What eras inspire you?

siws1

Meritaten, My Mam used to make these too - directly on the top of the AGA! Unfortunately her recipe died with her although knowing my Mam she probably didn't even have a recipe. I know exactly what you mean by them though as they were gorgeous. If you ever do come across the recipe please post it as I am the same the ones I have made have not come close but they definately didn't have yeast in but could well have had bicarb and vinegar or baking powder.

Muppet81

The 1940s for me. I find those living life on the Home Front inspirational. They were so brave and stalwart under terribly difficult conditions.


I love to use wartime recipes. I love to try to use make do and mend ideas. I love the music and dance of the time.


I also love to enjoy some of the trappings of today which we are lucky enough to have. Just good to temper them at times with more down to earth and basic things and ideals.


OH and I have had a couple of Christmases where we tried our very best to eat, entertain, give gifts and dress as near to the 40s as we could. They were probably the best Christmases we have spent together. Simple gifts, simple tree and decorations, simple but lovely food, fun games and the fab fashions from the 40s (we are 40s re enactors in our spare time). Even the music we listened to was all from the 20s, 30s and 40s, I created a playlist on my ipod (very 40s ;-) ) and played it through an old speaker for effect.


Friends who joined us loved it to and said it was nice to escape the commercialism for a day.

monnagran

I was born just before the war so the forties moulded me. I only have to watch an old black and white film about the war and I am instantly transported to my childhood.
People say how awful it must have been to be a child then but we knew no different, and we were all in the same boat. No-one had sweets or icecream or toys. We all spent nights in the shelter with bombs raining down round us. I can still remember what I thought ice cream would taste like, for some reason I imagined that it would be sweet but with a texture like hard-pressed powder. I was so surprised to discover that it was wet!

I still find it difficult to get rid of anything that might have a bit of wear left in it, or bits of it could be used to make something else.

Living through a period like this fashions you for life. And gives you a store of stories.

x

meritaten

siws1 wrote: »

Meritaten, My Mam used to make these too - directly on the top of the AGA! Unfortunately her recipe died with her although knowing my Mam she probably didn't even have a recipe. I know exactly what you mean by them though as they were gorgeous. If you ever do come across the recipe please post it as I am the same the ones I have made have not come close but they definately didn't have yeast in but could well have had bicarb and vinegar or baking powder.

I read your last sentence and an actual shiver went down my spine! bicarb and vinegar! of course! the vinegar activates the bicarb! ooooohhhhh I wonder if that's it! I remember she never let the batter stand - because for ordinary pancakes or Yorkshires she always let it stand an hour or so.

I will have another go tomorrow and use a splash of vinegar with a basic drop scone recipe and reduce the amount of milk.......and I would think she would use SR flour too.
am excited now - fingers crossed for me please!:)

Nan never wrote a recipe down - except for her Christmas cake - and reading it is like she is talking to me in her kitchen. Trying to re-create her recipes is an adventure!