When times were difficult, our parents had no choice but to devise creative meals that didn’t cost a kidney. It just shows that you don’t need a million dollars to enjoy a hearty meal that tastes phenomenal.
While some were terrible, there are many that you’d still eat to this day. Some of these nostalgic meals make you relive your favorite childhood memories, transporting you back to the good old days.
Peanut Butter and Pickles
A well-toasted slice of bread slathered with creamy, rich peanut butter and topped with crunchy pickles sounds like heaven. This scrumptious sandwich was dirt cheap and tasted too good to pass up. While this might not be everyone’s cup of tea, many enjoyed it during the Great Depression.
Biscuits and Gravy
When times were tough, biscuits and gravy were rich and filling, even if they were technically not a whole meal. These delicious bundles of flavor were out of this world. Adding some sausage occasionally made the gravy even more flavourful.
Buttered Noodles
While you might think of these as a bit bland, buttered noodles are a constant because they are easy to make and taste phenomenal. Delicious carbs and fats transport you to another dimension, and if you had some cheese lying around, a hint of that salty goodness would add that extra oomph.
Mac & Cheese
Bright blue Kraft boxes hold a special place in everyone’s heart. These boxed mac and cheese packets were creamy, rich, easy to make, and cheap, all at the same time. The taste of artificial cheese and delicious pasta will always be unbeatable, no matter how many fancy restaurants you visit.
Beans and Rice
Beans and rice were a staple in households that didn’t have much money, yet they tasted heavenly when cooked right. Soaking the beans overnight, boiling the rice to perfection, and adding garlic, herbs, and a pinch of salt and pepper elevated the entire dish.
French Toast
Breakfast would be incomplete without a delicious piece of French toast. Chunky slices of bread dipped in some egg and sugar and fried on the stove remind me of childhood more than anything else. Aroma spread across the house whenever someone made French toast, making it even more delicious.
Cinamon Toast
An even cheaper but equally delicious breakfast dessert was cinnamon toast. This poverty meal was a treat more than a breakfast. Toast sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon felt similar to a cinnamon roll but much cheaper. It was the perfect afternoon snack when you came home from school and wanted a kick of energy.
Pancakes
While we generally eat pancakes for breakfast, having them for dinner makes them taste even better. Looking forward to dousing your stack in a ton of maple syrup all day made them more special. You might enjoy pancakes with chocolate chips, whipped cream, and fruit, but the classic syrup combo is unbeatable.
Cornbread
Cornbread paired with soup is a combo that’s hard to forget. This cornmeal bread could be eaten for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, making it ideal for parents looking for a quick and cheap meal. While it had a ton of sodium and carbs, it also contained many vitamins, which was better than any store-bought ramen.
‘Chinese’ Pie
According to All My Recipes, this dish is from Canada and came into being due to Chinese immigrants making do with whatever ingredients they had in the new country. Made with ground beef, corn, mashed potatoes, and pepper, this was a delight to eat. Not only was it mouth-watering, but it also filled you up quickly.
Bologna Sandwich
When in doubt, have a bologna sandwich. This is so simple, yet it makes for some of the best comfort food. Warm up some bologna, throw them onto the bread, and toast the sandwich. Not only did it make for a delicious meal, but it also was a spectacular midnight snack when nothing was lying around to eat.
Pantry Chili
Sometimes, you don’t have many ingredients to make an entire meal. The solution is a pantry chili that is wholesome and delectable. Typically made using a can of beans, diced tomatoes, corn, tomato paste, and green chilis, you could throw in whatever was lying around, and it would taste just as good.
Peanut Noodles
While this might not sound like the best meal, the depth of taste peanuts bring to the noodles makes them spectacular. However, It’s not just peanuts and noodles; the sauce has peanut butter and soy sauce that add that extra kick you need. The best part is that it doesn’t cost a fortune to make.
Lentil Soup
Lentils are a fantastic source of protein, making them healthy and delicious at the same time. During the chilly days of December, a bowl of pipping hot lentil soup was all you needed to help keep you warm. Even if you try making some after you grow up, they taste just as good.
Tuna Toast
During difficult times, canned tuna and a comforting loaf of bread went a long way. Mixing up tuna with mayo and corn and throwing it on top of a crispy piece of bread kept you full, met your nutritional needs, and kept your taste buds happy. It would be equally tasty to replace bread with delicious boiled rice.
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Read: 15 Foods You Shouldn’t Eat After 50
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