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Depression Era Sandwich Ideas from the Farm
Depression era homemakers created appetizing sandwiches out of simple ingredients. Their culinary ideas are as useful today as they were seventy years ago.
The Great Depression forced rural homemakers to come up with some recipes that taste surprisingly delicious, even in this day and age. Farmers could afford enough gasoline to make one trip per week to town, where they might buy a luxury item such as bananas. The sliced fruit garnished peanut butter sandwiches. Home made bread and home churned butter rounded off this special treat. Simple ingredients kept families going through the hardest of times.
Another sandwich served widely at social events was pickle and cheese. Sweet pickles or dills combined with longhorn or colby cheese satisfied the hunger for something crunchy and sweet or salty. Again, home baked bread was the basis.
During the 1920´s and 30´s, American families came to expect visits from the Jewel Tea man. His company offered door-to-door sales of tea, coffee and spices. Along with each purchase the customer received a coupon redeemable for premiums such as glassware, china, and recipe booklets. Each premium carried the Mary Dunbar seal of approval. She was the company spokesperson. Mary Dunbar may have been an alias but there was a real person behind the name. Products were tested for quality and durability, and today are highly prized collectors´ items.
The following recipe is said to be an adaptation of a recipe from one of the Jewel Tea cookbooks, modified throughout the years but fondly remembered and passed down: chop up a green bell pepper, or portions of red, green, yellow and orange bell peppers for a more colorful sandwich spread. Blend into a package of cream cheese, along with a teaspoon of yellow mustard and two tablespoons mayonnaise. Spread on brown bread and serve.
Other ingredients widely used for sandwiches were deviled ham, American cheese, sliced dates and maraschino cherries, and chopped almonds. These accompaniments to bread and butter taste just as good in the twenty first century as they did back in the Thirties!
The Great Depression forced rural homemakers to come up with some recipes that taste surprisingly delicious, even in this day and age. Farmers could afford enough gasoline to make one trip per week to town, where they might buy a luxury item such as bananas. The sliced fruit garnished peanut butter sandwiches. Home made bread and home churned butter rounded off this special treat. Simple ingredients kept families going through the hardest of times.
Another sandwich served widely at social events was pickle and cheese. Sweet pickles or dills combined with longhorn or colby cheese satisfied the hunger for something crunchy and sweet or salty. Again, home baked bread was the basis.
During the 1920´s and 30´s, American families came to expect visits from the Jewel Tea man. His company offered door-to-door sales of tea, coffee and spices. Along with each purchase the customer received a coupon redeemable for premiums such as glassware, china, and recipe booklets. Each premium carried the Mary Dunbar seal of approval. She was the company spokesperson. Mary Dunbar may have been an alias but there was a real person behind the name. Products were tested for quality and durability, and today are highly prized collectors´ items.
The following recipe is said to be an adaptation of a recipe from one of the Jewel Tea cookbooks, modified throughout the years but fondly remembered and passed down: chop up a green bell pepper, or portions of red, green, yellow and orange bell peppers for a more colorful sandwich spread. Blend into a package of cream cheese, along with a teaspoon of yellow mustard and two tablespoons mayonnaise. Spread on brown bread and serve.
Other ingredients widely used for sandwiches were deviled ham, American cheese, sliced dates and maraschino cherries, and chopped almonds. These accompaniments to bread and butter taste just as good in the twenty first century as they did back in the Thirties!
Published 17th Jan 2013
| Edited 18th Jan 2013
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