Depression Stew Recipes

Steps:

• 1. Cook macaroni according to the instructions on the box.
• 2. While it cooks, slice the hot dogs into very thin "coins."
• 3. Open cans, but do not drain.
• 4. Combine the contents of the cans and the hot dog slices in a large pot, and bring to a simmer.
• 5. Break up the tomatoes into small chunks as the mixture heats. Drain the macaroni when it is barely Al Dente. Reserve the cooking water to add to the pot, if needed.
• 6. Add the macaroni, and continue simmering until all of the ingredients are thoroughly heated and the hot dogs are cooked.
• 7. ***There are substitutes for all quantities and ingredients as necessary for the budget and to suit your tastes. If using another style of canned whole tomatoes, add finely minced green pepper and onion to the ingredients; they can be cooked with the macaroni as it boils.
• 8. ***** Recipe by Mrs. Dunn, recipe found on Depression era Recipes. Here is some fun information regarding the recipe.
• 9. Mrs. Dunn says: This recipe dates from the depression years and on through WWII; and was then a luxury or celebration meal, since it included meat. We kids loved it, and it was a stand-alone meal needing nothing else - though we usually had it served with carrot and celery sticks when available (if Papa, the cook in our family, hadn't already added them to the pot of macaroni as it cooked). The macaroni usually was technically overcooked in the end, but Papa had us convinced that that was how it was supposed to be for this dish (calling it macaroni rags), and we thought it was delicious. The Hoover in the name refers to President Herbert Hoover, who was popularly blamed for the depression years at that time.

Steps:

• 1. Fry ground beef with garlic & onion until onions are transparent. Add salt, pepper & worcestershire sauce to taste & tomato sauce, cook at medium high heat. Shut off stove & add watercress & remove pot from burner, do not stir until 30 minutes after. When done, watercress will be limp but not "bitter".
• 2. **NOTE: Make sure stove is shut off because if heat is left to long with watercress, it will turn "BITTER" for the whole pot.

Steps:

• put chicken broth,potatoes, stewed tomatoes, water and spices in large saucepan bring to boil, boil for 20 minutes, or until potatoes are almost done
• slice hotdogs into 1/2 inch pieces and add to pot along with 1can drained corn
• heat thru. crusty french bread and a green salad complete this dinner :)