I cannot think of The Great Depression without reminiscing about one of my favorite John Steinbeck books, “The Grapes Of Wrath” where the Joad family flees Oklahoma due to inhospitable weather conditions caused by the Texas and Oklahoma Dust Bowl. The Joads drive their old truck down the famous Route 66 to the California sunshine in hopes of getting jobs as fruit harvesters in the golden state. The book really exemplified the fact that the Great Depression was the time of immense hardship but also a time of a Nation learning self-reliance and learning that it really was hope and faith that was the real driver of the soul purpose of Americans during this period. The other fact that must be considered is that 1938 was not really all that long ago and we must never rest on our laurels to think that hard times will not ever knock on our door and affect us again. I was thinking about this with the troubled times we are currently in and I went searching online and found this excellent Youtube video by Glen & Friends Cooking where Glen finds a Cookbook from 1938 and cooks a Potato Soup Recipe from one of the old tattered pages.

Ingredients:

• 8 Medium Potatoes (peeled and cut into sections)
• 2 Small Onions (chopped)
• Water (enough to cover potatoes and onions)
• Salt and Pepper (to taste)
• 1 Tablespoon Butter
• 1 Quart Of Milk

Directions:

First peel and section your potatoes and onions then cover with water and cook till potatoes are tender. Then mash the potatoes and onions in the water (do not drain).

Then add milk, butter, salt, and pepper, then serve.

Try this recipe, it’s very interesting.

1938 Depression Era Potato Soup Recipe