on the stove top, you took a spoonful of that grease out of the grease can and put it in the skillet to start frying up something. The best fried potatoes are fried in that bacon grease and added some chopped onion and it was delicious. Eggs were fried in that and got crispy edges that tasted good too. It came in a set with a salt and pepper can too. My grandmas was white with a red apple decoration on the front.
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education
Wow guess Im weird, I make dandelion tea, use greens in salad and you can use flowers to make wine its delicious, also make casseroles and make white sauce (my kids love it) often, I also use bacon grease a lot and love rabbit its so good fried. Lol so much of this food is like what I eat also can a lot. My kids are healthy and my family is never hungry, also not filled with preservatives and chemicals. Makes me wonder what people are eating these days. Potatoe pancakes are freaking awesome btw and great with hollindase sauce.
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Wow guess Im weird, I make dandelion tea, use greens in salad and you can use flowers to make wine its delicious, also make casseroles and make white sauce (my kids love it) often, I also use bacon grease a lot and love rabbit its so good fried. Lol so much of this food is like what I eat also can a lot. My kids are healthy and my family is never hungry, also not filled with preservatives and chemicals. Makes me wonder what people are eating these days. Potatoe pancakes are freaking awesome btw and great with hollindase sauce.
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Linda
Many of the foods are still much loved staples in plenty of homes. This sounded like it was done by some untravelled Yankee city dude. Pretty condescending.
Real Mac and Cheese is basically that white spaghetti with cheese added. Beans are a regular meal at my house. I use bacon grease for beans, fried potatoes, green beans and more. Corn meal mush should satisfy many a Yankee. They charge an arm and a leg for it in fancy restaurants by calling it polenta. The list could go on and on
Again, condescending.
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Many of the foods are still much loved staples in plenty of homes. This sounded like it was done by some untravelled Yankee city dude. Pretty condescending.
Real Mac and Cheese is basically that white spaghetti with cheese added. Beans are a regular meal at my house. I use bacon grease for beans, fried potatoes, green beans and more. Corn meal mush should satisfy many a Yankee. They charge an arm and a leg for it in fancy restaurants by calling it polenta. The list could go on and on
Again, condescending.
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imetr8r
Dandelion salad was a common springtime treat in my parents home but we only ate the leaves with a vinaigrette. When available, we kids were sent to pick it in the fields before dinner. My mom made carrot marmalade using lemon juice as the sour ingredient. It was excellent! Both of my parents cooked with bacon grease. They always had a can of it next to the wood-burning stove. Today I keep a can of bacon grease in my 'fridge. It is difficult to surmount the flavor of eggs fried in bacon grease. Viva La Grease!
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Dandelion salad was a common springtime treat in my parents home but we only ate the leaves with a vinaigrette. When available, we kids were sent to pick it in the fields before dinner. My mom made carrot marmalade using lemon juice as the sour ingredient. It was excellent! Both of my parents cooked with bacon grease. They always had a can of it next to the wood-burning stove. Today I keep a can of bacon grease in my 'fridge. It is difficult to surmount the flavor of eggs fried in bacon grease. Viva La Grease!
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Marilyn
I've heard of people eating dandelion greens. It's just like collards, mustard and turnip greens. Just not from the backyard. Actually, you can buy dandelion capsules. It heals many ailments and it fights cancer. I take the capsules everyday. People still eat white sauce and use bacon dripping. The cake is a vegan cake that's still made to this day. Cornmeal mush is just grits. Whoever researched these foods have hiding in a cave or something not to know to have heard of these foods. Even rabbit.
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I've heard of people eating dandelion greens. It's just like collards, mustard and turnip greens. Just not from the backyard. Actually, you can buy dandelion capsules. It heals many ailments and it fights cancer. I take the capsules everyday. People still eat white sauce and use bacon dripping. The cake is a vegan cake that's still made to this day. Cornmeal mush is just grits. Whoever researched these foods have hiding in a cave or something not to know to have heard of these foods. Even rabbit.
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Ink_Blot67
I still cook with bacon grease on occasion. My mother raised us to save it and use it and her parents who lived through the depression raised her to. There was a tin labeled Grease in many a grouping of storage canisters for the kitchen and my mother still uses the one my grandmother used. I use it today as flavoring in specific dishes and I swear by it as the frying grease for pancakes, corn meal mush, etc. I am not ashamed to admit it!
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I still cook with bacon grease on occasion. My mother raised us to save it and use it and her parents who lived through the depression raised her to. There was a tin labeled Grease in many a grouping of storage canisters for the kitchen and my mother still uses the one my grandmother used. I use it today as flavoring in specific dishes and I swear by it as the frying grease for pancakes, corn meal mush, etc. I am not ashamed to admit it!
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Blind
You forgot corn fritters, dumplings with anything you could find and ways of preserving food that would make the USDA have nightmares. My dad told about his mother frying the pork chops from the fall hog butchering, layering them in a large crock with lard between each layer and a thick layer of lard on top and then storing them in the cellar until she scraped off the lard and refried them for a meal.
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You forgot corn fritters, dumplings with anything you could find and ways of preserving food that would make the USDA have nightmares. My dad told about his mother frying the pork chops from the fall hog butchering, layering them in a large crock with lard between each layer and a thick layer of lard on top and then storing them in the cellar until she scraped off the lard and refried them for a meal.
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Witchy
Dandelion salads can be the leaves too
I love to turn the flowers into tea & I plan on making a jelly with them to replace honey. The roots can also be dried & turned into a replacement for coffee
& I love me a bowl of mush for breakfast. I add cinnamon or nutmeg, butter, apple, & dark brown sugar. I plan on trying canned peaches & applesauce as well. I also cook it with water
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Dandelion salads can be the leaves too
I love to turn the flowers into tea & I plan on making a jelly with them to replace honey. The roots can also be dried & turned into a replacement for coffee
& I love me a bowl of mush for breakfast. I add cinnamon or nutmeg, butter, apple, & dark brown sugar. I plan on trying canned peaches & applesauce as well. I also cook it with water
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Martin
I dislike how a lot of videos and articles shame people for doing what it took to feed their families during hard times. It may not look great or taste the best but it got the job done. I'd rather eat something like rabbit stew over some if the gourmet foods. I personally think anyone that says they like caviar is a liar lol. Tasted it once and that was enough for a lifetime.
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I dislike how a lot of videos and articles shame people for doing what it took to feed their families during hard times. It may not look great or taste the best but it got the job done. I'd rather eat something like rabbit stew over some if the gourmet foods. I personally think anyone that says they like caviar is a liar lol. Tasted it once and that was enough for a lifetime.
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education
A few of those dishes lived on in my family and still live on now with me and my children today. Its a simple way to feed hungry mouths when you dont have a lot of cash to spare. Especially with the price of food these days. I grew up well below the poverty line and unfortunately I ended up back well below the poverty line again because Im disabled.
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A few of those dishes lived on in my family and still live on now with me and my children today. Its a simple way to feed hungry mouths when you dont have a lot of cash to spare. Especially with the price of food these days. I grew up well below the poverty line and unfortunately I ended up back well below the poverty line again because Im disabled.
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Mo-Mutt
Thanks for sharing. My mom, who lived during the Depression, but wasn't in the Dust Bowl, learned to can and reused bacon grease. She taught the reusing of grease to my brothers and me. The canning, not so much. As for the foods I'd try, probably dandelion greens, given I already use the blossoms to make tea. Shawn R, Mo-Mutt Music/Sacred & Secular
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Thanks for sharing. My mom, who lived during the Depression, but wasn't in the Dust Bowl, learned to can and reused bacon grease. She taught the reusing of grease to my brothers and me. The canning, not so much. As for the foods I'd try, probably dandelion greens, given I already use the blossoms to make tea. Shawn R, Mo-Mutt Music/Sacred & Secular
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CA-74
Damm dude! Cornbread made with bacon grease, fish and potatoes fried in bacon grease have been a large part of my diet for 85 years. To hell with worrying about calories and cholesterol, if its good eat it in moderation. When I was discharged from the navy in1955 I weighed 165#, today its 168. Must admit genes play a role. People worry way too much.
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Damm dude! Cornbread made with bacon grease, fish and potatoes fried in bacon grease have been a large part of my diet for 85 years. To hell with worrying about calories and cholesterol, if its good eat it in moderation. When I was discharged from the navy in1955 I weighed 165#, today its 168. Must admit genes play a role. People worry way too much.
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Pattie
Yes i would, my grandmother raised me from age 3 - 19, she never said what do you want for dinner, she cooked you ate, she put a small amount of food on your plate and you ate what was on your plare, she aiways said if your are hungry enough you will eat, i miss her so much, i try hard to be just like her
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Yes i would, my grandmother raised me from age 3 - 19, she never said what do you want for dinner, she cooked you ate, she put a small amount of food on your plate and you ate what was on your plare, she aiways said if your are hungry enough you will eat, i miss her so much, i try hard to be just like her
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usualfulful
Orange marmalade was a special treat growing up, so we had elderberry or apple jelly because they grew wild. Meat once a week; like my great grandparents (married in 1912) would roast a chicken on Saturday and make that stretch that meat flavor until the next Saturday with soup, salad, pot pies etc.
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Orange marmalade was a special treat growing up, so we had elderberry or apple jelly because they grew wild. Meat once a week; like my great grandparents (married in 1912) would roast a chicken on Saturday and make that stretch that meat flavor until the next Saturday with soup, salad, pot pies etc.
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Greg
I grew up dirt poor as well I have five brothers and both my parents always came up with different ways to eat, one dish my dad would make mustgo, everything in the fridge must go lol I make eggs with stuff, any thing I can find and scrambled eggs over it. But I want to know the history of homeless foods
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I grew up dirt poor as well I have five brothers and both my parents always came up with different ways to eat, one dish my dad would make mustgo, everything in the fridge must go lol I make eggs with stuff, any thing I can find and scrambled eggs over it. But I want to know the history of homeless foods
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Maureen
My family had a few times where things were tough in the 60s. Mom cooked a cows tough, beans on toast, lots of picked berries for preserves and pies. Vegetables were quite cheap with garden. Porridge for breakfast. Sandwich with what ever available on top, including a bit of sugar and cinnamon.
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My family had a few times where things were tough in the 60s. Mom cooked a cows tough, beans on toast, lots of picked berries for preserves and pies. Vegetables were quite cheap with garden. Porridge for breakfast. Sandwich with what ever available on top, including a bit of sugar and cinnamon.
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Aerys
as a kid we ate popcorn alot and I would drink milk and eat popcorn before bed, I stared putting popcorn in my mouth and would drink some milk. everyone thought it was disgusting but it tasted really good. now I learn that it was a common dish in my area a few decades ago. now thats really weird
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as a kid we ate popcorn alot and I would drink milk and eat popcorn before bed, I stared putting popcorn in my mouth and would drink some milk. everyone thought it was disgusting but it tasted really good. now I learn that it was a common dish in my area a few decades ago. now thats really weird
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