HOOVER STEW

Hoover Stew image

I have always wondered what kinds of foods were enjoyed by families in the depression era and researched some recipes and this one really interested me and I am happy to share it.

Provided by Eileen Hineline

Time 40m

Number Of Ingredients 4

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Ingredients

1 box of macaroni
1 or 2 cans of whole tomatoes, spanish style (depending on size of cans and number of people to be served)
1 package of hotdogs
1 can of corn or beans (such as chick peas)

Steps:

1. Cook macaroni according to the instructions on the box.
2. While it cooks, slice the hot dogs into very thin "coins."
3. Open cans, but do not drain.
4. Combine the contents of the cans and the hot dog slices in a large pot, and bring to a simmer.
5. Break up the tomatoes into small chunks as the mixture heats. Drain the macaroni when it is barely Al Dente. Reserve the cooking water to add to the pot, if needed.
6. Add the macaroni, and continue simmering until all of the ingredients are thoroughly heated and the hot dogs are cooked.
7. ***There are substitutes for all quantities and ingredients as necessary for the budget and to suit your tastes. If using another style of canned whole tomatoes, add finely minced green pepper and onion to the ingredients; they can be cooked with the macaroni as it boils.
8. ***** Recipe by Mrs. Dunn, recipe found on Depression era Recipes. Here is some fun information regarding the recipe.
9. Mrs. Dunn says: This recipe dates from the depression years and on through WWII; and was then a luxury or celebration meal, since it included meat. We kids loved it, and it was a stand-alone meal needing nothing else - though we usually had it served with carrot and celery sticks when available (if Papa, the cook in our family, hadn't already added them to the pot of macaroni as it cooked). The macaroni usually was technically overcooked in the end, but Papa had us convinced that that was how it was supposed to be for this dish (calling it macaroni rags), and we thought it was delicious. The Hoover in the name refers to President Herbert Hoover, who was popularly blamed for the depression years at that time.