Week two, and it was time to replenish the fresh foods.
It's only the second week of my modern rationing and already I was thinking of the people in wartime going to the grocers on their shopping day each week, and buying exactly the same things week after week, month after month, year after year. With only the amounts that they could buy with their ration stamps changing as supplies grew or dwindled, or other things were added to the list.
For instance, at the very start of rationing here in the UK ... 8th January 1940 ... the three things on the ration were bacon, butter and sugar, very quickly all the other things you see in my photo (with eggs replacing my Quorn bacon and sausages, and 3 pints of cow's milk replacing my almond milk, tea replacing coffee and lard replacing oil of course ... I told you this was 'modern' rationing!!) joined them.
Going to the shop to get your rations and expecting one thing but getting a lot less of it must have been really upsetting. The same with the points system, getting to the grocers to find that your previous amount of points would no longer buy you that tin of Spam or full pound of lentils must have played havoc with any menu planning. Of course, there would have been the occasional happy days too when suddenly the radio announced that the cheese ration was going up, or more sugar was available for the autumn jam making sessions.
Whereas we tend to menu plan and then shop, knowing pretty much that in our times of plenty there will be what we want or at least very near replacements, back in the rationing years I guess the housewife would shop and then come home and work out what meals she would be making and how she was going to feed her family for the coming week. At times no doubt stretching things thinner and thinner and hoping and praying that nothing would snap!
And talking of stretching things thinner, I decided this week I would open one of my cans of beans. At just two points per can, they were a relatively good points purchase this month I thought, but I still wanted them to go as far as possible.
I decided that they would be the star of three meals and divided them into the portion sizes that I thought would work.
The biggest portion being for a beans on toast breakfast.
I'm so glad I did this and that this was one of the most filling breakfasts up to date, as not long after I had eaten my son came to pick me up so we could go and visit Mum in hospital. You'd think a two-hour visit would be just that, but when you live so far from the hospital, each visit is taking between five and six hours including the travelling time.
I do admit to taking a sneaky Deliciously Ella flapjack with me to eat at lunchtime, and it saved the day. No one likes me when I get hangry!!
When we got home, I made us both a coffee, offered Jason a snack but he refused as wanted to get home, he lives a good 40 minutes from me ... so his day was even longer than mine.
I fed the dogs, took them for a quick walk and then tipped the entire contents of the jug of remaining soup into the pan. This bowlful and a little top up straight after, saved the day and filled me up with lovely vegetably goodness.
Then all I needed before I went to bed was a nice cup of coffee and a relax in front of the television watching First Dates Hotel.
Sue xx
For such a simple meal, beans on toast is pretty much the tastiest thing ever, I think. And as you say - filling! xx
ReplyDeleteIt's not something I have often, but when I do, I really enjoy it.
DeleteGosh, what a tiring day for you and Jason, hope your Mum is continuing to do well.
ReplyDeleteInteresting to have you discuss the ever-changing points/ration system and things not being available. At my sewing group yesterday afternoon some of the ladies were commenting that they are noticing items 'missing' in our local shops that previously you could always count on being able to buy.
She's really started to improve now, so much so she's on the 'discharge path'.
DeleteThings these days are really starting to echo the war years aren't they. What with food in the shops disappearing or being intermittent, and now talk of power outtages taking place over winter. We are getting a little taste of what people went through and we would do well to learn from them.
As we are the same age 😘 I suspect you also remember the three-hour power cuts in 1974. And we survived . . .
DeleteMy suspicion now is that as with the Covid lockdowns, current media reports are being dribbled out to prepare us for a 'possible outcome' which is (probably) already a certainty.
Yes, I remember them well, we coped then and I've no doubt we will cope again, although these days as more of our homes are all electric so we will have to think a bit harder about how to handle them. I do wish the politicians and energy companies would just tell us the truth and help us prepare rather than drip-feeding us with what 'might happen'.
DeleteOne of my favourite meals is beans on toast. Now that I have discovered Marmite, I spread that very thinly on the toast first. I put my email in my comment yesterday so hopefully you saw it. It’s a very wet and stormy day here today so some sewing calls. Catriona
ReplyDeleteOoh that's a good idea, I have Marmite in the cupboard. I might try that next time.
DeleteI saw the comment and have fired off an email to you, thank you. I have deleted it now though as you don't want your email address visible to everyone.
She's coming home soon so that will take the journey to see her down to just over an hour each way, traffic and weather permitting. It's been a tough couple of weeks for travelling for sure.
ReplyDeleteThe housewives and all those on the Home Front during the war years, did an amazing job and it's a privilege to be able to learn more about it as I do this Challenge.
I have also had a hospital day, my son who has epilepsy had 11 seizures starting at 3.30 am, this is called status epilepticus and meant an ambulance , it was awful but he has come out of it and now and is home with us to recover ,so I had an extremely expensive and disgusting pasty at the hospital and have just ordered chinese as we are all pooped so diet out of the window for today. So glad that your Mum will be home soon and I also really fancy marmite under my beans , a new day tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteOh gosh, that must be so worrying and heart-breaking as a Mum to watch. I do hope he's feeling better now that he's back home. And a Chinese takeaway sounds like the only thing that would have made any of you feel just that little bit better.
DeleteI never understand WHY hospital food is so unhealthy and unappetising. Are they really trying to make us all unwell, the patients and the worried families.
Beans on toast - filling and nutritious.
ReplyDeleteIt's good your mum will be discharged from hospital soon.
I seem to be permanently hungry these days, I think it's the change of seasons, that's my excuse anyway!
Alison in Wales x
Definitely, I don't know why I don't have it more often really! I think we all crave and NEED more food in winter. My stodgy wartime diet is just perfect for October. :-)
DeleteI love beans on toast. It is my go to lunch or supper when Harvey isn't home or there are leftovers to use up.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
It's just nice and simple and really hits the spot doesn't it. :-)
DeleteThat is a very long day. How is your mom doing?
ReplyDeleteIt's really tiring and very hard on my back to be sat for so long, but the main thing is that Mum is now back home, so things should be a little bit easier for all of us. We just have to be there for her as often as we can be.
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