One Year of Rationing

Today was our one year anniversary of living on wartime rations.
We have all enjoyed the challenge and are going to continue with this way of eating.
It's been interesting finding all the old recipes and creating new ones out of rationed foods.

We started after watching "The Supersizes Go.....Wartime" on tv.
Both Salem and I were watching it and then decided  later that it would be fun to try living on wartime rations ourselves and I thought it would be a good project for Salem as I home school him.
So we decided that Boxing Day was a good day to start.
It has become a way of life for us and we will continue for as long as we are enjoying it.

You can watch one part of The Supersizers Go...Wartime on the video above then get the rest on You Tube.
Or watch the whole episode on the link below..
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xr5ntx_s1e1-the-supersizers-go-wartime_lifestyle

Just before Christmas we appeared in That's Life magazine.
We were approached to do an interview to appear in the magazine in the lead up to xmas.
It was in the shops on the 17th December.
We were a bit disappointed with them getting facts wrong and the way they had portrayed a few things...putting their take on things we have said or didn't say...artistic licence I suppose.
But it looked good :^)

We had a lovely xmas, Salem put up our artifical xmas tree, we have had it quite a few years now and we had bought it from an op-shop too.
Good value, I don't like cutting down a tree just to be decorated for a few weeks.
Some years we just cut a large branch from a pine tree to have as our xmas tree for a change, not causing any damage.
Just love the smell of pine needles.
Salem decorated it beautifully with some of our old decorations.
We have got quite a collection as we make a few every year along with ones we have picked up over the years.
Great memories with all the ones that the kids have made.

I made our xmas cake the other night, it was such a hot night and the kitchen was sweltering,
that's Christmas in summer for you.
I included the recipe for the xmas cake in the magazine article.

Xmas Cake 3 oz sugar 4 oz margarine 1 tablespoon golden syrup 8 oz flour 2 teaspoon baking powder pinch of salt 1 teaspoon mixed spice 1 teaspoon cinnamon 2 eggs 1 lb mixed dried fruit 1/2 teaspoon lemon essence milk to mix Pre-heat oven to 160 degrees C.  (or a slow moderate oven) Cream the sugar and margarine then add the syrup. Mix in the dry (not fruit) ingredients alternately with the eggs. Beat well. Then add the rest of the ingredients with enough milk to make a soft dough. Put mixture into a 7 inch tin lined with greased paper and bake for two hours. Do check afterit has been in the oven for an hour as I found it was already cooked after this time. This cake should keep for about 2 months in an airtight container. We were going to top the cake with a chocolate topping but because it is so hot here at the moment we decided on a nice light lemon icing just made with lemon juice, icing sugar and water. It was just perfect. It is a lovely xmas cake recipe and not heavy which we all prefer. If you would like to try the chocolate topping the recipe is next. Chocolate Topping Mix 3 tablespoons of sugar with 2 tablespoons each of cocoa powder and milk. Stir in a saucepan over a low heat until the mixture is thick and bubbly. Pour over the cake while the mixture is hot.

Salem went to Grandma's and helped her make xmas mince pies and bought some home for us.
He made one with a grumpy face on for his brother, the Grumpy Teenager, and that was eaten straight away.
They were very yummy.

On Christmas Eve we made biscuits and some cupcakes (made with the Fairy Loaf recipe) even though it was another very hot day and the kitchen was still very hot that night.
We had cupcakes for xmas breakfast.

We made each other xmas presents, Salem made me a lovely flower brooch and made some coupons for his brother for Salem to be quiet.  Salem talks a lot!!!!!!
I crocheted the boys a pair of fluffy slippers each (for winter of course).
Grumpy Teenager drew me a picture, I will have to frame it.  It is very funny.
I can't remember what GT got Salem.
I also got Salem a pack of WWII aeroplane identification cards.
He loves them.

Grandma and Jimbo also gave us a "care package" to keep to the WWII theme, it had pictures of WWII posters and ration books.....

And stamps from that time......
All wrapped in brown paper and tied up with string.....

Salem had so much fun opening it.
There were so many goodies in it.... chocolates, fruit, nuts, jams etc....
even treats for the cats!!!
A very big thank you to Grandma and Jimbo!!!!!!

The cats enjoyed their treats and of course the paper wrapping.....
It's just like having young children who love playing with the wrappers and boxes.....
rather than the actual toys.
This kept the cats entertained for quite a while!!!!!
Because of the heat, Wellington's hottest summer since 1934, we had salad and potato salad with a good old fashioned New Zealand salad dressing.... for our Christmas Dinner.

• 
  
• Highlander Salad Dressing
• 
  
• 1 can  Sweetened Condensed Milk  (aprox 400 ml)
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 cup malt vinegar
• 1 tsp mustard powder or wholegrain mustard
• Mix all together with a fork or whisk.
• Then refridgerate.

Use as a salad dressing, with coleslaw or potato salad.
I made the dressing using half the amount of everything as it makes quite a lot and there are only three of us.

This is the salad dressing I grew up with and I think most New Zealander's of my era remembers this one.
I don't remember there being any alternative.
I love it and the kids do too!!!!

We are having a little break from the Ration Hint of the Day and WWII Aircraft of the Day but will be resuming them in a week or two.

We hope you had a lovely Christmas with your family and best wishes for 2013.