Clara Cannucciari remembers the economic chaos of the 1930s, so there's no way she's going to let the current credit crunch get her down. Her YouTube series Great Depression Cooking began when her grandson Christopher started filming her cooking in her kitchen, and now she's a genuine celebrity chef, with her own DVD coming out soon.

Clara's recipes are cheap but good quality. There's no junk food here but her lean meats, pasta and veggies are all easy to prepare. Watching Clara in action could be a great way for students and cash-strapped young families to learn how to cook on a budget. Or you could just sit back and listen to her charming childhood reminiscences - you won't regret it.

Via Chow.