Thursday, January 13, 2011

Heroic Sandwiches.

Brisbane is under water, and as my own home is only a couple of hundred metres from the river, I am waiting out the floods at my son’s home along with several other flood refugees. Seventy-five percent of the state of Queensland (an area about the size of Britain and Europe) is in the grip of the worst natural disaster in its history, and I am too pre-occupied to write anything lengthy.

We have been glued to the television all day, watching in horror scenes of utter devastation, enormous tragedy, and great heroism. Thankfully, there seems to have been very little in the way of looting reported so far. It is expected that 16,000 people will spend the night in the evacuation centres set up in the city, as the greatest flood peak is expected in the early hours of the morning.

In the background of the television scenes of the evacuation centres, working quietly away, were the sandwich makers. This post is dedicated to those essential members of the disaster teams.

I give you a couple of recipes chosen at random from One hundred &one sandwiches, published in about 1906.

Tourist.
Rub yolks of hard-boiled eggs through fine strainer; mix with creamed butter. Add sardines, skinned, boned, and mashed to a paste. Season with lemon-juice and minced olives.

Celery.
Take a half-cupful of white celery cut fine and add a quarter of a cupful of pecan or walnut meats chopped fine. Mix with one and one-half tablespoonfuls of mayonnaise dressing and season with salt and cayenne. Spread between water wafers.

10 comments:

Fay said...

mmmm mmmm! Hard boiled eggs AND sardines in the one sanger packet. Opening just one o those would probably empty an evacuation centre!
Feeling for you in Brisbane, I have a son in Ipswich. He says it's lucky he's a roof tiler so he will be quite comfortable on the roof watching the water rise.

Sarah Jane said...

I'm so so glad you're safe - I was thinking about you this morning while I was listening to all the news on the radio.

Look after yourself! My thoughts are with you and all the people in Queensland xxxx

Les said...

Thank you for updating us on your situation. I was wondering how you were as I watched a youtube clip shot from someone's upper story apartment. The parking lot was flooded and cars were being swept away.

Glad to know you and your family are safe.

The sandwich recipes look delicious.

SharleneT said...

I have been so worried about you since your last post and prayed you got to higher ground. I can't imagine the horror and pain that your country is going through, right now. My prayers are with all of you and that you've been averted the worst of the damage. I know so many of your friends may not have been so fortunate. Please know that my prayers are with you and yours...


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A Kitchen Witch said...

So sorry to hear about your nearness to the floods. A follower of mine lives in the area, too, which is how I first found out about the conditions. Sending prayers to those that need them.

Judy said...

Janet, it sounds like it is getting ugly. Write when you can. We do understand life happens. Please take care.

ali said...

I can't believe how bad it is there. I feel for all of you.

Marcheline said...

Here's hoping your home survives the flood unscathed, and so happy you're with family and not in some shelter someplace.

Hugs,
M

The Old Foodie said...

Thanks everyone: I am safe and dry at my son's house. My immediate family are all fine, but we expect todayto start helping friends who have not been so lucky.

Deana Sidney said...

It is a nightmare watching what is going on... good to hear that you are well and safe and helping others. May your luck continue to hold out and the river mind its manners.