Trimming the Grocery Bill in 1948
Budget Menu Planning is not just a theme for the 21st century. Back in 1948 housewives were just as conscious about how much they were spending on the family meals.
In a vintage 1948 McCall’s one article put together 5 family meals for four people costing about $1.00 per meal. According the the West Egg Inflation calculator that’s about $8.53 per meal in 2007.
The author states that while these meals are filling she has also added milk (as in for drinking) as the meat amount is small. And also suggests serving the meals with fruit, salad and bread.
Here are 2 sample, and I’m sure not low fat, recipes from that article.
Barbecued Beans
| 2 cups dried red peans1/3 cup oil
2 to 3 minced garlic cloves 1 large chopped onion 1 6 ounce can of tomato paste |
2 to 4 teaspoons of chili powder1 tablespoon of ketchup
1 teaspoon salt 1 dash of cayenne pepper 1/2 ground meat mix of pork and beef |
The night before wash beans and let them soak overnight in cold water. In the morning, drain them and cover with fresh boiling water. Cover them and cook slowly for an hour. In the meantime heat the oil in a good sized frying pan and brown the garlic and oil in it. Now combine all of your other ingredients except the meant and simmer another hour. The beans should be tender by this time. If while you are cooking the beans they seem a little dry add more boiling water. While the beans are cooking, make small meatballs with the the meat mixture and brown them in hot fat. Add them to the top of the beans 15 minutes before you are ready to eat. Enough for 4.
Spanish Rice and Beef Casserole
| 2 and 1/4 cups beef stock
1 teaspoon salt 1 cup or rice 1/4 pound ground beef meat drippings 1/4 cup each of celery, onion and green pepper |
1 8 ounce can of tomato sauce
1 cup canned tomatoes salt and pepper 1 dash of cayenne pepper 1/2 cup grated sharp American Cheddar Cheese |
Bring the meat stock to a boil and salt it. Then add your rice, and cover and cook until the rice has absorbed all of the stock. Now brown the meat in hot meat drippings. Add the celery, onion and pepper and cook for 5 minutes. Add everything else except the grated cheese and cook slowly for about 10 minutes. By then your mixture will have thickened somewhat. Now mix your rice in thoroughly and pour into a greased casserole. Sprinkle with cheese over the top and bake in a moderate oven of 350 degrees for about 30 minutes.
