This Forgotten Blue Plate Special Meal Was A Vintage Diner Staple

Vintage meals, especially from the Great Depression era, can be hit or miss. Dishes like the 1950s classic Jell-O and cheese appetizers might seem off-putting at first, especially for those of us who didn't appreciate them as kids (though perhaps they're worth a second look now). But some recipes, like macaroni with tomatoes, can be a blast from the past that becomes your new favorite dinner.

Macaroni with tomatoes is exactly what it sounds like. Cooked macaroni is combined with stewed canned tomatoes or a tomato sauce and served up. It can be customized with other ingredients — sometimes it's topped with bread crumbs and baked, while others like to add cheese — though in diners of yore it may have only had the two basic ingredients. That's because this classic diner fare originated during the Great Depression as an inexpensive meal, meant to feed hungry Americans who had fallen on hard times. Pasta and canned tomatoes were cheap, so they were ideal for stretching a food budget.

The exact history of macaroni with tomatoes is murky, with some accounts placing its beginnings in the American South and Appalachian regions. But we do know that it was a common sight in Depression-era diners as a blue plate special. While this old-school diner food isn't popular today, it's still a delicious meal that can easily feed a hungry family. Even if you don't need to pinch your pennies, try it out and judge the results for yourself.

But what does a "blue plate special" mean? Blue plate specials were daily meal offerings that could be served quickly and easily. They got their name from the inexpensive blue plates they were served on and may have originated well before the Great Depression, with some records indicating an 1892 debut at busy railway stops.

Trains only stopped at stations for a few minutes, so restaurants along railway lines needed a way to feed hungry diners who had very limited time to eat before their train left again, and thus the practice was born. Supposedly, it started in Fred Harvey's Harvey House restaurant chain, and in time, its popularity spread blue plates to diners across the nation.

As for what was on those blue plates, it wasn't just macaroni upgraded with canned tomatoes. Blue plate specials varied widely, but were hallmarked by filling, inexpensive meals featuring a protein, several side dishes, and a drink. The blue plates themselves eventually fell out of style and the term itself isn't very common today. But you can still bring back the macaroni and tomato blue plate special by making your own version at home — but maybe with a few more ingredients.

@stay_beautiful_10

My aunt originally made this recipe years ago and after measuring everything to ensure consistency in taste,it has been a favorite since at countless dinners,events, barbecues and holidays.Its quick and easy and only with 4 ingredients needed.Great for busy days when you need a hassle free meal. #simpledinner #simplerecipe #kidapproved #macandcheese #dinner #familymeals

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