So here is my 1950s menu plan, Tasmanian style and with a summery theme too I guess.
SATURDAYBreakfast: stewed greengages ( plums)
weetbix toast and butter and apricot jam ( or whatever you please) orange juice coffee or teaLunch: scrambled eggs on wholemeal toast lettuce and tomato nectarines biscuits and tea or coffeeDinner: vegetable lamb shank soup with a bread stick and butter ( I had a lamb bone in the freezer from last week's roast) rice puddingSUNDAYBreakfast: Orange juice poached eggs on toast packet cold cereal coffee or teaLunch: cheese salad sandwiches nectarines and apricots tea or coffeeDinner: it was to have been roast but we went for a late swim so we had Barbecued sausages with salad and bread vanilla ice cream and topping tea or coffeeMONDAYBreakfast: orange juice Cold packet cereal and milk and fruit toast and butter and whatever you please, jam, promite, peanut butter,honey tea or coffeeLunch: grilled cheese on toast fruit chocolate biscuits tea or coffee ( and of course we usually have a glass or two of water)Dinner: roast beef with boiled and buttered new potatoes,boiled green peas ( frozen but good) and carrots. no one was very hungry but we had left over rice pudding and the last of the nectarines tea or coffeeTUESDAYBreakfast: banana choc chip muffins Cold cereal for those who are extra hungry pineapple juice tea and coffeeLunch: baked beans on toast bananas tea or coffeeDinner: The rest of the sausages ( enough of the sausages already) garden salad with the dressing in a separate jug boiled potatoes with parsley butter Atomic blue whip ( jelly whip made with blue jelly (jello) , some cold carnation milk plus some cream, all whipped together for about 4 minutes and then popped in the fridge)WEDNESDAYBreakfast: weetbix and warm milk with grapes toast , butter and whatever you want pineapple juice tea or coffeeLunch: Macaroni and cheese apricots tea or coffeeDinner: pork or lamb chops ( I'll decide when I get to the butcher) mashed potato, broccoli, peas fruit salad and cream tea and coffee.THURSDAYBreakfast: pikelets , butter and golden syrup pineapple juice tea or coffee.Lunch: egg salad sandwiches apricots anzac biscuits tea or coffeeDinner: spaghetti with meatballsbread and butter ( no garlic EVER in my mother's house, that delight awaited me when I left home) green salad lemon delicious pudding tea or coffeeFRIDAYBreakfast: Orange juice poached eggs on toast cold cereal for the hungry tea or coffeeLunch: potato and leek soup cheese jaffle ( toasted cheese sandwich) apricots and grapes tea and coffeeDinner: shallow fried, flour dredged fish fillets with a green salad and boiled potatoes and peas. bread and butter butterscotch pudding and cream tea and coffeePlus I have made a chocolate cake and some anzac biscuits and choc chip biscuits (to finish off the packet before certain people sneak into the pantry and eat them all)
My menu does differ from
the original in that I have used more eggs because I don't have to buy them. Also as my children are older they don't particularly always want a glass of milk with their meals ( although we all do sometimes)
The orange juice is from the greengrocer and the pineapple juice is from a can.
I haven't included morning and afternoon tea but that is usually a biscuit or two or a piece of cake or maybe just fruit and a hot or cold drink.
I have also been making packed lunches for Stephen and Louis this week. Generally they have a salad sandwich or roll and a piece of cake or a biscuit and some fruit.
So, What do you think?
The food seems rather plain but good fresh ingredients cooked well don't need much tarting up do they? My mother would never have made muffins but I had bananas that needed using and hungry people at the breakfast table. also my mother didn't buy orange juice, we rarely had it but when we did it was freshly squeezed. There is a particular brand of juice that Stephen and the children love so that is what we had.
I'd love to hear what you have to say.
EDIT: I must admit that the menu above is quite similar to our normal menu with the addition of things like tacos, homemade pizzas,the occasional curry and various pasta dishes. In winter time of course there are more stews. Someone asked about having fruit as part of a meal in cooler weather and I would say we mostly have it in the form of pies, crumbles, stewed with custard and so on.Also preserved or stewed fruit is yummy on hot or cold cereal. Good apples and pears are delicious with a nice cheddar cheese.
Many of you agree that the 1950s menu is the basis of your home cooking, that is cooking like your mothers and grandmothers with a few additions. Traditional recipes, handed down and enjoyed by a new generation is what good home cooking is all about regardless of what country you live in. Never forget, as long as you came from a home where food was cooked and enjoyed you do have family food traditions worth preserving.
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