Thriftlady's wartime experiment

thriftlady_2

Nice one Chipps Actually the amount of meat on the ration is pretty generous. I was looking at recipes which use just 4 oz of meat in order to stretch it so that you could have meat every day. But we're quite used to having 3-4 meatless or fish meals a week. I suppose people expected meat at every meal. My grandfather, for example would have refused to eat any meal my grandmother dared to serve without meat. I don't think a modern day vegetarian would have found it too hard.

thriftlady_2

dianadors wrote: »

When I was little, my greatgrandad often used to make me his favorite wartime dish - Milk Sops. Break bread into pieces and pop into a bowl (I think only white bread would work). Add a spoonful of sugar and hot milk, stir and eat. I used to love it.

Bread and milk -my kids love milky puds -I wonder if they'd like this ? I might give it a go -It would make OH sick though :rolleyes:

thriftmonster

Alison Utley mentions popcorn in Recipes from a Farmhouse and that was Derbyshire in the 1890s - so it probably was available in the 1940s - although maybe there were import restrictions - Let your shopping save our shipping etc.

Errata

thriftlady wrote: »

Thanks Night Owl and all the others who've nominated me :A

I am getting a bit worried about the butter situation now. We have about twos thirds of a packet now and I'm not at all sure it will last. Was going to give the kids bread, butter and jam for their after school snack but I think it'll be just bread and jam or honey.

It wasn't unknkown for some crafty people to mix a bit of lard in the butter/marge when they made sandwiches, or butter only one of the slices of bread. It was always spread extremely thinly and known in our house as 'bread and scrape' :eek: .

lil_me

With the butter I think we'd be fine, I only use it on toast and in cooking. If I'm putting jam on toast I don't use butter, I don't use it in sandwiches etc.

Well done so far Thriftylady, I think my family would move out if I even tried it :rotfl:

daisyroots_2

thriftlady, we used to get Bread and Dripping when I was a kid, and butter still rationed. You mentioned you had some dripping, so why not try that ? If none of the lovely brown "jelly" you could add marmite perhaps (they definitely had that and I don't think it was rationed) and it may taste better with a sprinkle of salt. I used to love B&D, and also the bread in hot milk with sugar described by dianadors - thanks, I'd totally forgotten about that !

daisyroots_2

Here's another extract from my Dad's letters, this is probably the first he sent after she left for Leicester. What fascinates me is the juxtaposition of the romantic and the practical. The nappies would have been the terry towelling variety, of course!


I miss you dwefful too, if it comes to that. I miss your bottom most of all - it was so round and slapworthy. I was thinking of the very few occasions when I might have kissed or otherwise attended to you and failed to do so. "If only I had her here" I thought "I'd make up for it" And so I would indeed. You have spoilt me for the bachelor life - I get no kick at all from it.

Dad and I have painted the stairs, shelves and lavatory seat. We have whacked the carpets and will lay them on the stairs when same are dry.

I have written to Bob Buel, the L'pool Co-op (re dividend) Miss Gross (re rent, paint, roof, dustbin etc.) to the employment agency and to Mrs Hooper of Yeovil who offered you a room. I have sent you £2 by regd. post, 1 parcel of nappies ditto and 1 parcel of nappies by letter post. Anything else you need? I want you terribly already my sweetheart love. Mum looks after me well, but it isn't the same any more. It is like May 1943 all over again. Love, love and love to you and some for (me, daisy)

thriftlady_2

thriftmonster wrote: »

Alison Utley mentions popcorn in Recipes from a Farmhouse and that was Derbyshire in the 1890s - so it probably was available in the 1940s - although maybe there were import restrictions - Let your shopping save our shipping etc.

Yes, she does doesn't she ? I have that book too and I'd remembered the popcorn references so was hopeful.

My mum remembers having peanut butter during the war which she hated but she loved bread and dripping. My dripping only has a little of the jelly at the bottom. I think the best sort is from your own roast. I like the marmite and dripping idea, but think only ds1 will like that.

I've bought the kid's sweet ration.They(shop-not kids) wouldn't let me buy 3 oz of sweets, smallest amount I could get was 100g :rolleyes: So I chose 100g of rhubarb abd custards, 100g of acid drops and 100g of cola bottles. I've weighed them out 3 oz each- doesn't come to much (good )Next time I'll choose some other old fashioned sweets like barley sugar and sherbert lemons.

Love your Dad's letters Daisy:)

Errata

Bread and dripping was totally wonderful. The reason it's no longer eaten is because it's very, very, very bad for you !

Primrose

What a fascinating thread, especially for those of us who actually remember wartime deprivations and rationing. It should be compulsory reading for all youngsters today, and a recommended exercise for all families to undertake together for one month. It would be an eye-opener for many young people, especially those who rely on today's frozen and ready chilled meals.