On Fri, 19 Aug 2016, Whirled Peas wrote:

> On 08/17/2016 09:00 PM, barbie gee wrote:
>>
> (snip)
>>
>> I heard something about Depression Era cooking on NPR recently, but it
>> seemed that the recipes were really bland and sad.
>> They didn't want people "enjoying" their rations too much...
>>
>
> I heard that interview too. It was very long, so it was probably on "Fresh
> Air", that often have long interviews with the author of a new book. I was
> struck with how delighted the authors were to describe the "horrible" food
> during the depression. The interview depressed me a lot. The authors reminded
> me of those juveniles who sometimes post a web link here to a bunch of faded
> photos of 1950's molded Jell-o salads, describing them with great glee about
> how bad they are.
>
> My parents and grandparents lived on a subsistence farm during the 30s and I
> can guarantee you they didn't turn up their noses at food on the table. A
> bean loaf would have been heaven. Far less food was wasted or thrown away,
> too. Meat might not have been affordable more than once or twice a week. My
> parents always provided for me, but I wouldn't turn down anything offered,
> either. Well, maybe except for fried beef liver or scrambled eggs and brains.
> Sweetbreads were OK, though.
>
> I can't imagine wanting to buy a book about bad food (in the authors'
> opinion).

We heard the same program, then, I'm sure. I have to say that the story
about the pasta and carrots in white sauce recipe seemed almost
apocryphal. My family were immigrants, and I'm pretty sure they weren't
eating stuff like that, no way, no how. Probably making due with potatoes
and cabbage, just like they did in the old country. Living in a big city,
I wonder if they were able to grow any fresh greens or produce on their
own, or if they just made due with whatever they could buy. I regret I
was too young to ask these questions when my grandparents and parents were
still alive.