The 1930s was a decade marked by hardship, resourcefulness, and resilience. The Great Depression left millions struggling to make ends meet, and families had to be creative to stretch their limited food supplies. In the face of widespread poverty, simple, hearty meals became essential, and one such dish that defined the era was Hoover Stew. Named after President Herbert Hoover, who was often blamed for the early failures to address the Great Depression, this dish was a symbol of frugality and survival. Meals like Hoover Stew became symbols of survival—filling, inexpensive, and adaptable to whatever ingredients were available

As jobs vanished and savings evaporated, people were forced to adapt to a new way of life—one focused on frugality, resourcefulness, and community support. In homes across the country, the kitchen became a place of resilience. Families came together, sharing what little they had and turning simple ingredients into meals that could stretch for days. Cooking during the Great Depression was often about improvisation, with homemakers learning to waste nothing and repurpose every last bit of food.

Cold Frames

Whenever we visited Grandma and Grandpa Ford at their home on Steven’s Ave in Ogden; we boys would spend time playing amongst the five or six cold frames that occupied ground just outside their back door (the door we most often used). Such cold frames were low, uncovered and used to harden plants started earlier in Grandpa’s greenhouse.

Because Mom had lived in that house since birth; she had a number of pleasant (and difficult) memories associated with her life’s residence. Inasmuch as we boys may have triggered memories; she shared a particular memory with me on a couple of occasions.

Neighborhood Play

Inasmuch as there’d been a vacant lot just down the street a few houses; many of the neighborhood children (of which there were a number) would gather there to play neighborhood games with each other. She related to me (somewhat nostalgically) what she referred to as her ‘favorite game’ to play. Prior to describing her game; I must explain more.

Mulligan Stew

Mulligan stew, also known as hobo stew, was a type of stew said to have been prepared by American hobos in camps in the early 1900s. "Mulligan" is a stand-in term for any Irishman, and Mulligan stew is simply an Irish stew that included meat, potatoes, vegetables, and whatever else that could be begged, scavenged, or found. Another variation of mulligan stew was "community stew" – this was a similar stew put together by neighborhood urchins combining whatever food they had or could collect.

The Game

The game was actually an activity that took place amidst many of the other games played. As mom explained it to me, she’d contemplate the ‘good times’ that she and her friends had spent together there on the vacant lot. After playing for a short while; they’d determine to cook a Mulligan Stew. All other play would cease as the children came together to assemble a ‘mulligan’. All children (usually about 8) joined in this endeavor. One would build a fire from wood laying about. Another would rustle up a cooking pot. Another brought a morsel of meat; another potatoes; another a vegetable or two; and still another furnished onion, salt and pepper. All ingredients were contributed to the pot. Having earlier been filled with water and placed on the fired to boil; the stew ingredients began to cook and meld into a sumptuous stew.

While the stew steamed atop the fire; the children would continue the play with games such as: Kick the Can, Simple Simon, Capture the Flag, Hide and Go Seek, Tag, Baseball, Marbles, Mother, May I, Jump Rope, Hop scotch, and Red Rover. When the stew had cooked sufficiently and the children had grown tired and hungry; each child approached the pot with bowl and spoon to receive their portion. They’d then sit about the warming fire with stew to fill their stomachs and stories to fill their souls. As the pot emptied; they’d each head for home having spent a good portion of the day in the company of good friends and a belly full of goodness.