FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN MY DEPRESSION ERA RECIPES

Kitchen Witch · #1 (**permalink**) October 2nd, 2005, 01:50 PM

I have been asked by some members here where I have obtained my Depression Era recipes.

Many of these recipes have been handed down to me from friends and family. Many are written in Italian and need to be translated when I have the time. Many do not have any portions/measurements - just ingredients.

I come from a long line of cooks (professional/chefs also) - so I have inherited many, many, many.

There has to be many thousands or more D. E. recipes in my computer.

For those who know me, know that I have an extensive cookbook collection. Because I am moving - I donated over 400 books and I still have close to 1000 left. The old/depression/1800's books/etc. that are so yellowed they have to be handled very carefully - I am going to scan into my computer so that I do not lose the recipes that I cherish. Once that is done - I will have so much more to share with you all!

I do not remember the author(s) of the D.E. recipe books that I have (they are packed and in storage) so I am relying on mostly those hand-written that I have and the ones already in my computer(s).

I thought I would be moving this month - but it looks like it won't be for a couple months yet. Once unpacked - I can give more info on the D.E. recipes.

And as always - thank you for the compliments and the nice messages that you send me - and of course - I am willing to share them all with you.

Margie2 · #2 (**permalink**) March 1st, 2006, 12:07 AM

I look forward to seeing these. I have yet to find a depression era cookbook that had enough recipes that I liked to pay for it.

Also, do you happen to have any "recipes", "hints" re: old fashioned ways of curing illneses - could be herbal remedies, or just things one might have in the cupboard?

Thanks and I love this website!

Margie

JulyGal57 · #3 (**permalink**) March 1st, 2006, 03:26 AM

Dear KitchenWitch,

I was just wondering if you have moved yet! I too collect cookbooks, to the point where I really have to stop myself from buying yet another one. (But I still do!) Plus living in Germany forces you to make those convenient foods yourself. So you kind of fall into baking, cooking from scratch. Unfortunately modern day cookbooks and many recipes utilize cake mixes, frozen dough etc. making it sometimes difficult to try these recipes. Hence my search for "older" cookbooks where everything is still "handmade". As a result of making everything from scratch you grow accustomed to a different kind of "taste quality" that tends to make restaurant visits rare. But being as I really enjoy cooking, I feel flattered that my partner perfers to "eat at home". So any depression era recipes are always welcome!
I look forward to seeing them soon!
Regards
JulyGal57

Kitchen Witch · #4 (**permalink**) March 2nd, 2006, 08:04 AM

To Margie2: I am glad that you enjoy this site! As far as depression era remedies - I will pull out the books that are not in storage yet - and I will post them. It was very surprising to me to see the number of members that are interested in them.

I have MANY depression cookbooks - and I just love them. And of course - I am willing to share!

Kitchen Witch

Kitchen Witch · #5 (**permalink**) March 2nd, 2006, 08:22 AM

To JulyGal57: I haven't moved yet (sob sob sob) but I am ready to retrieve my toys and bring them back home so I can play with them (cookbooks)!! LOL !!!

Unfortunately - I would need a moving van to do it!!! I don't mind recipes that use mixes - I make my own anyway. Cripe - we never had store-bought bread in my house until I was a teenager! Our first loaf was Wonder Bread. Felt odd not having that "feel" of bread as I knew it. And it had no "substance" to it! It was so "airy"! Sure, I will buy some bread at the store - but I was raised seeing bread made 365 days a year! If you wanted bread - you made it. If you wanted anything - you made it! If you didn't make it - you went without. It makes you a survivor - independent. No matter what happens - when you cook from scratch - you can still survive. Just like during the depression - people knew how to survive.

And just like you said - there is a big difference in taste, texture and quality - but when you grow accustomed to it - you spoil yourself and that is what you want. I prefer eating at home to eating out. Restaurants today are so geared into the "fast-food syndrome" that they really don't make much from scratch - if they make anything from scratch.

Along with depression era recipes - I will dig out recipes from the 40's, 50's - when women still did home cooking.

Happy "good ol' fashioned" cooking!

Kitchen Witch

horselover · #6 (**permalink**) March 2nd, 2006, 08:48 PM

I too have a huge cookbook collectionand I can't imagine having to part with any of them. My husband always aggravates me saying if someone broke into the house and said hand over the cookbooks or I'm taking your husband, I'd say , Oh honey I'm going to miss you! He enjoys tast testing all my finds though so he doesn't complain too much!

loridanette · #7 (**permalink**) March 8th, 2006, 12:12 PM

I also collect cookbooks. I don't have the libraray that you have but I am always searching for old cookbooks such as yourself. I have one from my mother that was written in 1928, I think. It is so old and yellow and a few pages are missing. It is packed away as we too will be moving, again!! So I didn't want to unpack it and repack again. I so enjoy your recipes. I am writing my own cookbook, one for myself, friends and family. I thought about trying to sell it. Maybe one day. All of my recipes are from family and friends and a few strangers!! Thank you for your recipes and your sencerity.

Kitchen Witch · #8 (**permalink**) March 8th, 2006, 12:57 PM

You're quite welcomed!

The books that I have written and the ones handed down are all family originals which makes them unique. I have some books that have pages that are so brittle I am afraid to touch them. Those I am going to scan into my computer so that I can save the recipes. The pages are even starting to fal out - so it will be easy! Some are from the 1800's and so frail - but then again - if I were that old I would be frail too!! LOL!! I will be sharing many more for those that are interested!

KW

jamarks · #9 (**permalink**) December 17th, 2006, 12:11 AM

I used to have a favorite cookbook that was like a phamplet and was published during WW2. It was called "The Liberty Cookbook" and used a lot of things that were grown in the "Liberty Gardens" I wished I still had one of those cookbooks. they came once a month, I think... Back then you used stamps to buy meat with, so a lot of mothers used meat rarely and cooked with a lot of vegetables. Judy

Kitchen Witch · #10 (**permalink**) December 17th, 2006, 08:06 AM

Judy - we had those booklets as well. I don't know what happened to them. I remember gram and her sisters had them - they talked about them many times. Maybe we can find them at book stores, garage sales, etc. So far I haven't been able to find any of them! Hopefully someday.........

kellyburk · #11 (**permalink**) December 17th, 2006, 08:44 AM

julygal57,
I can so relate!! We lived 2 winters in augsburg germany. My hub played hockey there . Everything we bought had to come from the german stores. "Big "was my favorite, it was a huge store!!. But I will say its where I really fell in love with cooking..because I had too. Trying to read german and cook when I didnt know german was hard.
Kelly

GG_Alabama · #12 (**permalink**) May 9th, 2007, 03:26 PM

A friend and I are planning a "O Brother Where Art Thou" party. We are looking for typical food of the era of the movie.

Kitchen Witch · #13 (**permalink**) May 9th, 2007, 03:45 PM

GG Alabama - Welcome to RSN!

Have you gone to the search and typed in Depression Era Recipes? I have posted many. Also - I have many more to share - give a holler if you are looking for something specific.

KW

Shali · #14 (**permalink**) May 11th, 2007, 03:33 AM

Are you talking about cookbooks from Liberty, Texas? If so, go to ebay.com and type in The Liberty Cookbook. I found three matches. One is the "Parish Pantry" from Liberty, Texas, it is currently going for $1.30.

Hope this helps.