#depression era bread

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20 Best Depression Era Recipes Ever

20 Best Depression Era Recipes Ever

Cooking during the depression era was a creative task that included using what you had on hand or what was inexpensive. Many creative recipes were written utilizing basic ingredients that when combined would create delicious desserts or hearty meals to feed a hungry family. A little bit went a long way. People had to be creative with the limited ingredients that they had or could find.

This…

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Grandma Lida’s Bread Dough

My grandmother made this type of bread during the depression when money was tight and the ingredients she used were inexpensive.  The original recipe used 5 pounds of flour and was kneaded by hand.  God bless her.  I have modified this recipe so that it can be used with a bread machine and added a small amount of baking powder for additional leavening, since there are no eggs.  Grandma used fresh cake yeast that she bought at the bakery which produced a very high loaf. 

4 cups bread flour

2 1/4  teaspoons dry yeast

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon sugar

1 1/3 cups warm water (120 degrees)

1/4 cups Crisco

1/4 teaspoon baking powder (optional)

Using a bread machine, place warm water, crisco, salt and sugar in the bottom of the bread machine bowl.  Add flour and baking powder.  Form an indentation in the flour and add the yeast.  Start bread machine on dough cycle.  (1 hour 30 minutes).  Form bread or rolls and place on a greased sheet pan.  Cover with a clean dish towel and allow to proof for 45-60 minutes.  Bake 375 degrees for 25 minutes.

Cool in the oven for a crispy crust.  (Turn oven off, crack open the door and allow rolls to cool)

*Note:  While bread is warm, cut loaf in half lengthwise, drizzle olive oil, sprinkle Romano cheese and  a little pepper for a wonderful treat.

Made these for the first time into knotted rolls and they were wonderful.  Nice dense bread with a crispy crust.  Brushed with oil before baking.  (Note: Mom bakes her bread (not rolls) at 425 degrees for 30 minutes).

Note: 5 pounds of flour is about 15 cups