elizabeth_mn: (seaside)
elizabeth_mn ([personal profile] elizabeth_mn) wrote2014-10-03 03:36 pm

Historical Food Fortnightly #9: beans baked in sour cream

First of all, we tried the green tomato pickles from the last challenge and I updated that entry in case you are curious.

The Challenge: 9. The Frugal Housewife September 21 - October 4
Throughout history, housewives and housekeepers have kept a close eye on their budgets and found creative ways to pinch pennies while providing delicious and nutritious food. Create a dish that interprets one historically-documented method of frugal cooking.

HFF 9 (9)

The Recipe: Beans baked in sour cream from the 1939 book Appetizing Meals at Lower Cost. I think "lower cost" says it all, don't you? But my other argument for frugality is the use of beans - a cheaper protein source than meat.

HFF 9 (2)

HFF 9 (3)

HFF 9 (1)

The Date/Year and Region: 1939, Midwestern USA

How Did You Make It: Okay, so I didn't have kidney beans and used white beans instead. They have a milder flavor but I think that's okay. I didn't actually have any sour cream either so I used buttermilk and plain yogurt. But using what you have in the house is frugal, too, right? Right?

Mixed beans and buttermilk/yogurt.

HFF 9 (8)

I used some stale bread to make crumbs (also a frugal element!). This is fun to do with a rolling pin and also stress-relieving.

HFF 9 (5)

HFF 9 (7)

I mixed these with plenty of melted butter and baked for 25 min at 350 F.

HFF 9 (11)

HFF 9 (12)

Time to Complete: About 30 minutes.

Total Cost: About $3 altogether.

How Successful Was It?: This was delish. I love beans anyway, and creamy sauces, and breadcrumb toppings! I thought the sauce would be runny but it thickened up quite a bit. It was also easy. I will probably make this again.

How Accurate Is It?: I used buttermilk and plain yogurt as a sour cream sub. And different beans of course. It's worth pointing out that modern cultured buttermilk is more like sour cream than "real" buttermilk; instead of a byproduct of the butter-making process, it's manufactured as a fermented milk product.

[identity profile] mala-14.livejournal.com 2014-10-03 11:44 pm (UTC)(link)
Mmm... Looks delish! I may have to try this one out myself!

[identity profile] ashamanja-babu.livejournal.com 2014-10-04 02:59 pm (UTC)(link)
You should! It was yummy and easy.

[identity profile] stinkymonkey41.livejournal.com 2014-10-05 05:13 am (UTC)(link)
When I was in the UK I went to a lovely little museum while there they had some 1700s recipes so I took pictures of them thinking of you, they are,
1787 - Vermicelli Soup
1770s - Venison Pastry
1777 - Dressing a pickled salmon
1789 - Oyster Ragoo
1776 - A herring pie
1789 - Roast turkey

Not totally sure how practical or tasty they are but if you are anyone else would like a copy of the pictures let me know I will post them to my journal or email them too you what ever you prefer

[identity profile] ashamanja-babu.livejournal.com 2014-10-05 02:20 pm (UTC)(link)
I would love to see these! Maybe you could get them to the facebook group?

https://www.facebook.com/groups/historicalfoodfortnightly/

[identity profile] stinkymonkey41.livejournal.com 2014-10-11 06:58 am (UTC)(link)
Sorry I can't get on Facebook here, even LJ is difficult sometimes. I can email them to you can you can add them to Facebook if you like.