Cookbooks and Sugar Rationing During WWII

By Marie Wells Coutu

During a recent visit to my hometown, my sister and I made our favorite dessert from childhood—chocolate cake with chocolate frosting. Although we both have handwritten copies, we dug out Mother’s old cookbooks to find the original recipe.

The tattered pages of this 1945
cookbook are a testament to how
much my mother used it

It came from a cookbook produced for Lever Brothers’ Golden Jubilee in 1945 that promoted the use of Spry vegetable shortening. The cover of “10 Luscious New Cakes” touts that these recipes feature Spry’s “amazing new one-bowl method.” Spry’s spokesperson, the fictional character Aunt Jenny, is quoted as saying “It’s easy now to get lighter, more delicious cakes—even if you’re short on sugar.”

The first shortening made entirely from vegetable oil was introduced as Crisco by Procter & Gamble in 1911. It provided an alternative to lard, which is made from animal fats. Both helped cooks produce tender and flaky pie crusts, biscuits, and other baked goods.

Lever Brothers introduced Spry in 1936 as a competitor to Crisco, and within only three years it had gained 75% of Crisco’s market share. This success has been attributed to aggressive marketing using “Aunt Jenny.” I suspect the widespread distribution of numerous Aunt Jenny recipe books contributed, as attested to by the collection my mother had.

I don’t know how many of Aunt Jenny’s recipes she actually used, but the Fudge Bar Cake and Minute Fudge Frosting became our family’s favorite. In our home, chocolate cake automatically meant this cake and frosting, and it was always requested for birthdays and other special occasions. [Confession: in her later years, Mother would use a cake mix, but she always made the frosting from this recipe.]

The notation on the cover about the recipes being delicious “even if you’re short on sugar” made me curious about sugar shortages. Of course, I knew about World War II rationing, but I didn’t know the specifics about how sugar was affected. According to the National Park Service [Sugar: The First and Last Food Rationed on the World War II Home Front (U.S. National Park Service)], imports from Hawaii and the Philippines stopped following the Japanese invasion in December 1941, and German U-Boat attacks limited shipments from Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Sales of sugar in the U.S. were halted in late April 1942, and rationing began. Even after the war ended, the global supply of sugar was limited due to disruptions from the war and low crop yields. Sugar rationing in the U.S. continued until June 1947.

In May 1945, the ration of sugar was cut to 15 pounds per person per year. The chocolate cake and frosting recipes each call for one cup of sugar for a single layer. Making a two-layer cake would have used nearly all the sugar ration for a family of four for one week. No wonder cakes were made during the war only for special occasions!

Mother saved a number of other free Spry cookbooks, including “Aunt Jenny Starts a Bride Off Right,” “Good Cooking Made Easy,” and “Enjoy Good Eating Every Day the Easy Spry Way.” I even found a copy of “Aunt Jenny’s Favorite Recipes” among Mother’s cookbooks. That one was reprinted under the public domain in 2018 and is also available to download from the Internet Archive.

If you want to try out any of the recipes, however, you’ll have to use Crisco or another brand of vegetable shortening, since Lever stopped producing Spry sometime in the 1970s.

Aunt Jenny offered recipes and
techniques for cooks during WWII

Multi-award-winning author Marie Wells Coutu finds beauty in surprising places, like undiscovered treasures, old houses, and gnarly trees. All three books in her Mended Vessels series, contemporary stories based on the lives of biblical women, have won awards in multiple contests. She is currently working on historical romances set in her native western Kentucky in the 1930s and 1940s. Her historical short story, “All That Glitters,” won honorable mention in the 2023 Saturday Evening Post Great American Fiction Contest. You can find more about Marie and her novels at her website, MarieWellsCoutu.com.

Truth is messy. But will their shared secret destroy his political career—or sabotage their marriage? After a whirlwind romance, beautiful Shawna Moore marries Hunter Wilson, the governor of Tennessee. Now, she wonders if the governor ever loved her or only hoped to avoid a scandal.
In this modern re-imagining of the biblical story of Bathsheba and King David, an investigative reporter is asking questions. If he discovers the truth about Shawna’s baby, Hunter’s chances for reelection, as well as Shawna’s reputation, will be ruined. Will Hunter’s choice mean the end of his political career or his family?

The Women's Land Army of WWII

Image: Kevsphotos from Pixabay

Shortly after World War II began, the U.S. government realized that in order to feed the country and its troops, rationing would be necessary in addition to promoting the concept of Victory Gardens. What they didn’t realize until nearly halfway through the war, was that food production and harvesting needed to be coordinated in a nation-wide effort.

In 1940, the population of the United States was approximately 132 million people. Across the country there were nearly six million farms that provided food for the nation. However, by 1942 over two million men had left agricultural jobs. By 1943 another four million men were gone from the farms, and the U.S. was now feeding other countries. Combined with gas and rubber rationing that put an end to the use of migrant workers, the agriculture industry was suffering. Badly.

Across the country, there were major concerns about widespread crop loss. As a result, many states and private organizations created programs that trained high schoolers, conscientious objectors, prisoners of war, and interned Japanese-Americans. But these workers were still not enough.

Florence Hall (archives.gov)

Finally, in November 1942 ranking officials in the Department of Agriculture began to move ahead with the creation of a Women’s Land Army. However, it would take another six months of committee meetings before congressional approval of the Emergency Farm Labor Program and the assignment of Senior Home Economist Florence L. Hall as its head, a “temporary” position she held until 1946!

Women were not expected to have farming experience, but applicants had to be physically fit and possess manual dexterity, patience, curiosity, and patriotism. They also had to be at least eighteen years old. Upon completion of their training, the women were assigned to a farm. Some recruits lived at home and participated in day-haul programs, referred to as the “Housewives Specials.” Recruits from distant cities lived in housing provided by the farmer, or in government camps if there were enough workers to qualify for defense housing to be built or requisitioned. In the late spring each year, posters, brochures, and radio advertisements encouraged teachers to work the farms during their summer vacations, and women in other industries to use their two week vacation time to work on the farms.

Photo: archives.gov

Accident and life insurance were also provided, and the women could purchase additional insurance as well as a uniform. The women supplied their own blankets, sheets, towels and clothes. They were also required to make their own beds and wash their own dishes.

When all was said and done, the Women’s Land Army program was considered a great success. Women with little or no agricultural experience saved countless crops from rotting in the fields and provided food to a world at war.

How are your gardening skills?

A Love Not Forgotten: Allison White should be thrilled about her upcoming wedding. The problem? She’s still in love with her fiancé, Chaz, who was declared dead after being shot down over Germany in 1944. Can she put the past behind her and settle down to married life with the kindhearted man who loves her?




Linda Shenton Matchett writes about ordinary people who did extraordinary things in days gone by. A volunteer docent and archivist for the Wright Museum of WWII, Linda is also a trustee for her local public library. She is a native of Baltimore and was born a stone's throw fro Fort McHenry. Linda has lived in historic places all her life, and is now located in central New Hampshire where her favorite activities include exploring historic sites and immersing herself in the imaginary worlds created by other authors. Connect with her: Website, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Goodreads, or BookBub.

Celebrating Christmas During World War II

By Golden Keyes Parsons

As I began to do the research on Christmas celebrations during World War II, I realized that I remembered many of the things we did during those days because of the rationing. I was so young, however, that I didn't understand it was because of the rationing. That's just how one did things. 

I can remember making red and green construction paper chains at Sunday School to put on the rather scrawny Christmas tree. We always had a real tree, but I don't remember if my dad cut it himself or if we purchased one. Trees were fairly scarce as labor to cut the trees was scarce as well. The men were gone to war. We also strung popcorn and cranberries to make garlands for the tree. It was great fun for the children. We had no idea of the turmoil going on across the ocean.

I had forgotten all about this, but reading the research I ran across what folks did during the war to make "snow." They would make a mixture of Ivory Snow laundry detergent and water and whip it until it was light and fluffy. Then they would decorate windows and even Christmas trees with it. I remember flinging the white concoction onto the tree to make it look like it had been in a snow fall. As it dried, it formed a thin crust and lasted through the holidays.

One thing that was really different than today for our family was that the stockings we hung were just plain old socks, not the fancy jeweled, furry ones we hang today. And when we awoke Christmas morning the stockings were filled, not with games, toiletries, and electronic gadgets, but with oranges, candy, and nuts. Fresh fruit was a luxury in those days.

Christmas dinner was much less abundant than today, but it was festive nonetheless. I remember we usually had a roast hen, and stuffing that I did not like at all. We lived in Indiana at the time, and the dressing was this gray, gummy dish. Not until we moved to Texas and I was introduced to cornbread dressing in the school cafeteria did I like dressing. During the holidays, my mom always made a candy made out of potatoes, which was a fondant kind of candy with a chocolate topping. I'm sure she saved ration cards for chocolate for months to be able to make the candy. 

I can remember Santa only bringing one significant present to my brother and myself, and I'm sure even that was difficult for my parents to come up with during those lean years. A doll for me, and an electric train for my brother. We

were thrilled! Christmas didn't seem to be so much about presents and things then, as it was being with family and loved ones. Many Christmas dinner tables in our small town had empty places during those years. I remember opening the door one wintry evening and seeing a tall, handsome, grinning sailor standing in the doorway. It was my Uncle George, and he was home from the war. That was the best Christmas present of all!

Do any of you have memories of Christmases during WWII? Share them with us to win a copy of an article about my "famous" English toffee recipe. (Be sure to leave your email address.)

Although a multi-published fiction author, Golden Keyes Parsons’ first published non-fiction work, Spiritual Spring Cleaning, (BoldVision Books) just released in April 2015. Her series, Darkness to Light, (Thomas Nelson) chronicled the journey of her ancestors in 17^th century France and was a finalist for ACFW’s Debut Author of the Year in 2008. Her fourth novel, His Steadfast Love, a Civil War novel, was a National Readers Choice finalist. Parsons has also written a biblical fiction series entitled Hidden Faces, Portraits of Nameless Women in the Gospels (WhiteFire Publishing). Golden lives in Waco, TX, with her husband, Blaine. www.goldenkeyesparsons.com

CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS DESPITE THE WAR

ANNE GREENE here:  

Christmas is a major holiday in the United States, but during World War II, 1941-1945 Christmas had a special meaning. Most families had a loved one serving in the military who could not be home for Christmas. Peace on Earth was no longer just a nice phrase found on Christmas cards, but the number one prayer of Americans everywhere. The Christmas season gave hope that while this year many were away, maybe next year the war would end and missing family members would return home.

On the Home Front, Americans tried to celebrate Christmas. Families dealt with painful separations and lost loved ones which made the holiday agonizing. But those keeping the home front fires burning worked hard at making Christmas merry for the children. 

Before the war, America still recovered from the great depression when money and jobs were scarce. Shoppers had often been limited to window shopping, not having any extra money to purchase gifts. When the war began, war production went into high gear bringing good-paying jobs and additional income. But, there was little to buy as rationing left few goods on the shelves. Metal toys nearly disappeared as did automobiles, radios, bicycles, typewriters, and other goods.

Wartime production priorities restricted the presents children could receive for Christmas. Santa Claus had to tell the kids to lower their expectations. Santa explained that a particular toy had too much steel in it, and that steel was needed for the war. If a child seemed disappointed, Santa told the child that some children living in the countries where the war was fought would have no Christmas. With the shortage of men, Santa was often a woman. 

The song, White Christmas, debuted in 1942. Sung by Bing Crosby the tune became an instant success as its peaceful feeling hit home with those on the home front and those on the battle front. I’ll Be Home for Christmas debuted in 1943. The words touched the hearts of separated loved ones. Both songs are still classics sung at Christmas. 

For the soldiers, sailors and airmen overseas, military necessity and lack of accommodations forced them to have minimal celebrations. Many of the boys serving overseas got the blues. But presents from home cheered them. 

Do you have a Christmas story you’d like to share? Maybe a soldier or someone in your family shared his or her experience. Maybe you have a story of how a child at home felt during those years at Christmas from 1941 to 1945. I’d love to hear your stories. Please leave a comment. 

Leave a comment and one lucky winner will win my WWII book, Angel With Steel Wings. Buy any one or all seven of Anne’s book on http://www.Amazon.com.

Ace Collins, bestselling author of numerous books, including the WW II series, In the President’s Service, says of ANGEL WITH STEEL WINGS: 

A story of a woman in a man’s domain set against the dynamics of World War II is a can’t-miss scenario. Angel With Steel Wings paints a vivid picture of courageous pilots facing death in the air while struggling with love on the ground, and wraps it up in a unique twist that will challenge all you knew about the “Greatest Generation.” Steeped in history and framed by faith, this is a tale that takes readers into a world now all but forgotten, and lands in a place that touches the heart in a special way. To know how far we have come, we must understand where we started, and Angels With Steel Wings takes us back on a thrilling trip in time that informs as it entertains. I think this is one flight you won’t want to miss.

ANNE GREENE delights in writing about alpha heroes who aren’t afraid to fall on their knees in prayer, and about gutsy heroines. Her novellas, A CHRISTMAS BELLE, and A GROOM FOR CHRISTMAS are now available. Her Women of Courage Series spotlights heroic women of World War II, with the first book ANGEL WITH STEEL WINGS available. Enjoy her private investigating series, Handcuffed In Texas by reading the first book, Holly Garden, PI, RED IS FOR ROOKIE. Try her award-winning Scottish historical romances, MASQUERADE MARRIAGE and MARRIAE BY ARRANGEMENT. Anne’s highest hope is that her stories transport the reader to an awesome new world and touch hearts to seek a deeper spiritual relationship with the Lord Jesus. Buy Anne’s books on http://www.Amazon.com.

 

 

 

Thanksgiving During Wartime

By Golden Keyes Parsons

The Thanksgiving holiday conjures up pictures of elementary school children in

school plays wearing feather headdresses made out of red, orange, and brown construction paper and/or pilgrim hats and the solemn black clothing of the somber Puritans. A table is spread with turkey, pumpkins, and corn.

One of my first memories of the Thanksgiving season is a snowy day in Indiana when I was in the second grade in a school play. I was an Indian sitting cross-legged at the entrance of my teepee, but alas! The poorly constructed stage prop collapsed on my head during the play. I simply sat still trying to remain dignified until the teacher rescued me amidst giggles and snickers of the parental audience.

However, although a celebration of thanksgiving to the Creator occurred periodically throughout our history from the very beginning, President Lincoln was the one who in the middle of one of the worst periods in our history, the War Between the States, officially appointed a day for the nation to pause and thank him for the great abundance of this nation. I was stunned to read the expressions of gratitude President Lincoln poured out to God in that formal document. From that time forward Americans have observed a formal holiday on the fourth Thursday of November.

During the Civil War shipments of ham, peaches, turkey, oysters, and minced pies from benevolent societies made their way to the Union troops. In the South the fare was more meager. They ate mule meat, a mixture of rice and molasses, and cornbread.

In World War 1 stateside, families were rationed as to what was available for the traditional Thanksgiving meal. Newspaper articles offered ideas for substituting chicken for turkey, leaving oysters out of the stuffing (that would have been fine with me!), and eliminating the cranberry dishes as they used too much sugar. Rationing was supposed to make more available for the soldiers overseas in countries where the crops had been ravaged.


The rationing was again a problem during World War 2 both at home and among the soldiers. In addition to food rationing, gas and rubber rationing made it difficult to travel to relatives homes for the traditional family holiday. Men and women were missing from the table. But the traditional holiday continued, although there was some political wrangling as to whether the holiday would be celebrated on the fourth or last Thursday of the month. Recipes abounded helping housewives to make the adjustment of less sugar, butter, cheese, cream, and meat. Still the families managed to gather, in an attitude of thanksgiving to God.

I hope as we gather this Thanksgiving season around our table of abundance we we will remember with gratitude all we have to be thankful for in this nation. Our freedom is not free. It has been bought with the blood of our men and women in the military. My brother was killed in Vietnam, so we have had an empty place at the table for over forty years. Parents have passed away, and our children have grown into adults with families of their own. We are not currently engaged in a war, but many of our military are serving overseas during the holidays. Let's remember them and their families. We are indeed a blessed nation.

Although a multi-published fiction author, Golden Keyes Parsons’ first published non-fiction work, Spiritual Spring Cleaning, (BoldVision Books) just released in April 2015. Her series, Darkness to Light, (Thomas Nelson) chronicled the journey of her ancestors in 17^th century France and was a finalist for ACFW’s Debut Author of the Year in 2008. Her fourth novel, His Steadfast Love, a Civil War novel, was a National Readers Choice finalist. Parsons has also written a biblical fiction series entitled Hidden Faces, Portraits of Nameless Women in the Gospels (WhiteFire Publishing). Golden lives in Waco, TX, with her husband, Blaine. www.goldenkeyesparsons.com

STILL WE GAVE THANKS DURING WORLD WAR II AND BOOK GIVE AWAY

ANNE GREENE HERE: Soon our nation will celebrate another Thanksgiving as a free America. But during World War II, our nation fought to the death for that freedom. Still, at home and on the battlefield, we Americans gave thanks.

God’s help to us has been great in this year of marching towards world-wide

liberty, President Roosevelt said in his 1943 Thanksgiving speech to the nation. In brotherhood with warriors of other United Nations our gallant men have won victories, have freed our homes from fear, have made tyranny tremble, and have laid the foundation for freedom of life in a world which will be free.

Roosevelt continued, May we on Thanksgiving Day and on every day express our gratitude and zealously devote ourselves to our duties as individuals and as a nation. May each of us dedicate his utmost efforts to speeding the victory which will bring new opportunities for peace and brotherhood among men.

Americans cherish our Thanksgiving Holliday. Roosevelt decided to provide a

turkey dinner for all troops. To accomplish this, the fresh meat ration had to be cut. A holiday-sized portion equaled three normal meat meals. Nevertheless Roosevelt committed himself to provide turkey to all the troops on the continent to raise their morale. By Thanksgiving, stuffing, fresh fruit, vegetables, white bread, cranberry sauce, and over one and half tons of turkey were distributed to the troops. Roosevelt didn’t forget the pumpkin pies. Mobile bakery trucks helped deliver the meal. Some combat troops did not receive the special ration until one or two days after Thanksgiving, but Americans pulled-off a great feat to raise the troop morale and help with homesickness.

Military Thanksgiving dinners were far different from the usual precooked C- or K-rations. As the men all lived on rations, the soldiers hadn’t seen so much food since the war began. The food arrived on fully loaded liberty ships in time for their Thanksgiving Day celebrations.

On the Home Front, people decided Thanksgiving was worth preserving, even during these times of rationing. Magazines and pamphlets encouraged homemakers to create pies using molasses, to stretch meat rations, and to do other imaginative things to create a feast while the nation was at war.

Food was in short supply because much canned food was reserved for overseas to our military and our allies. Transportation of fresh food was limited due to gasoline and tire rationing and the priority of transporting soldiers and war supplies instead of food. Imported items, like coffee and sugar, were limited due to restrictions on importing.

Many families missed parents and siblings who were overseas fighting. Items like the Thanksgiving turkey were nearly impossible to find. Even a tradition as simple as a football game was suspended.

November 23, 1945 wartime rationing of most foods ended. But people at home retained a strong memory of rubber, metal, clothing, and other materials that were rationed. Plus shortages of most types of food affected everyone on a daily basis.

This Thanksgiving, when you think about what you are thankful for, consider the soldiers and families that sacrificed and continue to sacrifice for our war efforts.

What would you miss most about Thanksgiving dinner if America were once again in a world war? Remember, if family didn’t live in the vicinity, they could not visit unless they saved their gas rations.

Leave a comment and one lucky person will win my WWII book about women test pilots, Angel With Steel Wings.

Ace Collins, bestselling author of numerous books, including the WW II series, In the President’s Service, says of ANGEL WITH STEEL WINGS:

A story of a woman in a man’s domain set against the dynamics of World War II is a can’t-miss scenario. Angel With Steel Wings paints a vivid picture of courageous pilots facing death in the air while struggling with love on the ground, and wraps it up in a unique twist that will challenge all you knew about the “Greatest Generation.” Steeped in history and framed by faith, this is a tale that takes readers into a world now all but forgotten, and lands in a place that touches the heart in a special way. To know how far we have come, we must understand where we started, and Angels With Steel Wings takes us back on a thrilling trip in time that informs as it entertains. I think this is one flight you won’t want to miss.

ANNE GREENE delights in writing about alpha heroes who aren’t afraid to fall on their knees in prayer, and about gutsy heroines. Her novellas, A CHRISTMAS BELLE, and A GROOM FOR CHRISTMAS are now available. Her Women of Courage Series spotlights heroic women of World War II, with the first book ANGEL WITH STEEL WINGS available. Enjoy her private investigating series, Handcuffed In Texas by reading the first book, Holly Garden, PI, RED IS FOR ROOKIE. Try her award-winning Scottish historical romances, MASQUERADE MARRIAGE and MARRIAE BY ARRANGEMENT. Anne’s highest hope is that her stories transport the reader to an awesome new world and touch hearts to seek a deeper spiritual relationship with the Lord Jesus. Buy Anne’s books on http://www.Amazon.com.

CHRISTMAS DURING WORLD WAR II

ANNE GREENE here.

Here is part of how Americans celebrated Christmas during the war years. 

Christmas has always been a major holiday in the United States, but during World War II (1941-45) the holiday took on special meaning as most families had a loved one serving in the military who could not be home for Christmas. Peace on Earth was not just a nice phrase found on Christmas cards, but the number one prayer of Americans everywhere. The Christmas season gave hope that while this year many were away, maybe next year the war would be over and missing family members would return home. 

Americans tried their best to celebrate Christmas. Families on the Home Front dealt with painful separations and lost loved ones which the holiday made agonizing. But those keeping the home front fires burning worked hard at making Christmas merry for the children. 

Before the war, America was still recovering from the great depression when money and jobs were scarce. Shoppers were often limited to window shopping, not having any extra money to purchase anything. When the war began, war production went into high gear bringing good-paying jobs and additional income. But, there was little to buy as rationing and priorities in war production left few goods on the shelves. Metal toys nearly disappeared as did automobiles, radios, bicycles, typewriters, and other goods. 

Wartime production priorities greatly restricted the presents that children could receive for Christmas. Who better to tell the kids than St. Nick? Santa Claus had to lower children’s expectations when they came to sit on his lap. Santa explained that a particular toy had too much steel in it - and that steel was needed for the war. If a child seemed disappointed, Santa told the child that some children living in the countries where the war was being fought would have no Christmas. With the shortage of men, Santa was often a woman. 

The song, White Christmas, debuted in 1942. Sung by Bing Crosby it became an instant success as its peaceful feeling hit home with those on the home front and those on the battle front. I’ll Be Home for Christmas debuted in 1943. The words touched the hearts of separated loved ones. Both songs are still classics sung at Christmas. 

For the soldiers, sailors and airmen overseas, military necessity and lack of accommodations forced them to have minimal celebrations. Many of the boys serving overseas got the blues. But presents from home cheered them. 

Do you have a Christmas story from the World War II years that you’d like to share? Maybe a soldier or someone in your family shared his or her experience. Maybe you have a story of how a child at home felt during those years at Christmas from 1941 to 1945. I’d love to hear your stories. Please leave a comment. 

ANNE GREENE delights in writing about wounded heroes and gutsy heroines. Her second novel, a Scottish historical, Masquerade Marriage, won three prestigious book awards. The sequel Marriage By Arrangement, finalled in a number of contests. A Texas Christmas Mystery also won several awards. Look for Anne’s new World War II historical romance, Angel With Steel Wings, early in 2015. The first book in Anne’s lady detective series, Holly Garden, PI, Red is for Rookie, débuts later in 2015. Anne’s highest hope is that her stories transport the reader to awesome new worlds and touch hearts to seek a deeper spiritual relationship with the Lord Jesus. Anne makes her home in McKinney, Texas. She loves to talk with her readers. Buy Anne’s books at http://www.Amazon.com. Talk with Anne on twitter at @TheAnneGreene. View Anne’s books, travel pictures and art work at http://www.AnneGreeneAuthor.com.

Learn more about Anne as well as gain tips on writing award-winning novels at http://www.anneswritingupdates.blogspot.com.

VISIT WITH ANNE here at Heroes, Heroines, & History every 14^th day of every month.