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Rations
Oct 26, 2010 22:04:11 GMT 10
Post by theshee on Oct 26, 2010 22:04:11 GMT 10
I’m stuck in at home at the moment and was just going through some old cook books that belonged to my nana. It’s surprising how healthy the meals were seeing the food was rationed. Plus nothing was wasted off anything, be in veg or meat.
The government implemented rationing because of the problems of importing food. There wasn’t a lot of butter, margarine (yuk!) and sugar about so it was low in calories. But they managed to change recipes to manage with what they did have, like an eggless cake for example. Looking through the recipes, they are very nutritious.
My question is, could any of you cope now with basic food rations? Would you see it as a major hardship to have to cook with them? To have to actually think about what you’re going to make with what you have that will be both tasty and appealing. Could you cope with NOT pulling something out of the freezer, using a microwave or going for a take away?
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Rations
Oct 27, 2010 16:49:40 GMT 10
Post by shatnerswig on Oct 27, 2010 16:49:40 GMT 10
what was it during the war? and yea i know how to make stuff from scratch if i need to but eggless cakes hmmm thats one i d like to see ... lol
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Rations
Oct 28, 2010 0:47:10 GMT 10
Post by concrete on Oct 28, 2010 0:47:10 GMT 10
I know I could cope. There is one thing about the rationing though. What alot of people miss. Is that the vast many also grew their own food. My neighbor told me about when he was a young un, his dad converted both the front and back gardens (yards for the yanks), into food producing gardens they had chickens as well. In my honest opinion, it's a lost art.
The thing about rationing. Is due to the class system, the rich suffered more (the mega rich didn't), the poor already had to ration anyway. Or at least make due with what they had. Which is where alot of these recipes came from.
@ Wiggy. Yes, it was during the war. But, I believe it actually lasted till the mid 50's in the UK.
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Rations
Oct 28, 2010 3:42:01 GMT 10
Post by shatnerswig on Oct 28, 2010 3:42:01 GMT 10
growing stuff isnt really that hard to do ....i had a bumper crop of hungarian wax peppers this summer lol
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Post by slith on Nov 3, 2010 9:15:01 GMT 10
I work in long term care. These people are meat and potatoes folk and always have been. Average age at the home 92.7. They must have done something right. Especially in their diets. I appreciate the older recipes, no sodium nitrates or other preservatives. Clean, simple, healthy food.
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Rations
Nov 3, 2010 10:40:30 GMT 10
Post by Wes Gear on Nov 3, 2010 10:40:30 GMT 10
i wish i was more inclined to grow me a garden. i hated vegetables for most of my life (product of a strange and mental family).............and it's only been in the last few years that i've started really craving them.
as for your question shee........i guess we can all learn to survive without things we take for granted. i'm of the small percentage that would have the toughest time i believe.
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Rations
Nov 3, 2010 11:07:13 GMT 10
Post by slith on Nov 3, 2010 11:07:13 GMT 10
i wish i was more inclined to grow me a garden. i hated vegetables for most of my life (product of a strange and mental family).............and it's only been in the last few years that i've started really craving them. as for your question shee........i guess we can all learn to survive without things we take for granted. i'm of the small percentage that would have the toughest time i believe. I don't think so drex. You've shown a passion here for cooking and learning about food. I think you would do just fine
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Rations
Nov 19, 2010 23:13:46 GMT 10
Post by theshee on Nov 19, 2010 23:13:46 GMT 10
People did convert any spare land they had into veg patches, they were more willing to help people out too. A lot of give and take amongst folk, not like neighbours now that barely speak when you pass them in the street, although I’m quite lucky in that respect and have fab neighbours, they are all good people. I believe we all could cope if we had too, survival instincts and all that.
Slith you made a good point about the elderly of that day, they did have simple diets that hopefully they would have passed some of their home cooking skills onto their family. I come from a large family and I’m the only one that cooks (as in baking, using quality foods etc) none of the others are interested. Its kinda sad. I believe they should be teaching kids in school how to make basic meals as my friends have informed me cookery lessons is no longer in schools?!?
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Rations
Nov 20, 2010 2:48:52 GMT 10
Post by Crickinneck on Nov 20, 2010 2:48:52 GMT 10
Im a Retired head Gardener by trade,so i suppose ive done it all in the past thirty years of my working life.Y u would be supprised what you could grow in a 2mtrx1mtr bed, or if you live in a flat even a window box.The scheme they do around my patch scuse the pun! because the local allotments have waiting lists as long as your arm.If you have a big garden and its to much for you the local residents will take over your garden and plant veg potatoes cabbage ect and in return you get free veg and your garden is kept up to scratch. Good or what.
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