Two pounds of potatoes, one onion, and four hot dogs fed a family through the Depression, and it still costs only a few dollars today.
During the Great Depression, millions of American families faced unemployment, lost savings, reduced wages, and an uncertain future. Home cooks responded by becoming extraordinarily resourceful. Meat could no longer automatically occupy the center of the plate. Instead, inexpensive ingredients such as potatoes, onions, beans, bread and pasta became the foundation of dinner.
One of the dishes most closely associated with this style of cooking is remarkably simple: potatoes, onions, and a small amount of hot dog or sausage.
Today, it is commonly called the Poor Man’s Meal.
Cooking When Every Penny Counted
The stock market crash of 1929 marked the beginning of an economic catastrophe that affected virtually every aspect of American life.
By March 1930, more than 3.2 million Americans were unemployed, and conditions continued to deteriorate. Food marches, breadlines, makeshift communities known as Hoovervilles, and bank failures became symbols of the crisis.
For families trying to stretch a tiny grocery budget, potatoes offered something extremely important: bulk.
A relatively small amount of meat could flavor an entire skillet of potatoes.
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