Daily Menus for 1930’s Britain
Housewives take note!
I’ve just been flicking through an old cookbook written way back when my father would have been in short trousers, no, not last summer! The book; ‘A Collection of Menus and Recipes for Every Day of the Year’ was written by two ladies; Evelyne White and Jessie R.Watson and although I cannot put a specific date to its publication I do believe it is circa 1930’s.
The reason for the book was, and I quote: “Written for the modern housewife, and in compiling it her many duties and varied interests have been borne in mind, for whilst as interested in food and catering as her grandmother, the woman of to-day has not the time for long cooking processes nor the money for expensive dishes”
Quite right! So the good ladies devised a daily menu for the housewife to cook, here’s their menu suggestion for April 17th:
Breakfast: Porridge and Milk, Bacon and Tomatoes
Luncheon: Veal Cutlets and Boiled Potatoes, Marmalade Pudding
Dinner: Mock Turtle Soup, Creamed Chicken, Spinach, New Potatoes, Pears a la Conde (they had accents on typewriters in 1930, I haven’t in 2008!)
High Tea: Baked Beans on Toast, Brown Cakes
Supper: Salmon (tinned or fresh) Green Salad, Cheese and Biscuits
So much for the depression! Yesterday you would have feasted on among others; pigeon pie, Egg Patties, Lemon Buns, Stewed Rhubarb and Cold Ham.
Here’s a recipe you simply must try-NOT!!!!!!!
Sheep’s Tongues and Spaghetti
3 Sheep’s Tongues, 1/2lb Spaghetti, 1 Onion, 1 oz Butter
Soak the tongues for one hour. Melt the butter and stew the tongues for five minutes. Add water and cook slowly until tender, with one onion. Boil the spaghetti. Remove the tongues and skin carefully. Serve each on toast with a border of spaghetti. Thicken the sauce and serve seperately.
Good God! Can you imagine anything worse? Despite twenty three years as a chef I cannot envisage what that would taste like, let alone look. The Italians would poach tongue in a well-flavoured stock which some fabulous lentils would be cooked in and all served with some good quality sausage, pork and a delicious salsa verde. What do we do? Boil it with an onion.
A part of me could happily shoot these ladies for crimes against humanity. No wonder my father married a German!
Miles
ah ! the good ole days !
April 17, 2008 @ 8:43 am
Miles,
“Sheep’s Tongues and Spaghetti” sounds absolutely revolting. How could anyone even dream that up and get it printed as a recipe? Are you sure that book was not from the horror section?
Just the Spaghetti with the butter would have at least been acceptable.
Having said that I remember not being able to buy herbs or spices and veg. being boiled forever.
Elsie
April 17, 2008 @ 1:04 pm
Miles,
The British have a love of minced beef which we all know can be turned into many dishes. I recently tried some Lincoln Red beef mince and noted that it had a superior taste, so that’s my recommendation. For those on a tight budget it goes a long way as a Shepherds Pie or in a short crust pie…. cooked simply with dumplings or Yorkshire Puddings and veg…. as a chilli or with pasta.
I caught a news item yesterday about our so called throw away society with regard to excess plastic bags and recycling, food wastage etc. It prompted a debate on how today’s households are run compared to previous generations…. ie women working full time and people generally shopping at large supermarkets once a week, buying too much and then throwing it out. In my opinion teenagers now are unlikely to learn how to cook at school or at home on the whole. With mortgages so high, can young people afford to eat out other than at their local chippie? It all paints a rather sad picture.
Cid
April 17, 2008 @ 2:00 pm
Cid,
It’s the junk they pile into their shopping trolleys that scares me. The problem about cooking is that it requires more effort than skill and many people, sadly haven’t got the effort.
Miles
April 17, 2008 @ 3:23 pm