Sunday, September 30, 2012

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.


Saturday, September 29, 2012

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.

Friday, September 28, 2012

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.


Thursday, September 27, 2012

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.


Wednesday, September 26, 2012

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.


Tuesday, September 25, 2012

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'.

WWII Aircraft of the Day - The Heinkel he 111


The Heinkel he 111

The Heinkel he 111 - Germany
By Salem

The Heinkel he 111 was the Luftwaffes' most famous medium bomber.
It was designed by Siegfried and Walter Günter in the early 1930s and was in violation of the Treaty of Versailles.
A vast variety of this type of aircraft were built during WWII some were even being used for torpedo attacks.

The Heinkel he 111 was also occassionally used to carry troops, but this was not as unusual as it sounds because this type of aircraft had began as a pre-war airliner with Luft Hansa.


Monday, September 24, 2012

Victory Tea - Party Nellie B's Oaty Loaf


Nellie B's Oaty Loaf

Our next recipe is a creation of mine which I have been cooking for years.  It is very quick and simple to make with a minimum of effort.
It is egg-less and is made with no butter or margarine except what is used to grease the loaf tin.

A firm family favorite which my boys LOVE!!!!!  So much so that I usually double the recipe and cook two loaves at a time.
We hope you enjoy it as much as we do.

Nellie B's Oaty Loaf

In a large bowl mix :
1 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup raisins, currants or sultanas (or a mixture of them)
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup milk
1 Tablespoon cinnamon.

Leave covered in a cool place for two hours or longer.
Pre-heat the oven to 180 degrees C.
Add 1 cup of self-rising flour to the mixture and stir to combine.
Pour into a greased loaf tin.

Cook for 30 minutes.  A skewer should come out pretty much clean after being put into the middle of the loaf.
Let it cool in the loaf tin for a few minutes before turning out on a wire cooling rack.

Serve spread with a bit of butter or margarine.  Great when still warm or when cold.

Enjoy!


Sunday, September 23, 2012

WWII Aircraft of the Day - The Bristol Blenheim Bomber


The Bristol Blenheim Bomber

The Bristol Blenheim Bomber
- Britain
By Salem

The Bristol Blenheim Bomber made headlines when it entered service with the R.A.F. in 1937.  Although it was a bomber, it was nearly 65km/per hour faster than contemporary fighters.
It served with all commands of the R.A.F.  
In the early months of WWII, it had served as one of the mainstays of the R.A.F. attacking German forces.
During the German raids over London, the Bristol Blenheim Bombers were used as a radar equipped fighter.
Later in the war it was becoming out-dated and was retired in 1944.


Victory Tea - Party ANZAC Biscuits


ANZAC Biscuits

Next up in my recipes for goodies for the Victory Tea - Party is ANZAC Biscuits.
These sweet biscuits have long been associated with the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) which was established in WWII.
ANZAC biscuits were sent by mothers and wives to soldiers abroad because the ingredients do not spoil easily and the biscuits kept well during naval transportation.
They are very yummy, easy to make and are also a popular commercially made biscuit.  My boys say that my ones are heaps better than the bought ones.


ANZAC Biscuits

1 cup flour
1 cup sugar
1 cup rolled oats
1 cup desicated coconut
small pinch of salt
115g butter or margarine (I use margarine)
1 tablespoon golden syrup
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon boiling water.

Pre-heat oven to 160 degrees C (320 degrees F).
Mix all dry ingredients (but not the baking soda) in a bowl.
Melt butter and golden syrup, then add the baking soda dissolved in the boiling water.
Mix the wet ingredients into the dry.
Spoon onto greased oven tray and bake for 15 minutes.
Cool a little on the tray then put on cooling rack.

Store in an air-tight container.

Enjoy!!!!!!!

Saturday, September 22, 2012

Victory Afternoon Tea


Salem admiring our spread

Salem and I thought it would be a great idea to try some of our recipes that we have planed for the Victory Tea-Party.  And we had planned on going for a picnic at the Wellington Botanic Gardens on Saturday so needed some goodies to take with us.

Even the Grumpy teenager joins in

So we made ANZAC Biscuits, Chocolate Biscuits, Nellie B's Oaty Loaf and then a Vegetable Slice to have for dinner as well as for the picnic.  All were made within our rations.
So after we had cooked everything we decided to have afternoon tea outside as it was a beautiful day and was a great way to photograph our culinary creations.

YUMM!!!!!!

The Grumpy Teenager came home from school just in time for our afternoon tea.  He was pleasantly surprised.  Everything was really yummy!!!!!
I will post my recipes on this blog over the next few days so you can give them a try.
They have the approval of two hungry lads so they must be good  ;^)


WWII Aircraft of the Day - The Bell P-39 Airacobra


The Bell P-39 Airacobra

The Bell P-39 Airacobra
United States of America
By Salem

The Bell P-39 Airacobra was one of the few war planes that made up the United States of America's fighter strength in the first half of their involvement in WWII.
The Bell P-39 Airacobra went on to enter service with the Royal Air Force in October 1941 and was unusual in that it's engine was placed behind the pilot.


Tuesday, September 18, 2012

WWII Aircraft of the Day - The Messerschmitt Me 262


The Messerschmitt Me 262

The Messerschmitt Me 262
Germany
By Salem

The Messerschmitt Me 262 was the world's first jet propelled fighter to go into service, that was in 1944.
It caused quite a stir with the Allies when it was first introduced. 
Mustang pilot Bud Anderson had the new German jet fighter in his sights. But as he closed in, the jet "just shrank up and vanished."
The Messerschmitt Me 262 had streaked away from him at more than 540 MPH which was 100 miles per hour faster than the P-51.


Victory Tea - Party War Cake





One of the goodies we will be making for the 1940s Experiment Victory Tea - Party is War Cake.
This recipe was published in the New Zealand Woman's Weekly in 1941.
It is very moist and will keep well, great to send to soldiers.

War Cake

Boil together for 3 minutes the following ingredients:
1 breakfast cup brown sugar
1 breakfast cup currants or nuts
1 breakfast cup cold water
2 breakfast cups sultanas
1 teaspoon mixed spice
pinch of salt
3oz butter.

When the mixture is cold, mix in 
1 teaspoon of baking soda mixed in a little warm milk
1 teaspoon baking powder (or 2 teaspoons of cream tartar)
2 breakfast cups plain flour.

Cook in a moderate oven for two hours.



The fruit cakes would be made by women to send off to their loved ones giving them a taste of home.  They would be put into a tin then soldered shut and sewn in calico to be sent off to the soldiers with other items.  Another popular item, believe it or not, was Andrew's Liver Salts which were used by the soldiers to make scones in place of baking powder.



Monday, September 17, 2012

WWII Aircraft of the Day - The Lockheed P38 Lightning


The Lockheed P38 Lightning

The Lockheed P38 Lightning 
United States of America
By Salem

The Lockheed P38 Lightning was a long range bomber escort.  It was known to the Germans and the Japanese as the Fork Tailed Devil.
The Lockheed P38 Lightning was unusually quiet for a fighter, the exhaust was muffled by its turbo super-chargers.
This twin-tailed fighter had served with both the United States of America Air Forces and the Royal Air Force, and also The Free French Air Force.  It had played a big part in the fighting in North Africa, North West Europe and the Pacific.  It was the only American fighter aircraft in production throughout the American involvement in WWII, from Pearl Harbor to the Victory Over Japan Day.


Sunday, September 16, 2012

WWII Aircraft of the Day - The Republic P47 Thunderbolt


The Republic P47 Thunderbolt

The Republic P47 Thunderbolt
United States of America
By Salem

The Republic P47 Thunderbolt was the heaviest single-seat fighter in mass production.
It was used as a bomber escort and then later in WWII was used as a fighter bomber.
It was built in greater quantities than any other US fighter, was the heaviest single-engine fighter and the first piston-powered fighter to exceed 500 mph. 
The Republic P47 Thunderbolt performed 546,000 combat sorties between March of 1943 and August 1945 and is considered the real forerunner of today's multi-role fighters.


Saturday, September 15, 2012

WWII Aircraft of the Day - The Messerschmitt BF109


The Messerchmitt BF109

The Messerschmitt BF109 - Germany
By Salem

The Messerschmitt BF109 was without doubt one of the greatest single seat fighters in aviator history.
It was first used in 1936 in the Spanish Civil War.  This had provided invaluable testing for Germany and they then built around 33,000  Messerschmitt BF109 fighters during 1936 - 1945.
The fighters served in many battles including the Battle of Britain and the Invasion of Poland.


Friday, September 14, 2012

The Battle of Manners Street 1943


US marines and sailors dancing with Kiwi women at the Majestic Cabaret

The "American Invasion" (as New Zealanders affectionately called the arrival of US serviceman) brought a considerable clash of cultures, and the so-called "Battle" in Manners Street, one of the main streets here in Wellington City, was a messy explosion of tensions between two allies stationed together on the home front.
This riot, which has passed into Wellington legend as “the Battle of Manners Street”, took place on the evening of Saturday, 3 April 1943. 
About 20,000 American Marines arrived in Wellington shortly after the Japanese bombed Darwin in February 1942. They had set up their base at the Allied Services Club in Manners Street, where the Manners Street Post Office is now.


The riot began at the Allied Services' Club when, it is alleged, servicemen from the southern United States refused to let some Maori servicemen drink in the club. When the Americans removed their Army service belts to emphasise their point of view, New Zealand servicemen joined in and the “battle” spread into the streets. American military police, who arrived to restore order, took sides and used their batons. 
The fighting spread to the A.N.A. Club in Willis Street, where belts and knives were used, and into Cuba Street. It has been estimated that over 1,000 American and New Zealand, troops were involved, as well as several hundreds of civilians. The battle lasted for about four hours before order was restored. 
It was finally halted by the combination of the civil police, the military police, fatigue and the worrying threat for American serviceman of missing the last train back to their barracks near Paekakariki.Many American soldiers were injured during this affray and there were false rumours that two American serviceman had died that evening which persisted for decades.  The truth was that no one was killed, and only one New Zealand serviceman was subjected to military discipline.

US Marines


The “Battle of Manners Street” was the ugliest riot in New Zealand's history but it was not the only clash between American and New Zealand troops in New Zealand cities. About the same time there were two similar riots in Auckland, and a further clash occurred outside the Mayfair Cabaret, in Cuba Street, Wellington, on 12 May 1945. There was also a clash between a small party of American servicemen and Maori civilians at Otaki in October 1943.
In no case has the result of any of the ensuing inquiries been published and, owing to wartime censorship, no reference to the riots appeared at the time in local newspapers or on the radio.

Victory Tea - Party




What a great idea from Carolyn from the 1940's Experiment blog.
She is coming to the end of her one year challenge of living on wartime rations and recreating many of the recipes from back then with a vegan twist.

Check out her blog at http://1940sexperiment.wordpress.com .

Salem and I will be making come victory table treats to join in with the celebration.
We will keep you posted.


Thursday, September 13, 2012

WWII Aircraft of the Day - The Supermarine Spitfire


The Supermarine Spitfire

The Supermarine Spitfire - Britian
By Salem

The Supermarine Spitfire was probably the most famous aircraft ever built.
It's design was inspired by the Supermarine S.6B racing seaplane which won the Schneider Trophy for Britain in 1931.
The Supermarine Spitfire was designed by R.J. Mitchell.


Wednesday, September 12, 2012

WWII Aircraft of the Day - The Boeing B-17


The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress

The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress - United States of America   
By Salem

The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress was developed for the United States Army Air Corps in the 1930's.
It was part of the lease/lend scheme and was first loaned to the Royal Air Force in 1940.
The Flying Fortress was one of the predecessors of the bomber that dropped the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.  
It was also used in the United States Army Air Corps' strategic bombers squadrons based in England.
It was a source of terror to the people of Germany.

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

New Zealand's Food Rationing in WWII




In 1944 The Economic Information Service for the Economic Stabilization Commission of New Zealand issued the "Housewives' Guide".  It contained information on food prices and food rationing.

The food rationing was slightly different here in New Zealand compared to Britian.
Food was rationed under the coupon system and the quantities available to each person is as follows......

Original NZ WW2 Ration Book Variant 3


BUTTER - 8 oz a week.  There was no ration for children under 6 months of age.

TEA - 2 oz a week, none for children under 10 years of age on the 1st January of the ration year.

SUGAR - 12 oz a week, with additional quantities in season for jam making, as announced from time to time.  No ration for children under 6 months of age.

Rationing Poster WWII - Food is a Weapon

EGGS - In districts where priority rationing is in force, a priority ration of 3 eggs a week for children 6 months and under 5 years, and 6 eggs a week for expectant and nursing mothers.  The allocation to general consumers varies according to the supply and is informally rationed through the grocers.

MEAT - The basic meat ration is 1/9 worth a week, with a half ration for children from 6 months to 5 years.
To compensate for seasonal and regional increases in meat prices, in terms of the price orders, the values of the adults' "H" and the children's "J" meat coupons alter throughout the year.

Milk, cooking oil and margarine was not rationed.  I also can't find any information saying that cheese was rationed.



Monday, September 10, 2012

WWII Aircraft of the Day - The Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet


Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet

The Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet - Germany
By Salem

The Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet was one of the most exciting war planes ever built.
It made it's first flight in 1941 but due to it's radical design, it didn't enter service until 1944.
The Komet was powered by a rocket engine and could climb up to 9140 metres in two and a half minutes.
But it did have an unquenchable thirst for fuel and it could only fly for ten minutes before it needed to be re-fueled.  
To reduce weight, the Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet had a detachable undercarriage, and to be able to land it had to skid on its belly.
But it's life was short lived as by the time they were introduced into service, the Nazi's were staring at defeat.


Sunday, September 9, 2012

WWII Aircraft of the Day - The Typhoon


Typhoons 

The Typhoon - Britian
By Salem

The Typhoon became the foremost ground attack force of the Royal Air Force.  It was modified to carry heavier and heavier weapon loads, starting with two 112kg bombs and later carrying two 450kg bombs.
During sweeps across the English Channel, before D-Day, Typhoons destroyed around 150 railway locomotives a month.  However in 1944, in an air battle over Falaise in France, in one attack they destroyed at least 137 tanks.


Friday, September 7, 2012

The Japanese Threat to New Zealand in WWII


Jigsaw puzzle
Jigsaw Puzzle  1944, J W Ltd, New Zealand

The Japanese Threat to New Zealand in WWII
During World War II, the New Zealand government used imagery such as rising-sun graphics to highlight the Japanese threat. Propaganda was part and parcel of wartime life.
Some commercial companies, like the one that produced this jigsaw box, did the same. The image of the Japanese soldier on the box is a sinister stereotype. Before the war, the lid of the same puzzle showed palm trees and an Asian boat.

New Zealand's Response to Pearl Harbor


Japan's bombing of Pearl Harbor in December 1941 and its capture of Singapore in February 1942 shocked New Zealanders. They worried about being attacked and about loved ones fighting overseas. The Japanese had bombed Darwin in Australia many times – would New Zealand be next?

The New Zealand Chiefs of Staff considered invasion unlikely because of the country's isolation. Hit-and-run raids were more probable.
The fear of the Japanese affected communities in different ways. People practised air raid drills, and some schools built shelters and trenches. The general school policy, however, was more relaxed – pupils were to go home if an alarm sounded.
The arrival of American forces in June 1942 injected welcome relief and excitement into the country. 
The above information is from http://www.tepapa.govt.nz



WWII Aircraft of the Day - The Henschel HS 123


The Henschel HS 123


The Henschel HS 123 - Germany
By Salem

The Henschel HS 123 was a small German war plane.  It was virtually un-used between 1939 - 1940.
It was then taken out of service in 1940, but soon the Germans began to wish that they had kept the old  Henschel HS 123 in production rather than withdrawing it from front-line service.
It was finally re-called for the fight against the Russians. Then when one Luftwaffe commander insisted in no uncertain terms that production should be re-started immediately, it was discovered that all the tools and construction jigs had been destroyed.  The Germans then had no alternative but to press back into service the remaining Henschel HS 123 planes.


Thursday, September 6, 2012

WWII Aircraft of the Day - The Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-3


A Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-3 and Russian Pilots

 The Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-3  
Russia        By Salem

Todays aircraft is the Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-3 which was used by the Russians in WWII.
It was one of the only fighters that Russia had during the first months of the Russian Invasion.


Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-3

They were very fast but had little else in their favour.  They were later used only for reconnaissance.

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

WWII Aircraft of the Day - The Tiger Moth


Tiger Moth Flypast at "War Birds Over Wanaka" New Zealand

Salem is studying about the aircraft used in World War II and we thought it would make a great addition to this blog as we are making this a big study about all aspects of life during this time.
Salem, being a typical boy, just loves studying all the aircraft and other military weapons and vehicles from this period of history.
First up is the Tiger Moth.....

The Tiger Moth - Britain
By Salem


The Tiger Moth

The Tiger Moth was one of the most famous trainer planes ever.  Built mainly of wood and covered almost entirely in tough fabric, it first flew in 1931.
In the years before WWII it was used by flying schools around Britain.
The Tiger Moth's secret was it's low cost and reliability and in WWII it had found itself being used for anti-aircraft training.
After the war, the RAF declared them obsolete and they mostly ended up on the civilian market.