WWII Chow Memories

Got to have discipline ..have you considered sending the wife too?

 

Got to have discipline ..have you considered sending the wife too?

God no, the last thing I need is for her to perfect her RSM act.

 

Hey Capt. Thanks for the reply. Look through it and pick two or three things that you find interesting and pass them on to me if you dont mind. I would need the complete manual name and date as well. Your choice! Any help would be appreciated. Either a safety tip, cooking method, recipes are always good, pull quote etc. Shoot me an email at thedeckchef@hotmail.com if you have any questions. Thanks - Kent

Hi Kent,

Manual now broken down into three smaller pdf and emailed to you, hope they get through.

CS

PS If anyone else wants a copy of the Manual of Military Catering Part 1 (1945) then give me a squeek and will email you the 3 pdfs.

H

 

They had S.O,S. then too, even had it in the 1960's/1970's when I was in the Army.

 

they had s.o,s. Then too, even had it in the 1960's/1970's when i was in the army.
?sos = **** on a shingle

 

?sos = **** on a shingle

Right!

LAist: Shit on a Shingle & Other Things You Can't Believe You Eat

 

Right!

LAist: Shit on a Shingle & Other Things You Can't Believe You Eat

Heh heh. My mate (who was a fishead) used to refer to poached eggs on toast as 'chicken on a raft.'

 

Hi Kent
My Royal British Legion Branch produced a small book last year in aid of our Poppy Appeal. It's called Ration Book Recipes with a collection derived from the memories of our WW2 Veterans and their wives. At 2USD (equivalent) it raised a tidy sum especially since a local pub put on a 1940's food week.

It reminded me that in 1941 the One Week Ration per person was; 4oz Bacon or Ham, 8oz Sugar, 2oz Butter, 10cents-worth of Fresh Meat, 2oz Tea, 1oz Cheese, 2oz Jam (Jello?), and the equivalent of 1 small tin of Spam (or similar tinned item, as available).

Some of the recipes require a good stretch of imagination. For instance, the ingredients listed for Mocked Goose are a half-pound of Potatoes, 2 large Cooking Apples, 4oz Cheese, half teaspoon Dried Sage, 3/4 pint Vegetable Stock, Salt & Pepper, 1 tablespoon Flour. Serves 4 people.

The book contains 42 recipes and I thought of copying a couple for your delectation, but copyright problems prevented this. However, we had a couple of copies on display when I was selling poppies today, so I purchased a spare copy. If you're interested, I'll mail it to your home if I can find your address on White Pages.
Happy munching
Les

 

and the equivalent of 1 small tin of Spam (or similar tinned item, as available


This brings me to something I've wondered about for some time...

I was always told tinned imported meat was OFF the Ration....but just lately I've been getting a lot of references to it BEING rationed.

Which is correct - or did the situation change at some point hence the confusion, down to different experiences?

(P.S. Spam, real spam....is awful! Dedicated Plumrose chopped ham with pork fan, me!)

 

This brings me to something I've wondered about for some time...

I was always told tinned imported meat was OFF the Ration....but just lately I've been getting a lot of references to it BEING rationed.

Which is correct - or did the situation change at some point hence the confusion, down to different experiences?

(P.S. Spam, real spam....is awful! Dedicated Plumrose chopped ham with pork fan, me!)

There were a lot of tinned items (not too many, supplies varied, and much went to the "Black" Market - not ethnic of course ) that weren't 'rationed' but were not liberally available. These carried a "Points" tarrif. At that time we were allocated 18 Points a week to utilise in the purchase of these items. I was trying to simplify the intricacies of this for our trans-atlantic cousin by just quoting a tin of Spam as a for instance. (The road to hell is paved with good intentions - should have known better, urgh!)

 

There were inevitably a few anomalies to the Ration system.

Prior to being called up in October '42 I used to commute daily between Luton and Kings Cross and as everyone piled out at Kings Cross, one could see an almost permanent queue outside a small kiosk.

Human nature being what it is, if the queue was not too long I always joined in to see what goodies were on offer.

For some unknown reason Peanut Butter had missed being on the list of "Pointa only" and proved a welcome addition to my family's diet. Lucozade tablets were also to be found and on the very rare occasion a No.8 battery was also available, strictly one to a customer.

Happy days

Ron

 

Hi Susan
Sorry I wasn't around to welcome you earlier.-_-
There was a similar foodie thread opened in 21.10.2009 by Kent Whittaker. I've copied his opening post below, for which you may be interested in doing a search.
Happy posting
Les

(quote)WWII Chow Memories
Hello, my name is Kent Whitaker and I am working on my new book, Im a cookbook author, that combines WWII era recipes from military sources and civilians with memories from WWII veterans about their best food... or worst food eaten in the military.

I would love to include more memories, brief in nature - a paragraph to a few paragraphs, from veterans from Allied countries. I have only a few from British veterans, a few from Canada, several from Australia, and of course I have many from the USA where I live and can interview people.

I would also love to hear from cooks, or even relatives sharing a story from a loved one in their honor. Any help would be appreciated. My wife and I hope to increase our giving to our local VA clinic and hopefully one day help out with scholarships to our sons college where he is a cadet.

My wife and I are both from military families, our child serves as do our nephews. We thank you in advance for any help, and of course your service.

Please email me any questions to
thedeckchef@hotmail.com

Thanks again - Kent Whitaker(quote)

 

Hi again Susan
Thought this might interest you. I have a complimentary spare copy if so.
Les

 

Kent -
I shall offer this "meal" we had served while we were in Algeria in 1943 and of which I wrote for the BBc War series in 2004 - with a proviso that you do not make this stuff - you do not eat this stuff under any duress - OR of so - I cannot be held liable for your Medical and Hospital charges under the new and improved Obama scheme - and even though a seniors discount may apply - in other words " I shall take the 5th "..and all the other 14 !

""-- 3 --
It was decreed from on high in the Army Kitchens in the U.K. that we would enjoy the delights of a new development which had the main benefit of conserving space in the Merchant Navy ships to allow the storage of even more ammunition and guns in the sea passage from home. We would therefore have served a sufficient quantity of "Dehydrated Meat", true enough - this was "enjoyed " at least, the Orderly Officer heard NO complaints, but then he was a very big, burly, South African International Rugby player who never did get many complaints ! Major Christopher Newton-Thompson.M.C. died in May 2002.
Later that evening, when the sun was wending it's way towards Morocco, it was noticed that our showcse latrine was quite busy and very soon became a veritable stampede with most trying "to get there in time" - many didn't, which was not too pleasant in the a.m. when it was very noticable. This was the result of the "dehydrated meat dinner" was the general consensus and everyone suffered the main effects which quickly cleared. At that time the senior N.C.O.'s and Officers dined later in the day as only gentlemen should and thus they were all unaware of the problems attending the "dehydrated meat dinner". It was much later therefore that the senior N.C.O.'s felt the need to visit the facilites of our showcase latrine which had been very busy until they made their visit with the result that the main supporting beam gave way with a mighty crack and the Squadron Sergeant Major, along with the Squadron Quartermaster Sergent, the Squadron Sergeant Cook, and the Squadron Sergeant Mechanic/Fitter of A squadron, 145th regt R.A.C. of 21st Tank Brigade, British 1st Army, landed , as they say.... in the mire.
It was extremely difficult to keep a straight face for some time after that incident, meanwhile no more dehydrated meat was ever served again.""

Cheers

 

Hi again Susan
Thought this might interest you. I have a complimentary spare copy if so.
Les

Good one Les!

Love the "Mock Goose"!

My mother used to make fritters called "Mock Fish" which were a meal from the days of the depression and eaten during the ww2.

Ingredients were from the vegetable garden or very cheap.

Plain Flour
Water
Salt
Grated Potato
Grated Onion
Egg (if available)

Spoon mixture into pan and shallow fry.

Serve hot with Vegetables or Salad.

Funnily enough my two daughters love it!

Hasn't done them any harm.



Cheers

Geoff

 

Good one Les!

Love the "Mock Goose"!

My mother used to make fritters called "Mock Fish" which were a meal from the days of the depression and eaten during the ww2.

Funnily enough my two daughters love it!

Hasn't done them any harm.

View attachment 27926

Cheers

Geoff
Hi Geoff
Doesn't look as though they've come to any harm :wow:!!
If you want to be Mock "Goosed" , you'll need:-
half pound of Spuds; two Cooking Apples; 4 oz Cheese; half Tspoon dried Sage; 225mL Veg Stock; one tblespoon Flour; Salt & Pepper.

Grate cheese, and wash and slice apples. Layer spud, apple, cheese and sage alternately into greased dish, finishing with spud and cheese. Pour in 150mL of the Stock and bake for 45 mins until brown. Blend remainder of stock with the flour and add to dish which is returned to oven for further 15 mins. Serves four people, preferably with some decent vegetables.

Any resemblance to Goose is purely illusiary

Suggest substituting Rennies in place of After-eight Mints

Bon appetit
Les

 

Hi Geoff
Doesn't look as though they've come to any harm :wow:!!
Any resemblance to Goose is purely illusiary

Suggest substituting Rennies in place of After-eight Mints

Bon appetit
Les

Seems like a poor man's version of Scalloped Potatoes.

I'll let the girls know that you approve.

Cheers

Geoff

 

Hey Geoff, I just sent you an email via regular email. Thanks for the info.

DoctorD, can you shoot me an email at thedeckchef@hotmail.com

Both of those dishes reminded me of my grandfathers Mock Salmon Cakes. I can of salmon the night before. Save the juice from the can and mix with a whole box of crackers, salt, pepper, onion an egg if needed and fry up into patties. If things were going good he might just actually add some salmon to the mix! - Kent

 

Save the juice from the can and mix with a whole box of crackers, salt, pepper, onion an egg if needed and fry up into patties.

Sounds like Tesco's "environmentally-friendly" fishcakes....no real fish used!

 

I am pretty useless at linking threads -Tom (40 years my senior gives me computer tips.._ However have you seen Mock oysters in the thread below

http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/general/25566-army-marches-its-stomach-4.html

Went past a few tins of spam today and tried to describe spam fritters to 10 year old daughter-don't come across well in modern terms!