Time Travel Meals: Hoover Stew

Time Travel Meals 

Let’s go so far back in time … that it is today.  Not in a good way.  None of us like tight times when, whether by restricted ingredients, or restricted finances, we have to be very flexible and deliberate in our meal planning. Tonight and for the next couple of days, I am going to suggest 3 pocketbook-friendly, ingredient-flexible, and Depression Era/WWII approved dishes.  If you have a relative or friend who lived through that time period, give them a call/text and see if they remember eating any or all of these.  

Hoover Stew

You will find several variations on this on-line.  Below is the one that worked with my family. 

Macaroni – this is the tradition, but you can use ANY pasta in your pantry (1 box, pack, bag)

Stewed tomatoes – 1-2 cans – can substitute Rotel, or diced tomatoes + chopped onion + green peppers 

Hot dogs – now this is where I went off-road – I used kielbasa – you could also use Italian
        sausage links, brats … you get the idea

Beans – usually a can of some sort of bean or even black-eyed or field peas – I used white beans

Corn – cans of nibblets, cut off cob, frozen.  Corn in this dish is always “ifin you got it.” 
         Otherwise you are good with the macaroni, tomatoes, hotdogs, and beans.   

1.     Put macaroni/pasta in bowling water — undercook by 4 or more minutes.  Should still be firm

2.     While that is cooking, cut meat (see options) into bite-sized pieces.  If you use any of those meats except hotdogs you should SAUTÉ them in a skillet.  Color on meat is where the flavor comes from.  

3.     Drain macaroni (pasta) and put back in the pot you boiled it in.  

4.     Add cans of tomatoes (or tomato options) DO NOT DRAIN – open and then pour.  

5.     Add cans of beans – same deal – open can, pour into pot. 
Corn – see “ifin” in ingredients list.  

6.     Add the meat to mixture.  

7.     Let it sit together and get friendly over a simmer level heat.  

Ladle into a bowl and enjoy.  This was a staple for many, many families.  It was actually a treat for many because it had meat in it.  We are learning many of the lessons learned by that 1930’s/1940’s generation.  Let us learn to eat simple and say thanks with wild abandon.