Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Wartime Recipes for the Sick and Wounded.


Once upon a not-too distant time, a huge part of a nurse’s job was day to day involvement with the preparation of food for their patients. I knew this, of course, when I picked up a copy of  A war cookery book for the sick and wounded : compiled from the cookery books by Mrs. Edwards, Miss May Little, etc., etc.(1914) by Jessie M. Laurie, but the following list really brought it home to me:-

POINTS FOR NURSES
  •        See that the tray, cloth and the napkin are spotlessly clean and that the food is nicely arranged on the plate.
  •        Only the freshest and best material should be used and served.
  •         In cases of serious illness the doctor's orders must be kept to the letter.
  •        Use very little seasoning without instructions.
  •         Liquid food must be varied as much as possible.
  •        All food should be given in small quantities and served at once when cooked.
  •         Where possible, no dish should be served a second time.
  •         All food must be covered when carried from kitchen to sickroom. 
  •          Never consult a patient about a meal.
  •          Put all medicines out of sight at meal-times and let the meals themselves be punctual.
  •          The food must be absolutely hot or cold, as the case may be nothing lukewarm.
  •          Vegetables and fruit should not be given without the doctor's consent.
  •          Steaming is the best method of cooking - fried foods are rich, and should be avoided in serious cases.
  •          All cooking utensils must be scrupulously clean.
  •          Oysters are excellent, as they contain a self-digesting ferment. Tripe is a good and cheap substitute, as it is digested in an hour.


What do you think about the instruction to “never consult a patient about a meal”?

The following recipe from the book would hit the spot, methinks, whether the eater be sick or well - in spite of the rather confused instructions:

Potato Soufflés.

Make a nice mashed potato adding the yolk and white of an egg, and about 1 oz. of butter. Mix in the butter, the yolk of an egg, and a little salt and pepper. Whip in the white, mix into the soufflé. Butter some little soufflé cases and fill them with this. Bake in a quick oven for 20 minutes. If liked, this can be served in a soufflé dish.

1 comment:

korenni said...

"Never consult a patient about a meal" -- Colonel: "What is this repulsive pap? Bring me a steak and a bottle of Burgundy!" Major: "I can't eat this. What else do you have?" Captain: "Nurse, I'm really hungry. Can't you bring me something that isn't Jello?" Lieutenant: "You know, this would be a lot better if -- here, I'll just write down some instructions for the cook." Sergeant-Major: crash! smash! [as he throws his tray against the wall.]