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Posted on 10/22/2004 11:46:24 PM PDT by snippy_about_it
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 are acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated.
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| Our Mission: The FReeper Foxhole is dedicated to Veterans of our Nation's military forces and to others who are affected in their relationships with Veterans. In the FReeper Foxhole, Veterans or their family members should feel free to address their specific circumstances or whatever issues concern them in an atmosphere of peace, understanding, brotherhood and support. The FReeper Foxhole hopes to share with it's readers an open forum where we can learn about and discuss military history, military news and other topics of concern or interest to our readers be they Veteran's, Current Duty or anyone interested in what we have to offer. If the Foxhole makes someone appreciate, even a little, what others have sacrificed for us, then it has accomplished one of it's missions. We hope the Foxhole in some small way helps us to remember and honor those who came before us.
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 World War II had a great impact on daily life in America. Among the many new realities of the time were air-raid drills in schoolrooms, scrap-metal and rubber drives, and rationing of food and other goods imposed by the Office of Price Administration. American women, who had been called to duty in the workforce and possibly also had spouses overseas, grappled with another new hardship: grocery shopping with ration stamps. This was no easy task.  Shoppers received stamps of different colors for different types of food—some good for thirty days, others valid a week at a time but could be held over until they expired the last week of the month—and point values of foods were subject to change, so planning at home often proved difficult.  Thankfully, shoppers were not without help. In 1943, the 128-page Coupon Cookery was published. Its author, Prudence Penny, counsels readers how to provide their families with “sound nutrition plus appetite-appeal within the bounds of Uncle Sam’s allowance.”  Prudence Penny’s Coupon Cookery, front cover. Murray & Gee, Publishers: Hollywood, CA, 1943. “An investment that will pay for itself many times over in money, time, patience, nutrition value, and good meals!” —Museum Library. The book, which sold for $1.50, contains a number of tongue-in-cheek illustrations featuring a perky-looking, apron-clad housewife, and patriotic poetry is peppered throughout. Its dedication begins, “To the housewives of America/ those soldiers, tried and true/ who are struggling on the homefront/ to serve good meals to you!” Good nutrition is presented as the ultimate patriotic statement, as is good cooking: “U. S. needs US strong!” “Wars may come and go, but real, red-blooded American Homemakers will put up a struggle to preserve that cherished custom of Good Eating!”  It may not be convenient But we don't admit defeat For in spite of War and Rationing America must eat It may take a deal of cunning And a bit of laughter, too To keep the meal-time pleasant When the coupons are too few! To cook “Good Meals, In Spite of It All” required a little magic. — Coupon Cookery, p. 21. In addition to advice on organizing and “s-t-r-e-t-c-hing” ration points, Ms. Penny’s book includes tables for keeping track of different foods’ point values and hundreds of recipes designed to make the most of available ingredients—for example, “Pork Knuckles in Sour Cream,” “Liver Gems,” and “Hearty Lima Molds.” In the chapter “Prudent Tips and Penny Savers,” readers are reminded that tough cuts of meat can be made more enjoyable by long, slow cooking, and learn how to substitute baking powder for eggs. Coffee, which was strictly rationed, could be stretched by being mixed with Soyfee, an unrationed coffee substitute. And through it all, of course, readers were urged to turn in cans for scrap metal.   The extreme economies suggested by this book may seem to some as antiquated as its bright, booster-ish turns of phrase and old-fashioned recipes. But those who lived through World War II witnessed a unique period in American history—when civilians across thousands of miles were unified in their actions and struggles by a single purpose. Prudence Penny’s book is an intriguing and irreplaceable symbol of that era. Story by Alyssa Shirley Morein       |
I forget about that sometimes. ;-)
Hey Sam, remember that just like ma'am, Sir is a term of respect. Ma'am just makes me feel old. Not that there is anything wrong with getting old. Beats the alternative.
LOL. He's a Sir alright. Something about not calling an ex-Sargeant sir. He's just funnin' ya. Suppose we could call him Sargeant SAMWolf?
OK...thanks for the clarification kind...hmmm...lets see Miss/person/freeper/ma'am....I love funnin'... it's hard to see through the ole' monitor at times so I'm not always sure it's funnin' ... sometimes its correction... ;o) Which is OK too. (((smiling)))
LOL. You call us whatever you want. We'll answer.
Will do... Foxhole..snippy...how's that... ;o)
:-)
LOL! It finally arrived. This is going to be fun to watch.
Okay PE where's the Flag?? LOL! Good start!!
Yupper I am up. Went shopping for the Troops with my daughter. Gorgeous day here. Sun today! WOO HOO!! We went for a short drive to see the Fall colors.
Many of the Sugar Maples have dropped their leaves, but there is plenty of red in them that hills. :-)
I remember those times.
We had a huge victory garden and my mother canned everything. We didn't ever buy any canned goods because our garden had all the necessary stuff - peas, corn, beans, tomatoes, beets, spinach, etc. She also canned all of our jams and jellys and any fruit she could get.
Our next door neighbor raised chickens and everyone bought chickens from her. In fact, until we moved to California I didn't know that you could buy (dead) chickens from a meat counter.
I have War Ration Books one, two, three and four for my mother, dad, grandmother and myself. They have interesting little notes and shopping lists on them. Some still have coupons and some are only the covers, but when I take them out to look at them they sure bring back the memories.
LOL.
Thanks for sharing with us today jtill.
Good afternoon Victoria.
LOL. I see Iraq has moved!
Hi Snippy. :-)
No need to be sorry, I was just funnin' with ya. :-)
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