Vintage Lane – Raspberry Buns from Nana’s War Cookbook

Hello. My name is _________________

Fire stove baking! As compared with Electric stove baking.

As with most of the books from this time, there is a bunch of information at the start about various things. So many tests to see if your oven is ready, etc… we once had a wood stove. I felt like I lived in the House on the Prairie.

Here’s something you don’t see every day though – making a will! I guess it was pretty important in times of war to ensure everyone was covered, and as recipe books were usually the bible of the housewife it makes sense that this kind of information was available to them easily.

There is also a preface by one Dorothy M. Giles, who politely informs us she has a Diploma of Domestic Economy. What I wouldn’t give for one of those! Hailing as the ‘sometimes’ head of the Cookery Section of Swinburne Technical College, Glenferrie, Victoria (when did that section disapper?!), she has many years practical experience. Probably not in will-making, however.

She confidently recommends to all users of the book to patronise the advertisers therein, and also to use the ingredients advertised. Ok.

Ms Giles also regrets having to increase the price to 3/3, which has been approved by the Prices Commissioner (nice guy) – Approval No 1790 – and is necessitated “owing to the other paper being unprocurable and the super-calendar paper used in this issue being much more expensive,” and goes on to say there is some compensation in the superior appearance of the book with its fancy new paper. Probably the sole reason it’s still together all these years later!

There are recipes for soup, fish, meats, meat pies and pasties, chicken, cold meat dishes, economies, vegetables (with a little section on rules for preparation), steamed puddings, milk puddings, boiled puddings, cold sweets, jellies and creams, gelatine (an advertiser), pastry, pies, sauces, sandwich cakes, butter cakes, wedding cake, icings and fillings, biscuits, scones, bread, tea cakes, yeast goods, breakfast, eggs, casseroles, preserves, savories, and apologies about the lack of invalid cooking, which you can find in another book.

om nom not.

hm cake + brain… not a delicious combination.

Not sure what’s weirder… a good daughter pudding or one made out of cabinets?

An example of the photos. There aren’t many.

This was a popular page! Honey cakes next.

This poem cracked me up. How cute.

Plenty of “how to get a man” hints…

I found this tucked away among the pages.

Still have no idea what this recipe makes!

“I’ll have some propaganda with my buns, thanks.”

You’ve been told…

LOVE IT.