My Grandmother raised her children through the depression. She spoke of it often and still made the food from that era in the 70s. She had cookies and cakes that had no eggs. She always had a garden and always made everything from scatch. And would never eat in a restaurant. I never received a Christmas gift that wasn't handmade and she gave me $1 for my birthday every year until I turned 25. If people would look to the past there are ways to get through tough times.
Growing up in the 1950’s and 60’s we didn’t have salad dressing so we put mayonnaise on our salad. All that we had to put in one in the winter was lettuce, tomato and onion. In the summer we had fresh vegetables like green onions,fresh tomatoes p, cucumbers, bell peppers and lettuce but still mayonnaise for the dressing. I still like to make a simple salad with mayonnaise on it. I also make the hamburger with gravy and onions. My dad would kill and dress up to 100 meat birds every spring and in the fall he would slaughter 2 hogs. He had a smoke house where he cured the bacon and the hams and folks said that he was the best around when it came to smoking meat. Oh my goodness the smell of biscuits, bacon and eggs filled the house every morning and made you want to get up. My daddy never took sandwich bread in his lunch, he wanted biscuits with fried bologna or bacon and egg sandwiches with cheese on them. I remember when I got old enough to help mother, I would make his lunch and I took such care with making it. He would take four sandwiches and two or three pieces of cake. How I would love to go back to the good old days.
I remember her mixing Miracle Whip, milk, apple cider vinegar and a little salt, maybe a dash of paprika,I think. This is the only salad dressing we had, she may have made Thousand Island too. Aren't these wonderful memories?
My parents lived through the depression and also WWII. During the war, food was rationed. They became frugal and saved things. Not just food. That mindset lasts a lifetime. My mother made dinners such as this. It was so good. Miss them so much. 😢
My Mother made this, but didn't use broth. She added water to the pan, brought to a boil, then gradually stirred in a flour thickening. She stirred in Kitchen Bouquet, a small amount at a time. It was excellent. She served it over boiled crushed potatoes and leftovers were served over bread. Yum. I still make it today.
I am the 13th child by a minute and we grew up on hamburger gravy and potatoes and venison gravy and potatoes. But never heard of a poor man's salad. Thanks for sharing
@@oursilvermoments6028 yes I have a twin brother and being the baby and a girl isn't easy they still treat me like a kid at 61 LOL. I still make this meal and always will.
Oh my goodness I was surprised when I saw your post. I am the 12th child and my twin is 13 by a minute. All girls except one. I looked at your name to see if it was her. I hardly ever come across someone that has as my siblings as I do😊
I watched your video yesterday and my mouth has been watering, im so hungry. My mom made hamburger gravy with milk we had it over toast. My hubby loves mashed taters, so I think he will love it. I think sweet corn for a side will be good. I'll be praying you will be safe.
At one point last year, scallions/green onions were $2 a bunch. I bought myself a window box that could sit on a window sill in the house in cold weather and put outside when its warm. I filled it with soil, cut off the white bulb of the scallions and plunked them into the soil about half inch apart. Within a few days, they started sprouting. They grow very quickly and you will have a continuous supply.
I keep 2 inch white part green onion in the water in my kicked window all winter and they grow 4-5 times , in the ends it is to light color and onions get little mushy so I plant it in the dirt . After spring plant it out side 😊all winter I have green onions to use 👍
Hamburger gravy over mashed potatoes was one of my favorite meals growing up. I’ll have to make it one day soon! Prayers that fire is under control and no one gets hurt ❤ Thanks for sharing
@denisesw9128 Thank you for your prayers! So far the fire has burned up 6 homes just 15 minutes from us but the fire crews are working hard to keep it from getting to us.
In my Scottish mother's home we called this mince and gravy, and I still make it today at 74 yrs of age. She would add flour to the leftover mashed potatoes, roll it out and create triangles then were fried in a little butter---called them "tatie scones". Thanks for reminding me of such lovely times.
In my Scottish home this was called “mince and tatties” my husband liked it spiced up a bit though, so I added oregano and basil and a wee bit of tomato sauce to the gravy We called it “farmhouse stew”.
Oh I hate fire season. It scarred our daughter, probably forever. When my husband was in the military, we spent several years in southern California. We woke up one Sunday morning and you could see the flames from the upstairs window. The kids were 8 & 4. We came down the hill and there was only one direction that we could go in because the fire had jumped 12 lanes of the freeway interchange. We were evacuated for days not knowing anything. Our daughter slept in a sleeping bag for years with her treasures in the bottom just in case. Even when we transferred to another base, October would come back. One year, we were triangulated by separate fires. Whoo, memories
@lisapop5219 I am so sorry, those sound like a terrifying time for you and your family. We are doing everything the fire suppression crews are recommending. Thank you for your kind thoughts. Best wishes, Colleen
I'm in Central California so I know what that can be like. We've been fortunate, closest one was 2 years ago and contained. They stopped it 9 miles away.
I grew up on mashed potatoes and gravy, I raised my children and still make mashed potatoes and gravy. I never heard of poor man’s salad, but my mother made tomato and mayonnaise sandwiches. Good memories shared. Thank you.
This made my heart smile!! My grandmother OFTEN made this dinner when we visited. At 71, it is still one of my comfort foods,and I think of Grandma every time I make it!
Colleen, thank you so much for sharing this recipe with us. My mother, whom I miss so much, moved with her family in 1935 from Hays, Kansas. I am 71 now and loved this recipe as a child. I live in Portland, Or. She prepared this for us, and all of our family loved it. You were so easy to follow and listen to during this preparation. My Mom also used an electric skillet just like yours. I felt the childhood nostagia as you were preparing this delicious meal. Thank you from the bottom of my heart! Praying to Saint Joseph to protect your home during this fire season.❤
This is my first time joining u, n I'm glad I did. I am from Goodland, Ks! We did not live through the depression. I am 60 yrs old the 3rd of seven. My dear mother died 3 yrs ago n miss her sooo much. She used to love us trying recipes like this. Thank you for sharing. GBY
My Grandmother, born 1926, also moved in 1935 from Salina Kansas to Seattle! The story was that they went to the local equivalent of Chamber of Commerce and chose the brochure that had the most green. Westward bound they went, all 11 of them , to land in the Pacific Northwest!
You're right, Colleen. There's no way even one person can be fed on $10 a week in these times. Even if you watch for sales on meat, etc. you can't do it - not if you want to eat reasonably healthy. I used to have hamburger gravy when I was a kid and it's still a staple in my house.
Well, the hamburger gravy sure took me back many many years. In fact, we still have it occasionally to this day. We really like it. Continued prayers that you will be safe from the fires. Sending you love and hugs, Colleen.
My mom's version was hamburger patties covered with cr of mushroom soup, served over boiled potatoes. We lived on a farm so had our own beef and potatoes. We would have a veggie or two from the garden as well.
Our version was hamburger gravy made with a can of Campbell's cream of mushroom soup, a can of milk and some dried onion flakes. A bit of flour to thicken. Served over wide egg noodles. If we had a friend over my mom put the noodles on a platter like a nest and put the gravy in the middle. So fancy!
I also grew up with hamburger gravy. I love it over toast, potatoes, rice, and pasta. Any starch will do. It truly is a comfort food for me. My mom grew up in the depression. Stay safe with fire season and the smoke. My mom would add dried onion and condensed milk.
I enjoy your recipes. I am happy when I see you on RUclips with a new video, it feels like we are sitting in your kitchen and you are talking about what you are cooking. The fire season is scary, please be safe. Thank you for taking your time to be with us. ❤❤
Hello, from Omaha Nebraska! We grew up on hamburger and even minced chicken gravy when i was a child in the 1960s! My dad and brothers hunted and fished a lot. If they caught it, momma could cook it into something great!
We never had this growing up. But in the 90s my sister hosted a foreign exchange student from Denmark. One day, when he was homesick, he asked to make supper. This was the dish he made! She taught me, and I've loved it since. Thanks for the reminder. I have never heard of the cracker salad. Stay safe.
My mom made hamburgers in gravy with either mashed potatoes or white rice quite often. My brother and I loved it. Mom, the youngest of 5, was born the year after the Crash, so she may have grown up eating it herself. She told me that she didn't know she was "poor", so I guess when she saw that meal on the table she thought her family was rich. ❤
I have fond memories of my grandmothers and mom making old recipes of depression food. I admired all the cooking of that era. They made the best of what they had available. ❤️
Hamburger gravy over French fries was a weekly meal at our house when kids were growing up. I learned to make it with milk like my mom did. Always served green beans with it. Oven fried chicken with baked potatoes was also on the menu each week. Now when I visit my kids and grandkids or they fly to me, they always ask for these two meals. Food traditions are great to pass down to family. Debi in Vicksburg, MS. 🥰🥰 .
One thing about being older, we were taught to be frugal, thank goodness. With inflation, frugality is so needed. Love your videos, stay safe from the fires.
@Diane-s5g Thank you Diane, We are safe from the fires now. We have had fall rains and with the cooling weather the fires in our area are now out. Thank you for your well wishes, Colleen
Wow, I remember that dish. It was always one of my favorites as a kid. My mother didn’t make it but it was served at school. Loved loved loved it. I know what I’m having for dinner tomorrow night. Thank you for post this recipe. I’m a newbie. I don’t inked how you ended up in my feed, but I’m glad you did. Nothing better than home style cooking to warm your heart.
We had hamburger and gravy, one of our favorites. Family of eight. Had cracker salad once at a church function. We had sausage and gravy too over biscuits too. We had hamburger stew also.
This was a staple in my house growing up on the east coast of our beautiful country and we still have it today and I agree it is a comfort food. I have never heard of adding the butter though. You worked hard in this video; it was enjoyable and I didn't know that the recipe came from the depression era. Thanks for sharing. ❤
We still have it in Scotland it’s called mince and Tatties. If we have veg we would add diced carrots and onions and sometimes peas. We would serve it with dumplings which was self raising flour, some butter rubbed in and water or milk and drop these in little balls into the mince and cook for 20min in the oven
My brother in law and sister in law had taken a foreign exchange student in years ago and she had agreed to do a Girl Scout project with my daughter to do with cooking a dish from Japan which happened to be where the foreign exchange student was from. Going to the grocery store to find minced meat was fun. Neither party could communicate what "minced meat" was. We finally found it and we learned something new that day (never to be forgotten). 😅
Moms made this for our family, came in handy with 9 children, she taught us all well on making a dollar stretch, thank you for showing others how to make a Real comfort food.
Grannie Cyndy from South Australia here. New subscriber today. Good to hear see easy, inexpensive meals for these hard times. Well done. I used to watch another depression cooking video with a lovely lady called Clara who was in her 90's.
I love Hamburger gravy over mashed potatos, i add chopped onions & celery and sometimes minced carrots also, it adds a nice flvor to this dish. When making my gravy i add kitchen bouquet. beef boullion to help darken the gravy, so delicious! I usually make this dish once a month. Thanks for sharing.such a nice comfort dish.
Here in the Uk we would never have those two items on the same plate! Theyre so very different in taste and texture. Cant imagine how gravy seeping into my mayo based salad would be like! In the Uk we would have the salad on a smaller side pLate and probably eat that first
@@anniegetyrgun8741 Hello! Many people would have the salad on the side rather than the same plate as the gravy. I think this goes back to the days when we had large families and all the dishes were done by hand.
Miracle Whip isn’t mayonnaise! I’m going to try the salad. My kids have grown up in hamburger gravy, I have never added onions. I’m going to try that as well. I like your videos. Ty
Colleen, hello from Yorktown VA in the States. I see that you refer to Miracle Whip as mayonnaise??? I find them to be 2 very different condiments. Prayers for you and your husband’s safety during the fire season.
I was wondering if anyone would comment on that. Miracle Whip actually says it is a tangy dressing. It has sugar and spices whereas mayo does not. I do not mean to be critical here, but the difference in these two products could easily change the outcome of a dish if being used by someone that did not realize the difference.
My understanding is that miracle whip came about due to the depression. Mayo was expensive but you could cut it with sugar and oil and get MW. We use MW in mayonnaise cake. It gives the cake a zip that mayo doesnt. If you use mayo my family knows and is not thrilled.
Yes I wondered about that. Miracle whip has no eggs. It was created long ago when eggs were rationed I guess during the depression. I saw a program called Foods that made America. So MW is definitely an American product. It's very sweet. My husband prefers it. My mom wouldn't use mayo she grew up on MW.
Thank you for an excellent presentation, I felt like I was sitting in your kitchen with you. My mom cooked this meat and gravy dish also in Pennsylvania, was so good with mashed potatoes. First time I have heard of a cracker salad but I will have to try it, so simple to make. I am 85 and have cooked many simple dishes from scratch too, I just subscribed as I liked my visit with you! Right now again Canada is also having wildfires and the smoke is coming through Massachusetts where I currently live. I pray you, your family and neighbors are protected from the devastation of the fires. Good luck !
That's a beautiful salad which is new to me. I'd love it with cheese. With the price of lettuce now it's good to know this recipe. We had a very good sale on hamburger & lots of potatoes so I made a dish nearly identical to yours except I put sliced potatoes right in the gravy. Delicious. I enjoy your laid-back style & real time demonstration, I hope you weren't directly affected by the fire.
That is almost the same as our traditional Scottish dish ‘Mince and Tatties’. We use a pot rather than a frying pan and we brown the onions first, seasoned with salt and pepper, before adding the mince. Keep stirring until everything is browned, add a beef stock cube which has been disolved in a mug of boiling water. Add enough water to just cover the mince. Give it a stir. Bring to the boil and turn down the heat. Simmer for an hour, stirring occasionally. Thicken with gravy browning (Bisto) stirred in a cup with a little cold water before adding to the pot. You can use cornflower (cornstarch) if you don’t have gravy browning. Mince n Tatties is still a very popular comfort food dish here and there’s nothing like it on a cold winter day.
Back in my Army days this was a once a week dish in the Mess Hall. I didn't like it because I was used to chipped beef back home. Changed my tune when I married though chipped beef at the Commissary was very cheap (not now I might add). As a widow this would make me at least 4 meals.
Hoping you, your family and friends stay safe. I love “cooking with you” and yes, real time demonstration is so important! Recipes might say prep time is 15 or 30 minutes but well, we all know 😊that’s never true. BTW watching you is like watching my sister cook!
My Mom made hamburger gravy when we were growing up. I've made it once in a while. I just browned up hamburger, added some flour or Wondra with some milk to it to thicken it up and make the gravy, added any seasonings I wanted, which was usually just some salt. I put it over toast. Loved it!!!!
To make eggs easier to peel, crack them and put them back in the pot and put them under cold running water. Keep the water running over it while you peel the eggs.
We had hamburger gravy when I was young. I make it to this day. I use Milk in my gravy no onions and serve it over fried potatoes. Green beans for a side.
My good friend used to make this hamburger dish for her family and they used to call this "potatoes on point " as she served the saucy meat on top of a little mountain of potatoes...lol Sadly she passed away last year but this made me smile😊😊😊❤
My mom used to make the gravy over potatoes quite often. I never knew it was from the depression, my parents did go through the depression, I never knew it was sposed to be for the poor. We just thought is was a good dinner. Never heard of cracker salad tho but it sounds good. Love the show. Subscribed a while back.
Thanks to YT for recommending your channel to me. I thoroughly enjoyed watching you prepare your meal. I’d forgotten how Mom made your hamburger and gravy, and watching you brought back those memories. Never heard of the poor man’s salad but it looks so good that I shall give it a try! I’ll be saving this video into my Recipes to try. Watching from Niagara Falls Canada
Oh my goodness this video definitely brought back the memories! We would have it sometimes on rice, mashed potatoes, egg noodles and sometimes even toast. Our "poor man's salad" consisted of lettuce, banana and mayo.....so good! Thanks for the video!
One tip for cooks. Is to have a garbage bowl . Much easier since you will have dishes to do anyway. Saves a little time going to the trash can. Great meals! I make a soup similar with crumble hamburger / lean meat very little fat like 80 to 90 lean. Same pot, fill with water . Potatoes diced,marjoram leaves,salt oneHamburger gives flavor and leaves. You can add egg noodles to pot at the end. My mom called it pepper pot soup. Serve with bread. It will be thick because of potato starch, when eating leftovers,but will get a little liquid. I think it’s better the next day.
Remember my dear Mother making this dish in the 50’s, loved it and still make it every few weeks. Youngest munchkin wouldn’t eat it unless we added peas to it, he still asks for it when he visits. Thank you for sharing, really enjoyed your video. ❤
I am sending prayers that you and all around you are kept safe from the wildfires. I loved watching this video and it certainly brought back many memories ❤ Stay safe and God bless 🙏
Oh my goodness this meal brought back memories for sure. I will definitely🙂 make it in the fall. Always enjoy your cooking various meals. Stay safe and be well. Thanks for sharing with all of us
Hello sweet Colleen. Thank you for these recipes. Right up my alley! Filling and economical! Please stay safe and of course we will continue to pray for all of you.
I am a senior and have made this quick easy hamburger gravy a lot. Served with mashed potatoes and a salad or veggies is a very filling and budget conscious meal. I don't like standing to long in the kitchen 😊.
When my husband & I started out, I used potato water instead of beef broth (due to expense constraints) when I made the gravy. Now, I use beef broth, no onions but worchtershire sauce and gravy browning sauce. YUM...just made it last week as a matter of fact.
@bettyhornberger1470 until I posted this video I thought ours may be the only family who had this but now I know we were not alone and that it is still a very popular dish.
I just happened upon your channel. I remember my mom making hamburger gravy when I was a kid. I made sure to subscribe to your channel; I know I will enjoy it.
Very interesting to see how people ate during the Depression. We have a lot to learn from that era because we could find ourselves in the same situation. It is comforting to know how we can also survive Thank you for sharing with us
I'm thinking if you add some corn to the mashed potatoes and hamburger gravy, you'd have all the flavors of shepherds pie. Also, I just want to offer a tip about storing potatoes. Take them out of the plastic bag they came in (the bag traps moisture) and put them into a paper bag. The paper will let them breathe, plus it keeps the potatoes in the dark so they don't turn green. Your potatoes will last twice as long. I might have to try that salad. It looks yummy.
That sure does bring back memories I haven't made that for years since my family has grown up thank you for the reminder I'm praying that the fire does not reach you and I'm praying that they get it stopped😊
The first time my brother and I had hamburger gravy over mashed potatoes was in the school cafeteria. We loved it and asked our Mom to make it at home. She did. About that time, there was a commercial for a new dog food called Gravy Train. It looked a lot like our favorite dish! From then on, much to my Mother's chagrin, my brother and I would yelp with joy whenever she made "gravy train." Yum, yum!
@judyjerde3235 Hahaha, it's true that families come up with their own knick names for food. Our grandmother used to make a chocolate maroon with coconut and oatmeal that when cooled looked like dog poop so they became known within the family as the dog poop cookies. 🥰
Never heard of cracker salad but I will try it. The meat and gravey, as well as, the creamed/mashed potatoes are exactly like my mother and grandmother made. They both lived through the depression. Fortunately they had a large farm and sawmill with their family and they could grow almost everything they needed
My mom made hamburger gravy all the time when i was a kid. Sometimes she served it over white toast. My husband and kid wont touch it. Such a comfort dish.
@jennyschur6687 Growing up we often had gravy over homemade white bread. We also ate bread and milk with sugar for snacks. Just a bowl of torn bread with milk and a sprinkle of sugar. We thought it was quite a treat.
Another great dinner idea & yes it did bring back memories but ours here in Australia was slightly different but I prefer yours 🥰🥰 Cheers Denise- Brisbane Australia
Both of my Grandmothers used to make this for us for dinner. Yes, as they were both born about 1900, they indeed live thru the depression. But, even after the depression, many of their foods stayed with us- comfort foods are so underrated. Often times, my.mother would make the noodles early in the day and she would pour her hamburger gravy over noodles. In the spring, she would also add fresh morel mushrooms. Thank you for showing this. ❤
@phylliscurtner5578 yes, they are. And unless many people "know a guy that knows a guy" in order to either pick them or have tempted a mushroom hunter with bartering his mushrooms for something that tickles his fancy, many people have to rely on dried. While I have used dried in the past, there is NOTHING to compare with that "smell" or taste. Every year I put a nice venison backstap away just for using fresh morels with it in the spring..
My Grandmother raised her children through the depression. She spoke of it often and still made the food from that era in the 70s. She had cookies and cakes that had no eggs. She always had a garden and always made everything from scatch. And would never eat in a restaurant. I never received a Christmas gift that wasn't handmade and she gave me $1 for my birthday every year until I turned 25. If people would look to the past there are ways to get through tough times.
@gaylenemandelka8872 There are ways to get through tough times, wr just have to adjust our expectations.
Growing up in the 1950’s and 60’s we didn’t have salad dressing so we put mayonnaise on our salad. All that we had to put in one in the winter was lettuce, tomato and onion. In the summer we had fresh vegetables like green onions,fresh tomatoes p, cucumbers, bell peppers and lettuce but still mayonnaise for the dressing. I still like to make a simple salad with mayonnaise on it. I also make the hamburger with gravy and onions. My dad would kill and dress up to 100 meat birds every spring and in the fall he would slaughter 2 hogs. He had a smoke house where he cured the bacon and the hams and folks said that he was the best around when it came to smoking meat. Oh my goodness the smell of biscuits, bacon and eggs filled the house every morning and made you want to get up. My daddy never took sandwich bread in his lunch, he wanted biscuits with fried bologna or bacon and egg sandwiches with cheese on them. I remember when I got old enough to help mother, I would make his lunch and I took such care with making it. He would take four sandwiches and two or three pieces of cake. How I would love to go back to the good old days.
@@sandraskalnik2369 our salad dressing was mixing mayo with ketchup and called it thousand island dressing
My mom always made salad dressing with mayo and milk. I thought that was the only salad dressing for a long time. 😅
@@megdeyoung2378
So did I Meg!
I remember her mixing Miracle Whip, milk, apple cider vinegar and a little salt, maybe a dash of paprika,I think.
This is the only salad dressing we had, she may have made Thousand Island too.
Aren't these wonderful memories?
You have some fabulous memories to cherish.
My parents lived through the depression and also WWII. During the war, food was rationed. They became frugal and saved things. Not just food. That mindset lasts a lifetime. My mother made dinners such as this. It was so good. Miss them so much. 😢
Treat yourself and take time to make some of them
A tribute to them that you remember them so fondly.
My dad always said “it’s my birthday” when mom made hamburger gravy. His favorite meal ever
@marydenney8249 awe, that's awesome! It must have meant alot to him. ❤️
@@marydenney8249
Your Father's reply "It's my birthday", is heart warming, what a wonderful memory.💕
My Mother made this, but didn't use broth. She added water to the pan, brought to a boil, then gradually stirred in a flour thickening. She stirred in Kitchen Bouquet, a small amount at a time. It was excellent. She served it over boiled crushed potatoes and leftovers were served over bread. Yum. I still make it today.
@dianenordstrom2770 oh that's an interesting way to make it but still sounds delicious.
My Mom made it with water and Kitchen Bouquet also. It was always served over boiled potatoes, so tasty. I may make some tonight.
I used hot water and a little bit of beef "better than bouillon."
I am the 13th child by a minute and we grew up on hamburger gravy and potatoes and venison gravy and potatoes. But never heard of a poor man's salad. Thanks for sharing
13th by a minute must mean you had a twin and your mother knew how to stretch a bit of meat. Best wishes, Colleen
@@oursilvermoments6028 yes I have a twin brother and being the baby and a girl isn't easy they still treat me like a kid at 61 LOL. I still make this meal and always will.
Oh my goodness I was surprised when I saw your post. I am the 12th child and my twin is 13 by a minute. All girls except one. I looked at your name to see if it was her. I hardly ever come across someone that has as my siblings as I do😊
I watched your video yesterday and my mouth has been watering, im so hungry. My mom made hamburger gravy with milk we had it over toast. My hubby loves mashed taters, so I think he will love it. I think sweet corn for a side will be good. I'll be praying you will be safe.
Momma Sue calls it cracker salad
At one point last year, scallions/green onions were $2 a bunch. I bought myself a window box that could sit on a window sill in the house in cold weather and put outside when its warm. I filled it with soil, cut off the white bulb of the scallions and plunked them into the soil about half inch apart. Within a few days, they started sprouting. They grow very quickly and you will have a continuous supply.
I keep 2 inch white part green onion in the water in my kicked window all winter and they grow 4-5 times , in the ends it is to light color and onions get little mushy so I plant it in the dirt . After spring plant it out side 😊all winter I have green onions to use 👍
Thanks, you too for the tip. I was wondering how to grow spring onions.
The lunch ladies fixed this dish for us during the 50s. We all loved it.
@@janetworrell5979 I thunk most people have had this at some time in their lives. It brings back good memories.
Just love the aroma of onions and beef cooking on the stove!
@@cathynevius2164 best smell because you know something delicious is happening!
They served the hamburger gravy my high school cafeteria 50 plus years ago and I loved it!
Yes!! And the homemade rolls🔥💥
Hamburger gravy over mashed potatoes was one of my favorite meals growing up. I’ll have to make it one day soon! Prayers that fire is under control and no one gets hurt ❤ Thanks for sharing
@denisesw9128 Thank you for your prayers! So far the fire has burned up 6 homes just 15 minutes from us but the fire crews are working hard to keep it from getting to us.
I'm going to make this dinner. Looks so very good.
In my Scottish mother's home we called this mince and gravy, and I still make it today at 74 yrs of age. She would add flour to the leftover mashed potatoes, roll it out and create triangles then were fried in a little butter---called them "tatie scones". Thanks for reminding me of such lovely times.
Oh my, that sounds good!
In my Scottish home this was called “mince and tatties” my husband liked it spiced up a bit though, so I added oregano and basil and a wee bit of tomato sauce to the gravy We called it “farmhouse stew”.
Oh I hate fire season. It scarred our daughter, probably forever. When my husband was in the military, we spent several years in southern California. We woke up one Sunday morning and you could see the flames from the upstairs window. The kids were 8 & 4. We came down the hill and there was only one direction that we could go in because the fire had jumped 12 lanes of the freeway interchange. We were evacuated for days not knowing anything. Our daughter slept in a sleeping bag for years with her treasures in the bottom just in case. Even when we transferred to another base, October would come back. One year, we were triangulated by separate fires. Whoo, memories
@lisapop5219 I am so sorry, those sound like a terrifying time for you and your family. We are doing everything the fire suppression crews are recommending. Thank you for your kind thoughts. Best wishes, Colleen
I'm in Central California so I know what that can be like. We've been fortunate, closest one was 2 years ago and contained. They stopped it 9 miles away.
I know the fire you are speaking of, I’m from Ramona, scary indeed.
@@marleneclark4186 💯.
@@oursilvermoments6028
I grew up on mashed potatoes and gravy, I raised my children and still make mashed potatoes and gravy. I never heard of poor man’s salad, but my mother made tomato and mayonnaise sandwiches. Good memories shared. Thank you.
Nothing like mashed potatoes from scratch.
This made my heart smile!! My grandmother OFTEN made this dinner when we visited. At 71, it is still one of my comfort foods,and I think of Grandma every time I make it!
@@larkmilisits3702 Awe, I'm glad that it brought you some joy. Best wishes to you! Colleen
TY for sharing can’t wait to make this, ate it growing up in California at school it was one of our favorites a
❤
The hamburger and gravy was something my mother made for us often and I loved it. True comfort food.
@@elizabethpitt8404 ❤️
Colleen, thank you so much for sharing this recipe with us.
My mother, whom I miss so much, moved with her family in 1935 from Hays, Kansas.
I am 71 now and loved this recipe as a child. I live in Portland, Or.
She prepared this for us, and all of our family loved it.
You were so easy to follow and listen to during this preparation.
My Mom also used an electric skillet just like yours.
I felt the childhood nostagia as you were preparing this delicious meal.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart! Praying to Saint Joseph to protect your home during this fire season.❤
This is my first time joining u, n I'm glad I did. I am from Goodland, Ks! We did not live through the depression. I am 60 yrs old the 3rd of seven. My dear mother died 3 yrs ago n miss her sooo much. She used to love us trying recipes like this. Thank you for sharing. GBY
My Grandmother, born 1926, also moved in 1935 from Salina Kansas to Seattle! The story was that they went to the local equivalent of Chamber of Commerce and chose the brochure that had the most green. Westward bound they went, all 11 of them , to land in the Pacific Northwest!
My family had this many times over biscuits and green beans on the side! My father called it Poor-Doo. He said “When you’re poor it’ll do!”
You're right, Colleen. There's no way even one person can be fed on $10 a week in these times. Even if you watch for sales on meat, etc. you can't do it - not if you want to eat reasonably healthy. I used to have hamburger gravy when I was a kid and it's still a staple in my house.
Well, the hamburger gravy sure took me back many many years. In fact, we still have it occasionally to this day. We really like it. Continued prayers that you will be safe from the fires. Sending you love and hugs, Colleen.
@@cyn4rest Thanks so much! We love it!
Hamburger gravy over mashed potatoes. Delicious and great comfort food! God bless you and keep you safe.
My mom's version was hamburger patties covered with cr of mushroom soup, served over boiled potatoes. We lived on a farm so had our own beef and potatoes. We would have a veggie or two from the garden as well.
Hamburger gravy over mashed potatoes was my favorite meal growing up. ❤
Our version was hamburger gravy made with a can of Campbell's cream of mushroom soup, a can of milk and some dried onion flakes. A bit of flour to thicken. Served over wide egg noodles. If we had a friend over my mom put the noodles on a platter like a nest and put the gravy in the middle. So fancy!
Try with French Onion soup!
I also grew up with hamburger gravy. I love it over toast, potatoes, rice, and pasta. Any starch will do. It truly is a comfort food for me. My mom grew up in the depression. Stay safe with fire season and the smoke. My mom would add dried onion and condensed milk.
We had it over potatoes, rice, noodles, elbows. Yummy every time.
The poor man’s gravy sounds good.
Please Stay Safe and I will be Praying for you and your Hubby 🙏🙏💕🌹
@dellasmalley6097 Thank you Dallas!
I enjoy your recipes. I am happy when I see you on RUclips with a new video, it feels like we are sitting in your kitchen and you are talking about what you are cooking. The fire season is scary, please be safe. Thank you for taking your time to be with us. ❤❤
@@sandyrinehart5566 I love to be here cooking with all of you. Thanks for the good wishes.
That amount of food could easily feed 4 people 😮
@thixotropic447 yes, we had it foe dinner and made two little aluminum foil containers for my husband's lunches on the road.
@@oursilvermoments6028 Cook once, eat twice (or more). I like saving time . And am lucky my family likes 'planned-overs'. :)
Hello, from Omaha Nebraska! We grew up on hamburger and even minced chicken gravy when i was a child in the 1960s! My dad and brothers hunted and fished a lot. If they caught it, momma could cook it into something great!
@@Beepinsqueekin Mom's had a gift of turning anything into something delicious.
We never had this growing up. But in the 90s my sister hosted a foreign exchange student from Denmark. One day, when he was homesick, he asked to make supper. This was the dish he made! She taught me, and I've loved it since. Thanks for the reminder. I have never heard of the cracker salad. Stay safe.
Me neither.
My mom made hamburgers in gravy with either mashed potatoes or white rice quite often. My brother and I loved it. Mom, the youngest of 5, was born the year after the Crash, so she may have grown up eating it herself. She told me that she didn't know she was "poor", so I guess when she saw that meal on the table she thought her family was rich. ❤
@@YT4Me57 ❤️
the salad idea is amazing...loved this video
@@hardwood7955 Thank you for watching it!
For me there is such a difference between miracle whip and mayonnaise I remember the hamburger gravy thank you for reminding me of my childhood
I grew up on Miracle Whip.
Now I only buy Hellman’s mayonnaise.
There’s a huge difference between them I agree
My mom in California always miracle whip. That's the only way I'll eat an egg sandwich. Now I live in the south and we eat Duke's mayonnaise.
@@RogueWave2030 Dukes Mayo just like Hellmans is real mayonnaise with egg yolks and lemon juice!
Miracle Whip is not mayo but salad dressing. I especially like it's on BLTs
@@johnacres4666 yeah and it's got that twang
I have fond memories of my grandmothers and mom making old recipes of depression food. I admired all the cooking of that era. They made the best of what they had available. ❤️
@@AlphaPoe yes they did!
Hamburger gravy over French fries was a weekly meal at our house when kids were growing up. I learned to make it with milk like my mom did. Always served green beans with it. Oven fried chicken with baked potatoes was also on the menu each week. Now when I visit my kids and grandkids or they fly to me, they always ask for these two meals. Food traditions are great to pass down to family. Debi in Vicksburg, MS. 🥰🥰 .
I’m always looking for meals made with Hamberger. I’m definitely going to make this!
One thing about being older, we were taught to be frugal, thank goodness. With inflation, frugality is so needed. Love your videos, stay safe from the fires.
@Diane-s5g Thank you Diane, We are safe from the fires now. We have had fall rains and with the cooling weather the fires in our area are now out. Thank you for your well wishes, Colleen
Wow, I remember that dish. It was always one of my favorites as a kid. My mother didn’t make it but it was served at school. Loved loved loved it. I know what I’m having for dinner tomorrow night. Thank you for post this recipe. I’m a newbie. I don’t inked how you ended up in my feed, but I’m glad you did. Nothing better than home style cooking to warm your heart.
Prayers that you and your neighbors can remain safe!! Amd wow on the price of that hamburger meat! Canadian prices are a lot higher than in the U.S.
It always is more costly in Canada.
@marygrott8095 yes, it is much more expensive here in Canada.
I make hamburger gravy w mashed at the school. One of their favorites.❤❤ I put a bit of thyme in it. I love thyme or marjoram with beef.😊
@@LeahNess-t7o I will try it with thyme next time I make it. ❤️
We had hamburger and gravy, one of our favorites. Family of eight. Had cracker salad once at a church function. We had sausage and gravy too over biscuits too. We had hamburger stew also.
Hope you stay safe, salad was new to me.
I'm from the American South and we had a similar salad made with left over cornbread but otherwise the same ingredients.❤
Praying for you and your family! Please stay safe!
@cathyjackson7175 Thank you, we are following all the advice of the Fire crews and are packed and ready to go at a moments notice.
This was a staple in my house growing up on the east coast of our beautiful country and we still have it today and I agree it is a comfort food. I have never heard of adding the butter though. You worked hard in this video; it was enjoyable and I didn't know that the recipe came from the depression era. Thanks for sharing. ❤
We still have it in Scotland it’s called mince and Tatties. If we have veg we would add diced carrots and onions and sometimes peas. We would serve it with dumplings which was self raising flour, some butter rubbed in and water or milk and drop these in little balls into the mince and cook for 20min in the oven
My brother in law and sister in law had taken a foreign exchange student in years ago and she had agreed to do a Girl Scout project with my daughter to do with cooking a dish from Japan which happened to be where the foreign exchange student was from. Going to the grocery store to find minced meat was fun. Neither party could communicate what "minced meat" was. We finally found it and we learned something new that day (never to be forgotten). 😅
Moms made this for our family, came in handy with 9 children, she taught us all well on making a dollar stretch, thank you for showing others how to make a Real comfort food.
Grannie Cyndy from South Australia here. New subscriber today.
Good to hear see easy, inexpensive meals for these hard times. Well done.
I used to watch another depression cooking video with a lovely lady called Clara who was in her 90's.
@@cyndyfabian7555 Thank you for joining us all the way from South Austrailia! I hope you find many useful things here. Best wishes, Colleen
I love Hamburger gravy over mashed potatos, i add chopped onions & celery and sometimes minced carrots also, it adds a nice flvor to this dish. When making my gravy i add kitchen bouquet. beef boullion to help darken the gravy, so delicious! I usually make this dish once a month. Thanks for sharing.such a nice comfort dish.
Here in the Uk we would never have those two items on the same plate! Theyre so very different in taste and texture. Cant imagine how gravy seeping into my mayo based salad would be like! In the Uk we would have the salad on a smaller side pLate and probably eat that first
@@anniegetyrgun8741 Hello! Many people would have the salad on the side rather than the same plate as the gravy. I think this goes back to the days when we had large families and all the dishes were done by hand.
My late husband loved mashed potatoes, gravy and peas on top. Never tried this salad but I think I will. Thanks😊
@@cherylwagg1371 Good old comfort food!
Miracle Whip isn’t mayonnaise! I’m going to try the salad. My kids have grown up in hamburger gravy, I have never added onions. I’m going to try that as well. I like your videos. Ty
Colleen, hello from Yorktown VA in the States. I see that you refer to Miracle Whip as mayonnaise??? I find them to be 2 very different condiments.
Prayers for you and your husband’s safety during the fire season.
They are very different. I love mayonnaise, especially Best Foods. I gag on Miracle Whip.
I was wondering if anyone would comment on that. Miracle Whip actually says it is a tangy dressing. It has sugar and spices whereas mayo does not. I do not mean to be critical here, but the difference in these two products could easily change the outcome of a dish if being used by someone that did not realize the difference.
My understanding is that miracle whip came about due to the depression. Mayo was expensive but you could cut it with sugar and oil and get MW. We use MW in mayonnaise cake. It gives the cake a zip that mayo doesnt. If you use mayo my family knows and is not thrilled.
Yes I wondered about that. Miracle whip has no eggs. It was created long ago when eggs were rationed I guess during the depression. I saw a program called Foods that made America. So MW is definitely an American product. It's very sweet. My husband prefers it. My mom wouldn't use mayo she grew up on MW.
This is soul food for me having been born in 1937. My mom had a Victory Garden that supplied much of what we ate.
Awwww. The Victory Gardens!!! Precious times.
My mother used to make this and it was my favorite! Thanks for reminding me, I'll definitely make it soon!
@@sarabelits2362 so simple and yet so comforting.
First time viewing you Colleen. Great video 😊 Thank you for sharing 😊
@Angelbee-i4l Thank you! Great to have you here. Best wishes! Colleen
Thank you for an excellent presentation, I felt like I was sitting in your kitchen with you. My mom cooked this meat and gravy dish also in Pennsylvania, was so good with mashed potatoes. First time I have heard of a cracker salad but I will have to try it, so simple to make. I am 85 and have cooked many simple dishes from scratch too, I just subscribed as I liked my visit with you! Right now again Canada is also having wildfires and the smoke is coming through Massachusetts where I currently live. I pray you, your family and neighbors are protected from the devastation of the fires. Good luck !
That's a beautiful salad which is new to me. I'd love it with cheese. With the price of lettuce now it's good to know this recipe. We had a very good sale on hamburger & lots of potatoes so I made a dish nearly identical to yours except I put sliced potatoes right in the gravy. Delicious. I enjoy your laid-back style & real time demonstration, I hope you weren't directly affected by the fire.
That is almost the same as our traditional Scottish dish ‘Mince and Tatties’. We use a pot rather than a frying pan and we brown the onions first, seasoned with salt and pepper, before adding the mince. Keep stirring until everything is browned, add a beef stock cube which has been disolved in a mug of boiling water. Add enough water to just cover the mince. Give it a stir. Bring to the boil and turn down the heat. Simmer for an hour, stirring occasionally. Thicken with gravy browning (Bisto) stirred in a cup with a little cold water before adding to the pot. You can use cornflower (cornstarch) if you don’t have gravy browning.
Mince n Tatties is still a very popular comfort food dish here and there’s nothing like it on a cold winter day.
Back in my Army days this was a once a week dish in the Mess Hall. I didn't like it because I was used to chipped beef back home. Changed my tune when I married though chipped beef at the Commissary was very cheap (not now I might add). As a widow this would make me at least 4 meals.
Hoping you, your family and friends stay safe. I love “cooking with you” and yes, real time demonstration is so important! Recipes might say prep time is 15 or 30 minutes but well, we all know 😊that’s never true. BTW watching you is like watching my sister cook!
@@elizabethsleison6079 I am so happy to hear that you think of me as a member of the family. Thank you for having me over every week. ❤️
My Mom made hamburger gravy when we were growing up. I've made it once in a while. I just browned up hamburger, added some flour or Wondra with some milk to it to thicken it up and make the gravy, added any seasonings I wanted, which was usually just some salt. I put it over toast. Loved it!!!!
Our mom made this often. Loved this dish. To this day we still make it often. Just found your videos. 😋😋😋🇨🇦
To make eggs easier to peel, crack them and put them back in the pot and put them under cold running water. Keep the water running over it while you peel the eggs.
@VickieMcKie-u2n Thank you, I have done that and it works sometimes, so good tip.
We had hamburger gravy when I was young. I make it to this day.
I use Milk in my gravy no onions and serve it over fried potatoes.
Green beans for a side.
We had this growing up in the 60’s and 70’s. My mom would serve it over whole wheat toast. It was delicious!
Can relate,, we are practically in a depression now. We need to learn the old ways
My good friend used to make this hamburger dish for her family and they used to call this "potatoes on point " as she served the saucy meat on top of a little mountain of potatoes...lol
Sadly she passed away last year but this made me smile😊😊😊❤
My mom used to make the gravy over potatoes quite often. I never knew it was from the depression, my parents did go through the depression, I never knew it was sposed to be for the poor. We just thought is was a good dinner. Never heard of cracker salad tho but it sounds good. Love the show. Subscribed a while back.
Thanks to YT for recommending your channel to me. I thoroughly enjoyed watching you prepare your meal. I’d forgotten how Mom made your hamburger and gravy, and watching you brought back those memories. Never heard of the poor man’s salad but it looks so good that I shall give it a try! I’ll be saving this video into my Recipes to try. Watching from Niagara Falls Canada
@missygilly9917 Thank you for watching and I am so glad it helped bring back happy memories for you. Best wishes, Colleen
Oh my goodness this video definitely brought back the memories! We would have it sometimes on rice, mashed potatoes, egg noodles and sometimes even toast. Our "poor man's salad" consisted of lettuce, banana and mayo.....so good! Thanks for the video!
My mom made a salad like that. I loved it
Ok. I stayed for the hamburger gravy but almost bailed when I saw the miracle whip 💨💨💨💃🏼……😂💦😂💦 love,,, a mayo purist 😉😉🤣
Me too. Hellman's all the way.
One tip for cooks. Is to have a garbage bowl . Much easier since you will have dishes to do anyway. Saves a little time going to the trash can. Great meals! I make a soup similar with crumble hamburger / lean meat very little fat like 80 to 90 lean. Same pot, fill with water . Potatoes diced,marjoram leaves,salt oneHamburger gives flavor and leaves. You can add egg noodles to pot at the end. My mom called it pepper pot soup. Serve with bread. It will be thick because of potato starch, when eating leftovers,but will get a little liquid. I think it’s better the next day.
Remember my dear Mother making this dish in the 50’s, loved it and still make it every few weeks. Youngest munchkin wouldn’t eat it unless we added peas to it, he still asks for it when he visits. Thank you for sharing, really enjoyed your video. ❤
Oh my stay safe & be thinking of you all and praying it stays away
@@danastanley7785 Thank you!
Thank you so much for sharing. Love the way you take your time! Janet …(we have lots of Canadian snowbirds to come here for the winter) Rockport Texas
I am sending prayers that you and all around you are kept safe from the wildfires. I loved watching this video and it certainly brought back many memories ❤ Stay safe and God bless 🙏
@@candaceclark6861 ❤️ thank you!
Oh my goodness this meal brought back memories for sure. I will definitely🙂 make it in the fall. Always enjoy your cooking various meals. Stay safe and be well. Thanks for sharing with all of us
@ditsytheoneandonly7930 yes it's definitely more of a fall dish but good anytime you need a quick tasty meal.
First time I’ve watched and I cannot wait to make this
Hello sweet Colleen. Thank you for these recipes. Right up my alley! Filling and economical! Please stay safe and of course we will continue to pray for all of you.
Thank you, we appreciate the prayers! Thanks for watching!
I am a senior and have made this quick easy hamburger gravy a lot. Served with mashed potatoes and a salad or veggies is a very filling and budget conscious meal. I don't like standing to long in the kitchen 😊.
@dmmrad54 I started this video thinking I may be sharing something knew but I can see now that many people enjoy this meal. Thanks for watching!
When my husband & I started out, I used potato water instead of beef broth (due to expense constraints) when I made the gravy. Now, I use beef broth, no onions but worchtershire sauce and gravy browning sauce. YUM...just made it last week as a matter of fact.
@bettyhornberger1470 until I posted this video I thought ours may be the only family who had this but now I know we were not alone and that it is still a very popular dish.
I just happened upon your channel. I remember my mom making hamburger gravy when I was a kid. I made sure to subscribe to your channel; I know I will enjoy it.
@@patmentzer6771 Thank you for joining us over here. I hope you find lots of reasons to come back. Best wishes, Colleen
@@patmentzer6771 Groceries are very expensive here compared to other places. I am happy to hear they are not that high where you live. Cheers, Colleen
Very interesting to see how people ate during the Depression. We have a lot to learn from that era because we could find ourselves in the same situation. It is comforting to know how we can also survive Thank you for sharing with us
I’ve never eaten a cracker salad, might have to try it! And by the way, if you have a compost throw in your egg shells and potato peels.
I'm thinking if you add some corn to the mashed potatoes and hamburger gravy, you'd have all the flavors of shepherds pie. Also, I just want to offer a tip about storing potatoes. Take them out of the plastic bag they came in (the bag traps moisture) and put them into a paper bag. The paper will let them breathe, plus it keeps the potatoes in the dark so they don't turn green. Your potatoes will last twice as long. I might have to try that salad. It looks yummy.
This reminds me of something my mom made. Now I have a name for it. Thank you
That sure does bring back memories I haven't made that for years since my family has grown up thank you for the reminder I'm praying that the fire does not reach you and I'm praying that they get it stopped😊
The first time my brother and I had hamburger gravy over mashed potatoes was in the school cafeteria. We loved it and asked our Mom to make it at home. She did. About that time, there was a commercial for a new dog food called Gravy Train. It looked a lot like our favorite dish! From then on, much to my Mother's chagrin, my brother and I would yelp with joy whenever she made "gravy train." Yum, yum!
@judyjerde3235 Hahaha, it's true that families come up with their own knick names for food. Our grandmother used to make a chocolate maroon with coconut and oatmeal that when cooled looked like dog poop so they became known within the family as the dog poop cookies. 🥰
Looks really good! You remind me of my Mom, she used to call miracle whip Mayo and they are completely different to me 😂
I do too, and prefer the miracle whip over mayo. 😊
Never heard of cracker salad but I will try it. The meat and gravey, as well as, the creamed/mashed potatoes are exactly like my mother and grandmother made. They both lived through the depression. Fortunately they had a large farm and sawmill with their family and they could grow almost everything they needed
Excellent Video!
I love all your recipes, bringing memories back to my grandparents
My mom made hamburger gravy all the time when i was a kid. Sometimes she served it over white toast. My husband and kid wont touch it. Such a comfort dish.
@jennyschur6687 Growing up we often had gravy over homemade white bread. We also ate bread and milk with sugar for snacks. Just a bowl of torn bread with milk and a sprinkle of sugar. We thought it was quite a treat.
Colleen I’ve never heard of a salad like that one. Looks interesting. The meat and gravy looked delicious. Thanks for sharing. Stay safe.
@annapower9799 thank you Anna! It is really good simple fare.
Great meals without additives that we cannot pronounce.thank you!!!
Im from Seattle and we had this for school lunch. I've been married to my high school sweetheart for 53 years and its one of our treasured dishes.
What grade school? I grew up in Seattle too and had this for school lunch. Always, enjoyed the school lunch at Magnolia Elementary.
Another great dinner idea & yes it did bring back memories but ours here in Australia was slightly different but I prefer yours 🥰🥰 Cheers Denise- Brisbane Australia
Both of my Grandmothers used to make this for us for dinner. Yes, as they were both born about 1900, they indeed live thru the depression. But, even after the depression, many of their foods stayed with us- comfort foods are so underrated. Often times, my.mother would make the noodles early in the day and she would pour her hamburger gravy over noodles. In the spring, she would also add fresh morel mushrooms. Thank you for showing this. ❤
Morel mushrooms are so good!❤
@phylliscurtner5578 yes, they are. And unless many people "know a guy that knows a guy" in order to either pick them or have tempted a mushroom hunter with bartering his mushrooms for something that tickles his fancy, many people have to rely on dried. While I have used dried in the past, there is NOTHING to compare with that "smell" or taste. Every year I put a nice venison backstap away just for using fresh morels with it in the spring..
I’m getting up to make this right now!
Thank you, I subscribed