Thriftlady's wartime experiment

Sarahsaver

Re. the community spirit thing, I was at a blogging conference lately and something very interesting stayed with me from that event. The internet has become in some places like 'going down the pub for a chat' or 'gossiping over the garden wall'. This is what's going on here. My mum is coming to stay next weekend and I will try and get her on t'internet;) See what else she remembers about the wartime food/childhood.

redmandarin

thriftlady wrote: »

I saw a couple of women wading through a house in Sheffield on the news last night. They were having a laugh over the mess and damage and saying that they had no reason to be upset because they hadn't lost a loved one. It immediately made me think about the spirit that won the war

Recovering Spendaholic your diagnosis is right I didn't let it cook long enough, I promise I didn't stir it though. I'll have another go.

Isn't it a shame that it takes a crisis for people to become more community spirited? Most people nowadays don't feel able to talk to strangers - they have to be introduced by someone they know first. I often speak to people I don't know, when in a queue or at a bus stop for eg., but I tend to find that younger people think I'm a nuts and don't really respond much, but elderly people chat back to me. Times and attitudes have changed!

Re: the cinder toffee - I think you're right - longer cooking is the answer. My nana taught me that when you're making toffee, the cooking time is important. The longer you cook it, the more it evaporates. To test the stage it's at, drop a little into a saucer of cold water and when its cold, (careful it's very hot at first) try to roll it into a ball with your fingers. If it's very soft you've got fudge! Cook it longer and it'll be medium soft and you've got chewy toffee. Cook for longer still and it'll be brittle and you've got hard toffee. Don't cook it too long though as the sugar will start to burn and it'll be ruined!

I'm sick of being on a diet - I want some cinder toffee!

Justamum

recovering_spendaholic wrote: »

The honeycomb that I made was dry and crunchie- I think you may not have boiled it for long enough before adding the bicarb. It should bubble away on a low light for about 5 minutes and it is really important not to put a spoon anywhere near the mixture or it will not be crispy.

Thanks very much for this info. I made it once ages ago and was very disappointed that it wasn't like the inside of crunchies. I think I was stirring like a mad thing all the time though and didn't let it cook long enough. It was a horrible, sticky, gooey mess which ended up in the bin!

thriftlady_2

I'm just pondering what to have for tea tomorrow:think: I was thinking of liver, but the kids have had to eat mackerel today, so I'm not sure liver tomoorrow will be too well received I might do something with Spam. I know it's processed meat filled with additives, but we really like it . I do this pilaffy thing with diced Spam, peas, carrots, sweetcorn and spring onion, a dash of soy sauce and rice that always goes down well. I think I'll do that but with barley instead of rice and without the sweetcorn. I think soy sauce was available.

Or, I might try Spam fritters if anyone can tell me how to make them without deep frying or eggs

Our rations are holding up pretty well. I've used all the bacon and ham though. The last of the ham is in tomorrow's pack ups (I'm ashamed to say I nibbled quite a lot whilst I was making them oops). There's plenty of cheese and we haven't used our eggs yet, we'll probably have some for breakfast tomorrow.

I'm beginning to think about when rationing ends, I'm missing some exotic fruit (fresh pineapple and grapes). We're having plenty of strawberries and some raspberries but I'm giving most of them to the kids. I'm also missing those quick and easy modern staples like pasta and tomato sauce, stir fries and proper curries. My hm yogurt is another thing I find myself wishing I had for a quick pud for the kids. They love their milk puds but sometimes I want something a bit more instant and it's a great way to get things like rhubarb and gooseberries down them (pureed and mixed with the yogurt.)

Still, mustn't moan 'be like a kettle and sing' I'm having an easy time of it compared with a real wartime housewife exhausted from voluntary work, fire watching etc -mind you she wouldn't be missing yogurt and pasta.

Oh, btw DS1 has lost a tooth thanks to the honeycomb :rotfl: Don't worry it was one that was supposed to come out, but it wasn't loose till he'd had the toffee.

Errata

Oh, btw DS1 has lost a tooth thanks to the honeycomb :rotfl: Don't worry it was one that was supposed to come out, but it wasn't loose till he'd had the toffee

It's not called cinder toffee for nothing. Good job you're not doing the whole WW2 thing, doubt if he'd be pleased if the Tooth Fairy left 1 1/2 p for it !
(or however much 6d is in funny money)

jennybb

Thriftlady, have you got Jocasta Innes Pauper's cookbook? (I can't imagine you haven't ) I think it's from there I did venetian style liver - it was cooked with onions, but slowly. I had a bad childhood experience with liver and hadn't eaten it for years, but did this recently and it was good - DD had never had liver before and really enjoyed it - it's almost sweet with the onions.

I'll have a look now and check recipe

Keep up the good work. :T

thriftlady_2

Errata aagh! I'd forgotton about the tooth fairy I'm off to find the sixpence that I keep for the Christmas pud

Jennybb yes, got that one of course and I love the recipe and I'll probably do the liver like that next week some time -I just want to give them time to recover from the mackerel:rotfl: They all ate it without complaint btw -if you plug away at these things they just accept it and eat it.

My mouse seems to be a bit sticky...... mmm that cinder toffee gets everywhere... Night all.

thriftlady_2

Morning all

Menu for today

Breakfast - porridge with golden syrup and toast

packed lunches -cheese and cucumber sandwiches (egg for OH), eggless fruit cake, strawberries
my lunch - leftover :spam: and barley , apple

tea- sausages, mash, veg and gravy
pudding- undecided as yet, will keep you posted


I don't know what happened to day 11, it seems to have disapparated, anyway here's a picture of Spam and barley pot

thriftmonster

Thriftlady - when I make batter I just use SR flour and soda water - no eggs. And I'm sure you would have had soda water - in one of those old fashioned soda siphons - my Gran always had one on the sideboard.

Yategirl

nicki - I love that sign!! must get one up in my kitchen!!!!!!