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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       |
Yeah that's why my dad is Sir, not me. :-)
I haerd about the rationing from the other side.
YAY! It came and you got it started. :-)
Nice souvenirs to have. Thanks for sharing some of your memories.
Nice souvenirs to have. Thanks for sharing some of your memories.
Hi Victoria. Nice graphic today. You getting a new collection started?
Afternoon Matt.
The entire Communist system is based on rationing (Unless you're a Party bigwig), sorta like the Liberals here.
LOL on the jokes. Glad you provided a translation. The toilet sign is good. :-)
LOL! That last one is great, we need to put those up in the school zones around here.
Shopping! A thread I can relate to.
I can't describe the look Hubby gave me when the President told us to go out and shop after 9/11. Believe me, just as these ladies rationed for their country, I did my bit to keep our economy pumping. :^)
My family hails from the hills of Kentucky. Mom and my cousins, who were children during the war, sit around and talk about picking beans until their fingers bled. People today have no idea what poverty and hardship are.
I'll take you to my family reunion next spring. You'll learn to be grateful for that lapse in your heritage.
/end chuckle
I need new glasses.
Regarding that last sign, is that in Chappaqua? :^)
My dad was an infant in 1942. He also had an allergy to cow's milk, which meant the family meat ration stamps ended up dedicated to buying goats milk. My gradfather is said to have never gone anywhere without a deer rifle in the back seat.
Hi miss Feather
Nice FlagPole PE. :-)
You said a mouthful Snippy! I hit my hand with a 4lb hammer breaking rocks. OUCH!
The scene of impending destruction, er, construction.
The Old Glory hole. The hole is about 20 inches deep. The lst six inches cut into solid limestone, using said hammer and a chisel. Muh arms, and shoulders ache.
The larger debris from the hole. I tossed the smaller shards in with the "dirt".
Me too. Time for my first bifocals.
:-) Just one of those people who make America such a great country.
There are people in the world that would kill to be "poor" in America.
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