Ration Hint of the Day - Number Four

Ration Hint No. 4

How to tell when a cake is done.

If a layer cake pan is used, press very lightly on top of cake with flat of your finger.

If the slight dent springs back, cake is done.

If a deep pan or loaf pan is used, insert a wire cake tester, or if you do not have one, a clean straw into the centre of cake.

If it comes out dry, without dough sticking to it, your cake is finished baking.

WWII Aircraft of the Day - The Vought F4U Corsair

The Vought F4U Corsair

The Vought F4U Corsair

United States of America

By Salem

No account of  the fighting in the air during the war in the Pacific can pass without mentioning the Vought F4U Corsair.

It was the first American aircraft to exceed the speed of 640kms per hour.

Trails of the Vought F4U Corsair out at sea however showed that it's high landing speed and it's long nose made it unsuitable to be used on aircraft carriers.

WWII Aircraft of the Day - The Heinkel He 115

The Heinkel He 115

The Heinkel He 115 - Germany

By Salem

The Heinkel He 115  was a sleek improvement of the Heinkel He 59.

Even though it was a seaplane of German design and build, it was used not only by the Germans but also Norway and even the R.A.F. had used them.
This had confused the Germans and once two German Heinkel He 115s had landed in a Norwegian held fjord because they had seen other Heinkel He 115s and were captured.

Ration Hint of the Day - Number Three

Ration Hint No. 3

Instead of Dry Toast.
To those who like their bread buttered before it is toasted:

Did you ever try bacon dripping instead of the hard-to-get butter?
Just spread it on lightly before toasting.

Ration Hint of the Day - Number Two

Ration Hint No. 2

Substitute for Whipped Cream.

Add a sliced banana to the white of an egg and beat until very stiff.

The banana will dissolve.

WWII Aircraft of the Day - The Blohm und Voss BV138

 The Blohm und Voss BV138

 The Blohm und Voss BV138

Germany

By Salem

One of the notable seaplanes of the Luftwaffe was the triple- engined Blohm und Voss BV138 flying boat.

The German pilots had a kind of nickname for this aircraft, they called it the "Flying Shoe".

When the Blohm und Voss BV138 was first tested, it was found to be unsuitable in rough water conditions, so it was taken away and redesigned.
The newly designed aircraft was inadequately armed, but as the war progressed it became more and more armed.

Ration Hint of the Day - Number 1

I have been lucky enough to come across this copy of Self Help Wartime Cooking Suggestions - How to get the most out of your rations.  

I think it is a New Zealand publication, but am not 100% sure on that.

I just love finding these old publications, I look in the op-shops, fairs and on on-line auction sites.

This has a lot of great recipes and hints which I will share with you over time.  Salem and I will also cook many of the recipes and share our results with you.

Every day I will also post up a Ration Hint of the Day with this being the first one .......

Ration Hint No. 1

To clarify fat for cooking:-

a)  Put into a saucepan with plenty of water.  

     Bring to the boil, then stand in a cool place till set.

     Lift out the set fat, scrape any sediment from the underside.

     All gravy and sediment will remain in saucepan.

b)  Melt fat and add a potato cut into quarters.

     When the potato is browned, and the fat stops bubbling,
     strain the fat through a double cheese cloth and
     store in a cool, dry place.

WWII Aircraft of the Day - The Supermarine Walrus

The Supermarine Walrus

The Supermarine Walrus

Britian

By Salem

The Supermarine Walrus was an amphibious reconnaissance aircraft which had a single engine, a fully retractable main undercarriage, completely enclosed crew accommodation and had all-metal fuselage.  It had bi-plane wings and was an excellent sea-air rescue plane.

At first it had been a spotter plane and had bombed the Italian positions in East Africa.

The Supermarine Walrus was later used as a rescue plane and a dive bomber.

It had even been "looped" by an enthusiastic pilot.

Victory Tea - Party Chocolate Biscuits

Chocolate Biscuits

Next up for our Victory Tea - Party table is our very easy to make and very yummy Chocolate Biscuits.

Another one to get the kids to make.

You can double up the recipe as they don't last long in the biscuit tin as the kids always raid it.

Keep them in an air-tight container so that they don't go soft.

They are perfect to dunk into a cup of tea.

Chocolate Biscuits

1/4 cup margarine

1 Tablespoon golden syrup

1/8 cup cocoa powder

1/4 cup sugar

1/2 cup plain flour

1/4 teaspoon baking soda.

Pre-heat oven to 180 degrees C.

Melt the margarine and golden syrup together.

Stir in the cocoa powder until smooth, then add in the sugar.

Add in the flour and baking soda and mix into a dough.  Use your hands as it is easier.

Roll into small balls and press down onto a lightly greased oven tray.

Prick with a fork and bake for 10 minutes.

Leave to cool down for a few minutes then cool on a wire rack until cold.

Serve with a cup of hot tea, dunk biscuit in then eat.

Yum, yum, yum!!!!!!!!!!

WWII Aircraft of the Day - The Loire-Nieuport 10

The Loire Nieuport 10

The Loire-Nieuport 10 - France

By Salem

The Loire-Nieuport 10 was a prototype aircraft built for the French Navy (Marine nationale / La Royale).

It had a crew of six, had machine guns in it's nose, a rear floor and a 20mm cannon in a dorsal turret.

It also could carry two torpedoes or 1,200 kg (2,700 lb) of bombs in an internal bomb-bay.

The Loire-Nieuport 10 first flew in 1939 but it was destroyed by it's builder in Bordeux  in June 1940 when France fell to the Nazis'.