This week is the seventh week of my rationing journey.
It's also the final time I will be using the 'vegetarian rations'. Yep, it struck me as so complicated when I dropped eggs from my diet again and reintroduced fish into my meal plans but continued to use the vegetarian rations. And if I'm confused then surely you are!! 😄
Last week I found a picture of an old information leaflet from the Ministry of Food that immediately made me realise what I could do. Don't you just love it when something that has been preying on your mind suddenly becomes clear ... I know I do.
Anyway there will be a re-jig of my rations in time for the new month and my new set of 20 points will also become available. Making last 'months' points stretch out over six weeks has been quite good in some ways, helping me to be able to use up some of things from my pre-rationing cupboard and whittle down the contents of the freezer.
The best meal of the week last week was this Sausage, Mash, Cabbage and Gravy meal. Gosh that was delicious. Who knew that I suddenly really love Savoy cabbage, I think cooking it the wartime way is the real gamechanger ... it's lovely.
I also made a real effort last week to use up all my weekly rations of spread and cheese, but even though I thought I had done well I still ended up with lots for a sandwich on Saturday.
I am also really getting ahead with my coffee.
The two ounces that I top the jar up with each week has now brought me right to the top of my small jar, I will have to revert to my former larger jar on the counter. I think I am using between an ounce and an ounce and a half each week. I still have the monthly ration of 4oz untouched in the cupboard as well.
There wasn't any space in my little jars of oil to top them up this week, so I weighed what was in them both and then weighed the oil in my dispenser and there was just under what I needed, so now my oil bottle is back in use and will be topped up each week.
This weeks Menu Plan is designed to use up a few of the things in my freezer and get a couple of my more 'modern' foods out of the way.
I'm looking forward to the re-jig next week, but first there are lots of lovely things to have this week ... and it's the last time I will be having a full four ounces of cheese, so I thought I would take cheese and beetroot sandwiches to Mum's this week for our lunch, Alan has his own cheddar and me and Mum both have Violife.
Sue xx
If you've got some spare oil, I recommend choppin and softening it in a little oil, then adding cabbage and water as usual. Mmm!
ReplyDeleteSomehow the important extra ingredient, onion, disappeared from the comment above!
DeleteThanks for adding the all important word ... you had me a bit baffled, I've been pondering your comment since yesterday. :-)
DeleteThat sounds like a good side for a meal, I'll give that a go, thank you.
I love Savoy Cabbage too - the more dark green leaves used the better. I'm coming to the end of home grown veg so will be buying a cabbage soon, wrapped well it lasts me several meals.
ReplyDeleteYes, it's lovely isn't it. As I work my way into the cabbage I switch from using it cooked to using the paler leaves raw. I had a lovely coleslaw yesterday with a couple of the inner leaves.
DeleteOh you're right - the sausages and gravy look lovely.
ReplyDeleteA couple of weeks back you talked about women probably swapping rations with a neighbour during the war. Can you 'swap' some of your coffee with Alan for something else that's not part of your normal rations?
PS: all the cheese you have leftover at the end of the week: how about grating some on tomatoes when you have them with toast for brekky? Or is that a mute point as you are changing how you do things?
Alan only has a couple of coffees a day so a jar lasts him for months, but that's a good idea for when he runs out, I could swap 4oz for a tin of tuna or something, he always has some in his cupboard for Ginger. :-)
DeleteI'll have less cheese next week, so it shouldn't be a problem.
The weeks have gone quickly, Sue. How are you feeling? Have the ration quantities altered your weight, width, or wellbeing? Carolyn looks radiant after eight months on her rations.
ReplyDeleteI feel a lot better for trying to cut out Ultra Processed Food. Dinner tonight is a seasonal mushroom risotto with just a little rice and lots of vegetables.
Last year I bought some nice medium pumpkins in October and stored them for bean or lentil soups all winter. The chickens enjoyed the seeds and pith.
Nelliegrace
Time has gone so quickly hasn't it, I had to double check that it was indeed week seven!
DeleteCarolyn is doing so well isn't she, although she has more weight to lose than me so it does come off easier at first. I have lost four pounds which I am happy about, but it's more about feeling healthier for me at the moment, the weight loss is just a happy side effect.
Our chickens used to love eating the actual pumpkins and marrows that I grew but they were never that keen on the pumpkin seeds, although our pigs LOVED them.
Your sausage, mash, and cabbage meal does look delicious! Looking forward to reading about how you are changing things going forwards.
ReplyDeleteIt was delicious and very satisfying, I need to have that on a regular basis. Perhaps I need to work on a two or three week revolving menu where the favourite meals can appear over and over.
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