Friday, February 27, 2009

My Mothers Wartime Cookbook

As money gets tighter and food is getting harder to buy I thought of Mothers old cookbook. It was printed in 1942 during world war 2. The same year that I was born. A shortage of some foods and many people out of work. At the front of the book is a WATRIME POSTSCRIPT:
As this edition goes to press our country is still at war. Rationing is in force and shortages of many foods have developed. In a fine spirit of patriotism American homemakers have adapted themslves to the changes. Their minds are open to new ideas: foods they have never served before are now appearing on their tables. So, though you may have to wait until the war is over to try some of the recipes in this book, there are literally hundreds which will add interest and novelty to your wartime menus. If, for example, you haven't enough sugar to make Fruit Torte, there's a delicious Cabinet Pudding using only two tablespoons of that precious ingredient; if you can't obtain a sirloin steak, ther's an appetite-teasing T-bone steak, Family Style; if your busy schedule doesn't allow time to make yeast-raised orange bread, ther's a quick one that uses baking powder.
Refer to the chapter on nutrition often. It will tell you how to plan meals that will keep your family in top health. A healthy nation is the best contribution our homes can make to our war effort.
My 25 year old Daughter has ask that this book be handed down to her as soon as she owns her own home. So its in a plastic ziplock bag just waiting. Getting very old and crumbly just like me.
We have had to make alot of changes, can we adapt as well as our Mothers and Grandmothers did?
Have a great day, Judy