Thriftlady's wartime experiment

fizzel81

That pie loks great, im really hungry now looking at that

daisyroots_2

Reading this thread has reminded me of what adults told me about rationing during WW2. I remember our Domestic Science teacher explaining that weeks before she had a family birthday coming up, she would try to "lend" things like butter and sugar, to family and neighbours, and ask that they be returned in the birthday week. That way she'd have enough to make a birthday cake. Also, adults often donated their sweet ration to children, and people who didn't care for a particular item would regularly swap their rations with someone else. I guess people had to be neighbourly and co-operate, interdependence enriched everyone - something else we have lost in our more egocentric, individualistic society.

Here's a short letter, enclosed in a parcel, from my Dad in London, to my Mum in Leicester in 1944, which illustrates my point.

Sweetest - Bill's parcel of stuff has arrived. Contents - 5 yards "curtain net" (enclosed), 2 hand-towels (checked and flecked with orange, not bad to look at), 2 pillowcases and a green coarse cotton quite charming tablecloth, which I propose to swop with Lizzie's similar blue one, as Lizzie wants green and our scheme is blue. OK?

Also I am giving Millie our Williams Bros. dividend checks, as she gets me my rations each week, cleans up the flat and so forth. Enclosed also is the bit of sheepskin for Buster. More later - I'm going to see Victor sarternoon.

I love you my sweetness, and hope to prove same ere long. Kisses and everything


That pie looks so good, thriftlady, I'm well impressed!

MrsB2100

Wow! What a fantastic thread. I've just spent the last 3 hours read every post! The recepies look fantastic - Rasied Pork Pie is going to be added to my menu now. What a wonderful way to save money and eat less! Thank you - I'll be nominating you for post of the month!

fizzel81

thriftlady wrote: »

Recipe for Raised Pork Pie

You need an 8 inch cake tin with a loose bottom.

Make the hot-water crust pastry:

Melt 4 oz of cooking fat or dripping in a saucepan with ½ pint of water.
Pour onto 1 lb sifted plain flour and 1 tsp salt.
Mix well and keep warm.

Make the filling:

Mix together
1 lb of sausagemeat
6oz finely chopped bacon
1 grated apple (my addition)
2 medium onions, finely chopped
1 tbsp of whatever fresh herbs you have (I shall use parsley) or ½ tsp of dried herb.
Salt and pepper -I add some mace too because I like it savoury pies.

Assemble the pie

Knead the pastry until smooth and pliable. Roll out two thirds of it to line the bottom and sides of the tin. Fill with filling.
Roll out the rest of the pastry and press on top of pie (wet the edges).
Make a cut in the lid for steam to escape. Use leftover pastry to make leaves etc if you like.
Brush with beaten egg if you can spare one -I don't bother.

Bake at 180C/Gas 4 for 2 hours. Serve cold.

Adapted slightly from The Victory Cookbook by Marguerite Patten.


I'm going to make another recipe from this book which is one of my regulars -Eggless Chocolate buns. It needs some marge or butter, but I think it will work with oil (I'm using a bit of oil as part of my cooking fat ration). The kids need something for their lunch boxes and they make a good weekend treat.
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.html?p=2333718&postcount=3

would it be possible to make this without a loose bottom cake tin?

sorry silly question i know

thriftlady_2

Fizzel, I'm not sure you'd be able to get it out of the tin. Mine actually stuck quite badly to the sides (hence the crack). I didn't grease the tin so maybe that would help.

Sandy, yes I think the choclate spread could easily become blancmange. Use cornflour instead of plain. It certainly has a blancmangey texture rather than a Nutella texture. I wasn't that keen on it (A good thing ) but the kids love it.

Penelope Penguin You can indeed be my Land Girl, excellent idea :T

Penelope_Penguin

thriftlady wrote: »

Penelope Penguin You can indeed be my Land Girl, excellent idea :T

Hoorah! DH says he'll come and assist with you pigeon problem, too

Penny. x

sproggi

fizzel81 wrote: »

would it be possible to make this without a loose bottom cake tin?

sorry silly question i know

You could try lining the tin with greaseproof paper, just remember that it goes brittle, so lift out carefully.

Sproggi

fizzel81

umm think me meal planner idea for tomorrow will change, i have some greaseproof paper so will be giving this ago,

need to go and edit above post typing one handed again

Penelope_Penguin

Just listening to Gardeners' Question Time on Radio 4. They're recreated a WW2 garden at Sparsholt Colledge in Hampshire. They say that people would plant veg on top of their Anderson Shelter, to maximise their growing area.

They have a tobacco bed - leaves could be cured and then swapped with neighbours.

It's repeated on Wednesday at 3pm, and is available on *Listen Again* for 7 days.

Penny. x

Boomdocker

What a joy to read this thread. The idea and recipes are interesting Thriftlady. The stories are just amazing to hear. Daisy those letters are so interesting, sad yet funny and a little cheeky. I love the way your Dad wrote, they are such a delight.