Wartime Wednesday: Macaroni Mousse for Six

Hot Macaroni Mousse for Six

(From Better Meals in Wartime)

1 Cup uncooked elbow macaroni

1 ½ Cups scalded milk

1 Cup soft, white breadcrumbs

¼ Cup melted margarine (Remember, this was wartime!)

1 green pepper, minced

1 Tablespoon chopped parsley

2 Tablespoons chopped onions

1 Teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon paprika

½ Cup grated cheese

3 eggs, beaten

Boil the macaroni in salted, boiling water as directed on the package. Drain and place in a greased bread pan or oblong baking dish.

Sauce: Pour scalded milk over breadcrumbs. Add margarine, onions, parsley, seasonings, green pepper, and cheese. Stir in well-beaten eggs and pour the entire mixture over the macaroni.

Set the dish or plan in a pan of hot water-allowing the water to come halfway up the side of the dish and bake 40 minutes or more in a moderate oven (350 degrees). Test by inserting a knife to be sure it is firm. Turn out on a platter and decorate with watercress. This can be served as a main dish and meat substitute.

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Are a new life and new love possible in a country devastated by war?

Barely married before she’s widowed after Pearl Harbor three years ago, journalist Cora Strealer travels to England where she’s assigned to work with United Press’s top reporter who thinks the last place for a woman is on the front lines. Can she change his opinion before D-Day? Or will she have to choose her job over her heart?

A sought-after journalist, Van Toppel deserves his pick of assignments, which is why he can’t determine the bureau chief’s motive for saddling him with a cub reporter. Unfortunately, the beautiful rookie is no puff piece. Can he get her off his beat without making headlines…or losing his heart?

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Wartime Wednesday: Stuffed Cabbage Rolls

Wartime Wednesday: Stuffed Cabbage Rolls

With meat being rationed, recipes that were heavily vegetarian became popular. Found in Better Meals in Wartime, this recipe claims to be from Sweden:

½ pound raw veal, pork, or beef, ground

1 small onion

1/8 C grated carrot

½ t pepper

1 t salt

½ C bread crumbs softened in ¼ C warm milk

1 medium-sized cabbage

Remove 10 outer leaves from cabbage and scald them. Then chop enough of the remaining cabbage to make one cup. Mix this with the meat, onion, carrot, seasons and crumbs. Form the mixture into 10 small rolls.

Place one roll in each cabbage leaf, and roll up. Secure the rolls tightly with toothpicks which can be removed before serving. Place folded side down in a kettle. Half cover with boiling water and simmer for an hour. If you like you may use half fresh stewed tomatoes or tomato juice and half water. These rolls may be served plain, with sour cream or tomato sauce.

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May 1942: Geneva Alexander flees Philadelphia and joins the USO to escape the engagement her parents have arranged for her, only to wind up as the number one suspect in her betrothed’s murder investigation. Diagnosed with a degenerative eye disease, she must find the real killer before she loses her sight…or is convicted for a crime she didn’t commit.

Set in the early days of America’s entry into WWII and featuring cameo appearances from Hollywood stars, Murder of Convenience is a tribute to individuals who served on the home front, especially those who did so in spite of personal difficulties, reminding us that service always comes as a result of sacrifice. Betrayal, blackmail, and a barrage of unanswered questions… Murder of Convenience is the first the exciting new “Women of Courage” series.

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Wartime Wednesday: Lemon Refrigerator Pie

Wartime Wednesday:  Lemon Refrigerator Pie

I love to bake, but my schedule doesn’t always allow me to indulge. The recipe below is a “no-bake” pie, cutting down on preparation time. I found it in my Better Meals in Wartime cookbook. Surprisingly, it uses three (3) eggs which sometimes were difficult to find unless you lived on a farm. It’s easy and delicious. Enjoy!

11 Graham crackers

3 eggs

1 can sweetened condensed milk

Juice of 3 lemons

Grated rind of 3 lemons

2 Tablespoons confectioner’s sugar

Great a large pie plate. Place the crackers on the bottom and fill the sides and spaces with broken pieces and crumbs, bringing them well up to the edge of the pie plate.

Separate yokes and whites of eggs. Beat the yolks well and add the milk, juice and rind. Pour mixture into the pie plate.

Beat the whites until stiff and fold into sugar. Spread lightly over the pie. Place under the broiler for 2-3 minutes to lightly brown the “meringue.” Put pie in refrigerator and chill for at leave five hours.

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With most U.S. boys fighting for Uncle Sam in far off countries, Rochelle Addams has given up hope for a wedding in her future. Then she receives an intriguing offer from a distant relative to consider a marriage of convenience.

Conscientious objector Irwin Terrell is looking forward to his assignment at Shady Hills Mental hospital to minister to the less fortunate in lieu of bearing arms. At the arrival of the potential bride his father has selected for him, Irwin’s well-ordered life is turned upside down. And after being left at the altar two years ago, he has no interest in risking romance again.

Despite his best efforts to remain aloof to Rochelle, Irwin is drawn to the enigmatic and beautiful young woman, but will time run out before his wounded heart can find room for her?

Inspired by the biblical love story of Rebekkah and Isaac, Love’s Allegiance explores the struggles and sacrifices of those whose beliefs were at odds with a world at war.

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Wartime Wednesday: Better Meals in Wartime

Wartime Wednesday: Better Meals in Wartime

I received a wonderful Christmas gift from one of my close friends. Knowing my love of all things WWII as well as my need for research items, she gave me a cookbook she stumbled on in a used bookstore. Better Meals in Wartime: The Point-Saver Cook Book was published in 1943 by Crown Publishers. Advertising itself to be  "a simple, practical guide that shows how to prepare tasty and appetizing meals despite shortages, rationing and high prices," the book claims "this book will not solve all your food problems but it will help you to provide better meals now."

What I found most fascinating is the first chapter called War Time Extenders, Remedies and Economies. Author Lola Wyman whose credentials are not listed anywhere in the book or on the flyleaf writes as if she is talking directly to the home cook. She says, "I have experimented with 8 different methods of whipping light cream employing  various commercial products, powdered vegetable gums, gelatin and lemon juice. Only the latter method is satisfactory." She provides advice on potato water (the water used to boil potatoes): "Of course, you will save all other vegetable waters, but have you though of saving the water in which you cooked peeled potatoes? This has splendid flavor. Simply add milk and seasonings and, if you have it, a cooked, mashed potato."

Her section on Kitchen Catastrophes exhorts readers that "in these war time days it is more important than ever to avert kitchen catastrophes whenever possible. However, with the most careful attention, accidents may happen." She goes on to provide solutions for burned pans, gravy gone wrong, curdled sauces, burned cakes, and unsuccessful frosting.

The introduction is three pages of "a variety of well-balanced menus. Each contains a suitable proportion of the necessary calories, vitamins, minerals, etc." But perhaps the best chapter is the one on leftovers. Not too imaginative, I usually just reheat the meal. Ms. Wyman includes a two page index of a wide variety of leftover foods from bacon fat and fish to creamed vegetables.

How many of you have inherited a cookbook that contained handwritten notes from the former owner? Better Meals in Wartime includes Ms. Wyman's editorial comments on many of the recipes:

• Salisbury Steak - Our old friend, the hamburg, improved and disguised
• Bitochky - An excellent Russian recipe to try when you have a cup of sour cream
• Baked veal hearts - Gamey like squab
• Imperial crab - This is a famous crab dish and is served hot
• Tamale Pie - Nourishing yet delicious

Taped inside the cover is a recipe cut from the Miami Daily News for Chocolate Ice Box Cake and tucked in between the pages are four index cards clipped together that contain recipes for French Dressing (dated 1937 and signed S. J. Kennedy, Ft. Meyers, Florida), and two copies of a recipe for Hollandaise Sauce.

A true treasure, I can't wait to dig further into Better Meals in Wartime. What is your most special gift?