The toast sandwich and other hyper-cheap meals (BBC)

[eppur_se_muova]

By Megan Lane
BBC News Magazine

***
The toast sandwich isn't the only recipe in Mrs Beeton's compendium to use cold toast as the basis for a meal. She recommended toast soup - 1lb (0.45kg) of bread crusts boiled in 2oz (0.05kg) of butter and a quart (1.1 litres) of "common stock". Or for a refreshing drink, what about "toast-and-water"? Made with, you guessed it, a slice of stale loaf toasted, then soaked in a quart (1.1 litres) of boiling water until cold.

"If drunk in a tepid or lukewarm state, it is an exceedingly disagreeable beverage," warned Mrs Beeton. Quite.
***
An old Scottish recipe for Fitless Cock was equally economical as it contained no meat. It was a chicken-shaped oatmeal pudding which "fooled no-one", says food writer Stefan Gates.

To make Fitless Cock mix together oatmeal, shredded suet and a finely chopped onion with a beaten egg. Form into the shape of a chicken, wrap in cloth and boil for two hours.
***
To help war-weary home cooks, its austerity recipes ran in newspapers and on its daily radio broadcast. As well as mock cream and myriad uses for spam and dried egg, it devised this recipe for mock goose, complete with stuffing.

150g (6oz) cup dried lentils
1/2 pint water
a little lemon juice
salt and pepper to taste
for the stuffing - breadcrumbs (made from two slices), chopped onion, fresh sage
Simmer the lentils until all the water has been absorbed. Add lemon juice and season. Then to make the stuffing fry the onion in a little water, drain and add breadcrumbs and chopped sage. Place half the lentil mixture in an ovenproof dish, then layer on the stuffing and top with the remaining lentils. Cook at 180C (356F) until crisp.
***
more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-15760897




Mmmmm ... it's filled with austere goodness.

[Beartracks]

1. Weird. I puked a little in my mouth... it tasted like fitless cock. n/t

[msongs]

2. at least the mocik goose would be somewhat good for u and not totally inedible lol nt

[izquierdista]

3. British recipes?

:puke:

If there's only bread and onions laying around, find a Frenchman to make a pissaladière. At least then it will be edible.

[htuttle]

5. WWII ruined British Cuisine

Bread, water and onions?

Make beer, then roast the onion and eat it. That's how Henry VIII would have done it...

[tech3149]

4. worth reading the whole article

It would be better to read the book. The mock goose and carrot jam both sound good.
I remember reading a site a couple of years ago about poverty or depression era cooking. I'll have to search that out.

[Banana Republicans]

6. Sounds like an interesting book

for everyone who's ever wanted to try carrot jam.

Let them eat toast!