Please check out Clara's new website. You will be able to find updates to her episodes, news and her upcoming DVD.
www.GreatDepressionCooking.com
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Clara
About Me
- Clara
- Clara is a 94 year old cook and Great Grandmother. She is 100% Sicilian-American and grew up in a Chicago suburb, Melrose Park. She survived the Great Depression and claims to have actually gained weight during America's worst state of financial despair. How did she accomplish this? Check out her cooking show and discover her secret! Feel free to leave Clara a note at: DepressionCooking@gmail.com
Hi Clara
ReplyDeleteMy name is Clarissa, my mother use to call me clara, she is npw gone to be with the Lord. I just found your site and I love it so much. I watched your depression cooking last night way into the night and now I found your blog. This is such a wonderful way of sharing with others. Keep up the good work, I love your story's and they are real so they are that much better.
My mother would have been your age if she was living, she was bor in 1914 adn my dad 1911
You have a blessed day, my blog is at http://warmteaandmyjournal.blogspot.com/
Clara, You are an inspiration. I am enjoying your videos, and I shared them with my own son and future daughter-in-law.
ReplyDeleteEverybody should be so lucky to have a grandmother like you.
Clara
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful gift you are giving all of us. You remind me of my husband's grandmother. I learned alot from her not just about cooking but about life, love and family. Keep up the great work and I look forward to watching more videos.
God bless
Hello Clara:
ReplyDeleteJust wanted to leave you a note to tell you how much I love your videos! I've learned so much and many of your recipes are now being used in my home.
I love your sense of style and good old fashioned common sense...something that is in short supply in this day and age!
I'm delighted to have found your website and blog as well...I'll visit it often and have been telling a lot of my friends and family about you.
Brightest Blessings to you,
Linda H.
Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
I love your videos! and your stories.
ReplyDeleteI love your videos! It is like going to my Grandmother's kitchen! Thank you so much for sharing your time and stories with us!
ReplyDeleteHello Clara,
ReplyDeleteI was not able to know any of my grandparents but had I known one of my grandma's, I would hope she would have been like you.
Thank you for sharing your wisdom with me. You truly did make my heart smile and truth be told that does not happen often.
God bless you and yours.
Clara,
ReplyDeleteYour awesome. I just love watching your your tube video's.
God Bless you dear.
Blessings, GG
Dear Clara
ReplyDeleteI've really enjoyed your videos and learned a lot from your stories. What a great lady you are -- keep up the good work and God Bless.
Hi Clara,
ReplyDeleteI love your cooking lessons and stories about the depression. Your meals are very easy on the pocket and quick to make :)
Clara:
ReplyDeleteYou are a star! You need your own cooking show on television. We homeschool our two daughters and their favorite movie is Kit, which takes place during the Great Depression. You inspired me to make this Depression week at our house. We are making some of your meals and making our own laundry soap and other cleaners. You remind me of my recently passed grandmother who was 96. I remember her and her stories when I watch your videos. Thank you for your gift to us. Your generation truly is the "greatest generation".
Clara,
ReplyDeleteI LOVE your videos! My husband and I just finished our lunch of egg drop soup!
Thanks for sharing your memories!
Erika
Hello Clara. Thank you so much for sharing your story to the rest of the world. I hope you know how great inspiration you are to lots of people. Even here, in Holland.
ReplyDeleteMay God bless you.
Greats from Monique, The Netherlands
Love the show and recipes. I made peppers and eggs today! Thanks Clara.
ReplyDeleteI am checking in here as someone told me about the videos. My server is slow & I cannot see videos. I really want know your recipes. I live in Mexico & call myself Frugal.
ReplyDeleteYou are a sweetheart, I love your videos and will see that all of my friends hear about you!
ReplyDeleteWow Clara! Thank you so much! Keep the video's coming~ I am excited for your DVD.
ReplyDeleteClara, I love your cooking videos,and I REALLY love your stories. Your videos are a joy to watch. Love and prayers to you.
ReplyDeleteHi Clara,
ReplyDeleteYou remind me so much of my wonderful Grandma. She makes the best, most simple meals and she's taught me a few. Thank you for sharing your stories and your food! It's easy to see what a lovely lady you are!
God Bless!
Tina in Louisiana
Clara, I just wanted to say "thank you" for your charming videos, and great recipe ideas! My grandparents grew up in Chicago/Oak Park and would tell me stories of the struggles everyone had during the Depression and WWII.
ReplyDeleteListening to you is like hearing my Grandma again! Thank you for this--I look forward to many more videos from you!
XXOO,
Paige
Hi Clara,
ReplyDeleteMy name is Rich and my friend Phil and I love your videos! We are canoeing down the Mississippi River this summer and are always on the lookout for straightforward meals just like the ones on your site.
Keep up the good work and thanks for the help!
Rich
http://huckleberryfinn09.wordpress.com/
I watched your videos and you did a wonderful job! Your recipes sound really good...and I intend to try them soon!
ReplyDeleteTake care...
Goodevening Clara,
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderfull and interesting site you have!
Love the recepies;we could all use your wisdom in troubled times like these.
Friendly greetings from across the Ocean,
Richard Siwes,
The Netherlands.
You are pretty!
ReplyDeleteDear Clara,
ReplyDeleteI'm just an ole Country Boy, from South Florida, and now South Carolina. I just wanted to say Thank You for sharing these recipes and these memories and stories. The "Old Way" of doing things has largely disappeared - to our shame.
I am a guy that can Kill, Catch or grow what I eat, and I'm very proud of that. I can also cook, and cook well - the old way. My Grandmother and my mother (from Mississippi) who also lived through the depression taught me a lot. She was born in 1912 but passed in 1986. I enjoy doing things like making my own Butter, Buttermilk from cream. I love making sourdough Bread and white bread. I really get into making tons of jelly with grapes that I grow and also wild grapes, wild blackberries and wild plums. I'm starting to get into making Cheese now too. I LOVE doing these things - my wife thinks I'm crazy but puts up with it joyfully. She says "he may be baking bread or churning butter, but by God he isn't at a bar or drinking with the guys like other husbands!". I will say I do love getting out with my hunting buddies and bringing home wild game.
As a side note Clara, I lived in Sicily for 2 1/2 years while in the US Navy back in 78-80. My best friends were Sicilian and I was "adopted" by a local Sicilian family (Chiramonte) in a little town about 15 miles from Catania called Motta St. Anastasia. My social life was Sicilian and I learned how to cook some Sicilian food while I was there. But I love to eat it more! The food is so good there, it's impossible to describe. Arancini ARagu, Grappa's hot out of the oil, fresh Ricotta Cheese and hard bread...Wine from the local Vineyards of the town.
Thank you again for sharing the experiences and the culinary delights from long ago. Sometimes the "simpler times" were the better days.
God Bless,
Jim S (TheSwabbie)
Hello Clara,
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your recpies and life with all of us.
My own 89 yr old grandmother (who is about to become a great-great grandmother for the first time) lived through the Great Depression also. She is still a very active woman and I admire those who survived the Great Depression.
You and my grandmother have so much to share with all of us and I appreciate it more than you know. We can learn so much by just listening.
Thank again and God Bless.
Hi, Clara!
ReplyDeleteYou remind me so much of my immigrant Grandmother from Naples. Like you, she could make anything taste good. I can smell her cooking right now...
Dearest Clara,
ReplyDeleteI was named after my grandmother I never knew and her name was Clara as well. I am so excited to see you are a rising star. I thank God for women like you who are here to teach us what it was like in those days. These recipes will be invaluable in the years to come with this economy. God is using you as a vessel to show us we must go back to simpler things. May he continue to bless you and Christopher.
Clara you are an inspiration...
ReplyDeleteThis is so awesome! Keep it up!
ReplyDeleteClara! You are wonderful. Thanks so much for talking on camera and sharing what you know. So many need it now. God bless you real big! Liz
ReplyDeleteI remember as a little girl that I couldn't wait to learn how to cook from my grandma. Sadly to say, I never got the chance to learn from her. She passed away before I could get that chance. My mom didn't like to cook so when she did cook, she wanted me to stay out of the kitchen so she could hurry up and get out.
ReplyDeleteI want to learn how to cook. My family eats out a lot and the results of doing that, I'm overweight. I can cook some basic things like eggs, mac & cheese, but I would love to learn more.
I saw your story on Good Morning American and was so inspired by you, that I'm going to subscribe to your page and start watching your videos.
I can't wait to see what you have in store for other women who wants to feed their families good meals during this time in our economy.
On my way to watch one of your videos!
God bless!
Clara, I saw you on the GOOD MORNING AMERICA spot this morning and loved it. I just watched all the YouTube episodes you've done and throughly enjoyed them. I was pleased to know you grew up in Melrose Park, IL. That is where my husband grew up too. 1110 N. 16h Ave...........Dalpiaz was the family name, a family of ten children. I just made your Pepper and Eggs for a good Lenten friday lunch!!! I finally got it right after watching you do it. It is one of my husband's favorite. God Bless you, you remind me of my mother-in-law who is no longer with us.
ReplyDeleteDear Clara,
ReplyDeleteI saw a spot on Good Morning America this morning and just had to check out your site. I truly enjoyed your videos and stories. I was raised by my grandparents who were young during the Depression, so I have heard many stories growning up. I can't wait until your DVD and cookbook are available. Thanks so much for sharing a part of yourself with us.
God Bless.
I just found your YouTube videos on Great Depression Cooking and want you to know what a wonderful service you are doing. My parents grew up during the Great Depression and talked about their experiences often. My mother was born in 1921 and my dad in 1913. We always had a garden, chickens, etc while growing up in Central Texas. We butchered our own animals, make lye soap, and used an old wringer washer when washing clothes.
ReplyDeleteMy mother often cooked food similar to your examples in the video because of her Depression experience. The food are cost saving and filling!
Thank you so much for your stories. I look forward to using some of your recipes with my family. We are lucky to have a "grandmother" like you to share you experiences with us.
I just found your YouTube videos on Great Depression Cooking and want you to know what a wonderful service you are doing. My parents grew up during the Great Depression and talked about their experiences often. My mother was born in 1921 and my dad in 1913. We always had a garden, chickens, etc while growing up in Central Texas. We butchered our own animals, make lye soap, and used an old wringer washer when washing clothes.
ReplyDeleteMy mother often cooked food similar to your examples in the video because of her Depression experience. The food are cost saving and filling!
Thank you so much for your stories. I look forward to using some of your recipes with my family. We are lucky to have a "grandmother" like you to share you experiences with us.
Hi Clara,i'm just 72 lol but i take care of at least 14 in my family due to no jobs and such and I too can make it for less . I really enjoy seeing how far i can strech a buck and everybody loves my cooking I wish some of the young women I know would learn . When i watched you make the hot dogs and pototoes I had to laugh I have made that so many times no take out for me I like my own better keep them coming I still like to learn
ReplyDeletegood job
Dear Clara - I just saw your "Pasta with Peas" episode on YouTube, and I just want you to know how much I appreciate what you're doing here. I think I love you! Love the no nonsense simple, inexpensive and delicious recipes, love your stories.
ReplyDeleteGood Evening Clara,
ReplyDeleteMy brother emailed me your Youtube Depression cooking, I really enjoyed listening to you and watching you cook. From there I found my way to your blog! I wish you many, many more healthy years and look forward to coming back and visiting with you often. Thank you for sharing your stories and receipes with us.
Martha
Ciao Clara,
ReplyDeleteI'm a second generation Italian-American and my husband is first generation Italian-American. We were born not too far from Melrose Park. We are inspired by you, our hometown lady!
Auguri per un grande avvenire!
Roberto and Jessica
Hi Clara,
ReplyDeleteMy name is Javier I am 45 years old and I am currently going through a divorce, and I am on a tight budget. I find myself cooking for my three boys more often and they can really eat up a storm. I love your recepies which are wholesome and filling, but most of all inexpensive. I bumped into your cooking tips which I find sensational. Great work and God Bless.
Javier
Hello Clara,this is Sandor from Brasov, Romania.As I watched your video on Youtube, I realized that we are cooking that meal on regular basis, the potato-hotdog meal. Our parents cooked it for decades, and we are cooking it as well. The potato based meals are widely used in Romania, but the corn, rise as well. Good to know that other people in the world are cooking the same meal. God bless you sandor_paskucz@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteBrings tears to my eyes, I miss my Mom. She would have been your age . I love your stories, its like being home again. thanks
ReplyDeleteDiane
age 58 husband losing job and scared out of my mind but feel there is hope hearing your stories
My mother grew up during the Depression and has simular stories. I appreicate that Chris is documenting your stories, I wish I could convince my mother to do the same. She is from NJ but now lives near Keuka Lake, NY.
ReplyDeleteI've sent your videos on Youtube to everyone I know! I haven't enjoyed anything so much in a long time! The old way of cooking made so much sense, and I look forward to seeing the cookbook. What a great holiday present that will make for family and friends!
ReplyDeleteHi Cousin Clara,
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful to see you on YouTube! I fondly remember you from Melrose Park and recall you visiting my Grandma Franco.
Your recipes will surely come in handy in the future months. Good old-fashioned Italian cooking. Nothing like it.
Hi Cousin Clara,
ReplyDeleteI fondly remember you when you lived in Melrose Park and would visit my Grandma Franco. It is wonderful to see you on YouTube. You look great and the recipes are very down-to-earth old-fashioned Italian cooking just like Grandma did.
Hello Clara,
ReplyDeleteI'm looking at your cooking from Canada! We can always learn from our elders! Good job!
Louise
Clara, What a truly remarkable women you are. I find it so comforting watching your cooking segments. In so many ways you remind me of my Grandmother, who has now passed on. I only wish someone in our family had documented her stories and her recipes. Your family is very lucky to have you, and now so are all of us!! I am looking forward to trying your recipes and seeing more of your cooking segments. Keep up the good work and may God bless you and your family.
ReplyDeleteHi clara
ReplyDeletei love your story;it reminded me of my grandma .Great work clara.
HI Clara,
ReplyDeletewhat a treat to find your video's and blog. My mother was also born in 1915 so it makes me feel closer to her when I see you and hear your recipes!
I miss her terribly. She was also a wonderful cook and would always share with us stories about the depression era.
What a treasure you are.
I'll look forward to more recipes!
Clara,
ReplyDeleteWe love you and your videos..I will certainly purchase one of your DVD's.
I pray that I get to 93! God Bless You! Looking forward to being one of the millions in your Sunny kitchen :) Love the winking Owl cookie jar!
God Bless you! You are wonderful. I enjoy your videos very much. Thank you for them.
ReplyDeleteclara ,
ReplyDeletethank you for makeing these videos. i am 11 and i made your " pasta with peas" and it was GREAT!
i amde it my self and it was easy.
my mom LOVED it too. you are a blessing in these hard times.
yours truly , Anna
gerald,mo USA
Thank you Clara
ReplyDeleteI have not enjoyed the web like this in a long time. I love the recipes and plan to use them in South East Texas.
You remind me of my grandmother and her cajun recipes that are passed around. Keep up the good work. our young people need to know.
maryb_lonestarlady
Clara,
ReplyDeleteAs we live our lives we all seem to get sucked up into life, then something comes along that really slows us down and opens our eyes.
We become grateful for what we have in an instant, then all is lost as we become comfortable with our daily routines.
I try not to take things for granted and attempt to pick out 5 things I am grateful for everyday. At times, life does get a good grip on me and I lose focus.
Thankfully, God times it just right and slaps me in the face with a 93 year old lady who's been there, done that and in much worse circumstances than I.
I am 30 years old and just now learning to cook. I just may use some of your simple recipes to help save money, so I can pay off my college loans.
I should just be thankful for even having the chance and ability to obtain a degree. Thank you, for reminding me what I have and re-opening my eyes.
Again, thanks for the wake up call. I do not want to be a whiner :D.
LK
Clara -
ReplyDeleteYou have a beautiful name and such a sweet way of sharing your life that truly brightens up my day. Thank you SO much! I can't wait to see your new DVD.
Love,
Erin, San Antonio TX
I love you,Clara ! You remind me so much of my mom with her Depression Era cooking and entertaining stories.God bless you for doing your DVD for the public.
ReplyDeleteClara,I am from southeast ohio with appalachain roots. These recipes sound good. Cooking with you would be like cooking with my grandmother. She always told stories while she was cooking like you do. She passed away at the age of 98 1/2, about 4 yrs. ago. She is now cooking in God's heavenly kitchen! Watching you reminds me of her.
ReplyDeletea
ReplyDeleteI just wanted to say thank you for the wonderful videos on YouTube. The recipes sound delicious, nutritious and relatively simple to make (those tend to be the best recipes in my humble opinion).
ReplyDeleteThe videos are great not only for the recipes, but also for the wonderful stories and anecdotes that you inject into them. I find myself watching them over and over again just to hear your pearls of wisdom. You are truly a national treasure and we are truly blessed to have gotten to know you and know about you through your videos.
I was raised with my grandmother (sadly, she passed away in December, 2006). I used to love to listen to her stories and wish that I had either written them down or recorded them in some way of fashion as much of the details have been lost with time and I no longer can turn to her and ask her to tell me them again. This establishes an indelible legacy for you and your family to enjoy now and forever more.
I truly hope that you continue to produce new videos and/or DVDs for the rest of us to enjoy as well. Keep up the wonderful work and may God Bless you and yours.
With Warmest Regards,
Ted C.
Harrodsburg, KY, USA
Clara
ReplyDeleteI have watched your videos and I too make depression meals but never knew it. The peas with the pasta, the egg drop soup, the only difference is no potatoes, we use small pasta. The potatoes with hot dogs. All these things I learned from my mother-in-law who is no longer with us. I enjoy your videos so much. Just watched you and your grand-daughters make Christmas Fig cookies. Also love to hear your stories.
Just wanted to let you know how much I enjoy watching you cook. God bless.
Dear Clara, I'm watching your videos with tears streaming down my face. You bring back so many wonderful memories of my mother standing at her stove cooking the very same meals that you are preparing. I close my eyes & I see my mother in her apron making the fig cookies at Christmas time and yes she also laid out all the cookies on a white sheet on top of her bed. With these videos, you are giving your family the most wonderful gift you could ever give them ~~ beautiful memories that will be with them forever. Even your stories of family life when you were a young girl are similar to the ones my mother used to tell us. My mother passed away two years ago at 94. I have the memories and fortunately her recipes. I've never made the fig cookies myself but watching you and your grandaughters making them has inspired me to make them with my daughter. My mother's recipe is very similar to your's right down to using lard in the dough.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for making my heart smile tonite. I have your website saved in my favorites & I look forward to watching more of your videos. God Bless you Clara!
Ms. Clara,
ReplyDeleteYou are the only Grandmother I've ever known! Thanks for your recipes and your sparkly eyes. We have Peas and Pasta at least once a month in my house now because of you! I can't wait for the cook book. God Bless You more than he already has. I'm your fan forever.
Gina
Clara, I just received your DVD in the mail and cannot wait to start cooking. I especially enjoyed your story about the lousy boss. I know what you mean. Thank you for sharing! All my best.
ReplyDeleteDear Clara,
ReplyDeleteMy Grandmother was from Sicily, she was born in 1899. I truly loved her and her style of cooking and I try so hard to imitate her. You remind me so much of her. It truly is refreshing to see and hear you. The children of today are really missing out on such a wonderful simple life. I wish we could all have a Clara in our family. You are truly a blessing to so many today.Thank you so much for your time and energy you share.
Most of my training to cook was from my Grandma who was born in 1880 in Germany. We both lived on the same Homestead so I would watch her cook the recipe so I knew how to do it since she didn't have the recipes written down. Many were a hand full or a cup full of something. I heard all my childhood of the Great Depression from my father as he was born in 1912. I am so glad I got this education. The thing now is that people have to pay attention to the new food size packaging as it is smaller so may mess up a recipe unless used by measurements instead of cans of.
ReplyDeleteI love watching you cook. You remind me of my grandmother. I made the poorman's meal, my family loved it. I am so thankful your grandson made these videos to share with us. God Bless You! Maria New Jersey
ReplyDeleteClara, Thank you for sharing your life and recipes with us,you are a beautiful person.Because of your wisdom and goodness alot of people will be helped through this depression,you will always be in my prayers. Yours Truly, Josephine
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