Military Munchies

[Heedless Horseman]

Having been reading up on WW1 and watching DVDs about the 1914 campaign... am a bit curious.
Does anyone now produce 'Plum & Apple Jam'?
Or, what would be close to 'Maconochie's' stew?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maconochie

From reading, the 'jam' was ok... but troops got fed up with no other variety.
The infamous Maconochies... heated properly, (Next to impossible!)... not too bad, but, otherwise, Foul. There were blokes who loved the stuff, though!

Military Field Rations are a curious subject... with a Hate / love from the victims recipients, throughout the ages. Roman, ACW, WW1 or later...some things sound like you wouldn't give them to your Dog... but, for those glad for anything they could get...

Anyone got any 'Faves'?   

[mmcv]

Most Jams are just 50% sugar 50% fruit. Since apples are high in pectins you don't need to use any special "jam sugar" for it to set to a nice jelly consistency, just normal sugar. So boil up a mix of 25% chopped/grated cooking apples, 25% mashed plums and 50% sugar in a big pot and cook it until you scald yourself a few times and a dollop on a cold plate sets nicely and you're all good.

I suppose for many of the soldiers recruited from the poorer segments of society, ingredients like sugar and beef would normally be luxuries so quite a good prospect to sign up and get them every day.

[Heedless Horseman]

Damn... those bags of Plums we used to get from an uncle might have had a use after all!

Of possible interest... couple of 'food' related songs:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7WEz8ANkvw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBXAiUN-GUg

My Grandfather was not a Coffee drinker... but if he did, it HAD to be 'Camp Coffee', (Bottled 'Coffee essence')!
Condensed Milk, eaten from the tin,was a desert treat.

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

The Swiss army field rations are two bars of chocolate,
As they are never far enough away from a canteen to need owt else!

[steve_holmes_11]

Most Jams are just 50% sugar 50% fruit. Since apples are high in pectins you don't need to use any special "jam sugar" for it to set to a nice jelly consistency, just normal sugar. So boil up a mix of 25% chopped/grated cooking apples, 25% mashed plums and 50% sugar in a big pot and cook it until you scald yourself a few times and a dollop on a cold plate sets nicely and you're all good.

I suppose for many of the soldiers recruited from the poorer segments of society, ingredients like sugar and beef would normally be luxuries so quite a good prospect to sign up and get them every day.

Also, locally grown ingredients.

That matters when the western shores are infested (well, threatened) by U-boats.

[mmcv]

Also, locally grown ingredients.

That matters when the western shores are infested (well, threatened) by U-boats.

Quite so, we usually do a big batch of chutneys late summer/early autumn. Have a stack made from local apples and pears as well as rhubarb from our garden. Would have done a big batch of strawberry jam but between the birds and the dog eating them we were only able to harvest small batches. Think some nets in order next year! Ferments, pickles and preserves are a bit of a lost art that is thankfully making somewhat of a comeback in recent years. Saves on wastage, especially given the amount of perfectly good food that gets thrown away on any given day across the nation. Would make our war-era forebearers mad to see so much wasted that they were dying for!

[Heedless Horseman]

Grandfather, (MGC 1916+), used to get annoyed with Flanders Cafe proprietors who would charge a whopping chunk of pay for Egg & Chips... still payed, though. Such things were greatly needed by the blokes when they got the chance.
There were other locals who would invite a Tommy in for a meal / warm by the fire... and attempt to decline payment.

I would imagine that home made / grown preserves would be a very satisfying hobby. Our lot never did... Ma and Grandma made any fruit into pies or puds... both Excellent cooks. Damn, can still 'taste' some... way better than shop bought stuff, but, now, just memory. 

Aside: A relative had a market stall in South Shields, sometime early last Century. (Gods! LAST CENTURY!  ). Got hold of Tomatoes... many locals had never seen them before... some sampled... and spat out... thinking they were unripe Plums! 

[FierceKitty]

Tomatoes and potatoes took a while to get a foothold in European cooking. Tomatoes were considered too sour, but valued as decorative plants. Potatoes were feared as possible causers of leprosy.