This hundred-year-old ad appeared in a cookbook that was a supplement to The Daily Argus-Leader (Sioux Falls, South Dakota) newspaper. This grocery store advertisement suggests how much has changed (and not changed) over the years. I seldom have unexpected guests who would expect to be fed; and, if I did, I probably won’t serve them canned goods.
I can still buy Del Monte canned goods – though Del Monte may no longer sell salmon or berries. I think that they still sell prunes, but they are no longer sold in a can.
How interesting! I have never been aware of canned prunes.
I never have either. The label on the can in the picture says “dri pak.” That suggests that dried prunes were canned, and that they were not in a syrup.
Goodness! That does seem odd that they were dried and canned. Wouldn’t you like to find one and shake it up?
They’re probably all long gone, but it would be fun to find a can of dri pak prunes. Probably to cooks a hundred years ago, it was obvious what a dri pak prune was, but it sure would help me now if an explanation was included on the can label.
We ate a lot of canned vegetables growing up….
Canned vegetables used to be a lot more popular. I tend to think that they are a relatively inexpensive way to get healthy vegetables, but today fresh vegetables seem to be more popular. Not sure, but frozen vegetables may also be less popular than they once were.
Always hoping not to get unexpected company. I usually don’t keep much food in the house as the store is just down the road.
If we get unexpected company, we might order a pizza or so out for dinner.
I forgot to add that during the bad flooding from Harvey, I told friends and neighbors that could come to my house, the highest on the street, if need. Then I realized I had nothing to feed them. Luckily, no one needed to come.
🙂 It’s good that no one needed to come – both because the flooding wasn’t bad enough to force them out of their homes, and because you didn’t have food to feed them.
Haha! Imagine serving guests with tinned food! Unless heavily disguised….
You don’t think that it would be appreciated?? 🙂
😏
I love old ads and have a few:)
It’s nice to hear that you like my posts that contain old ads. I also enjoy them.
These old ads are so great. I like that nudge of reminding folks to have something on hand for guests. 😊
It’s always good to have a little extra food in the house. During these cold and snowy winter months I try to stock up so I don’t need to go out if the weather is bad.
What is not to love about these old advertisements – just a great history lesson!
It’s fascinating how old advertisements can provides so many insights into the times.
Prunes and custard my mother used to serve once a week we used to line our pits around the sides of our plates and sing a little ditty…
What a fun story! My general sense is that prunes were more popular years ago than what they are today.
I think do too I still like prunes my hubby doesn’t so I don’t have them so often now 🙂
I like them, too; and make them from time to time.
I enjoy seeing these old ads. They do give a great glimpse into every day life. But I wonder, did people just show up and expect to be fed and you’d be embarrassed about not being able to feed them?
Yes, my sense is that guests might just stop by, and anticipate that they would be invited to stay for a meal if it was near a meal-time. Of course, the hosts could always just stop by their guests home in a few weeks and expect them to reciprocate.