10/18/2026
🍲 HARD TIMES RECIPES — GOOD FOOD ON A SMALL BUDGET
Old-Fashioned Acadian Pea & Potato Soup
Long before convenience foods and modern supermarkets, Maritime families learned to make the most of simple ingredients.
Dried peas were a staple in many Acadian kitchens. They kept well, provided nourishment, and could be turned into a filling meal with a few vegetables and a pot of water.
Traditionally, salt pork was often added. But with today's grocery prices, we've adapted this old favourite to keep the cost down.
❤️ THE RECIPE — Makes 4–6 servings
Ingredients:
2 cups dried yellow split peas
2 medium potatoes, diced
2 carrots, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
8–10 cups water
1 tablespoon cooking oil (optional)
Salt, pepper and a pinch of summer savoury
Directions:
Rinse the split peas thoroughly. Place all ingredients in a large pot and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer gently for approximately 50–70 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the peas are tender and the soup is thick. Add water as needed and season to taste.
Serve hot with a slice of homemade bread. Available at Sam's Grocery for $1.99 a loaf.
💰 WHAT ABOUT TODAY'S COST?
Using economical grocery ingredients, approximately $4–$5 worth can make a whole pot, or roughly $1 per serving or less. Actual prices will vary, and bread is extra.
A LITTLE HISTORY
In 1933, during the Great Depression, Statistics Canada recorded a weekly staple-food basket costing approximately $7.03. That sounds incredibly inexpensive today, but wages and purchasing power were very different.
The lesson from these old kitchens wasn't simply about cheap food. It was about making every ingredient count.
Sometimes the simplest meals are worth bringing back.
❤️ From Sam's Grocery in Canning.
