Tuesday, October 18, 2016

World War II Afternoon Tea


Red, white and blue carnations graced the tables for our World War II themed tea held late in September. Blue teacups and blue napkins continued the theme. A festive menu was placed on each table. The Victory Cook Book, found among our mother's cook book collection, was a source for a few of the dishes served at this tea.

The first course featured 'A Good Salad" that was a pasta base that included pineapple and celery. It was served on a bed of fresh salad greens harvested from our Victory Garden and sprinkled with a bit of parsley.

The Sandwiches included Cheesy Spam Rounds on Pumpernickel bread with a small "V" cutout on top, War Time Apple Butter and Gouda on a hearty dark bread, Poor Man's Buttered Graham Bread, Victory Garden Veggie Confetti Rounds, "Doctor Carrot" Tea Sandwich, and Post War Tomato and Parmesan Sandwich with Basil Butter.

"Doctor Carrot", the children's best friend was a  promotional advertising effort, along with "Potato Pete" and was introduced in England in 1941 to get kids to eat more veggies and to help promote the consumption of surplus crops.
Our scone course included Sugar Rationed English Cream Scones with jelly and cream and fresh fruit. And the dessert course was true comfort food, Old Fashioned Apple Crisp served warm with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream and a Pecan Ice Box Cookie, a recipe from the Victory Cook book.


2 comments:

Tabatha said...

How fantastically authentic and educational! Would have loved to be there.

Marilyn Miller said...

What a fun theme. I do remember eating spam when I was a child and also having the carrot sandwiches. A few years ago I thought I would try spam, oh my it is so salty.