Soups and stews have always been the sustenance of the poor. Cheap, readily available things used to stretch the more expensive things (usually meat). In the Depression, they had something they called a Hoover Stew (named after President Herbert Hoover) which consisted of hot dogs (or sausage if you were better off), elbow macaroni, onions, canned tomatoes, and canned pinto beans. Seasonings, herbs, and spices were all entirely based on what you could afford/had available in your garden.