At a time when the Credit Crunch is making quite a few of us tighten our belts and the press are full of the doom and gloom of the UK heading towards another recession, many people are looking back to how we coped in the past – both during the days of rationing and also how we coped through past recessions.
I see that Delia Smith is no different, and according to this article she's even being green in recycling one of her oldest published cook books; Delia's Frugal Food. Now I have to admit that I haven't seen a copy of this yet, it hasn't even been published as a type this, but it's an interesting idea that people are having to go back to old recipes to help get through this credit crunch. A friend even told me today that she's pulled out her copy of Grub on a Grant
to help provide cheap ideas for feeding her family.
to help provide cheap ideas for feeding her family.
To our grandparents' generation the need to make food stretch and to turn basic ingredients into a tasty meal came as second nature – they'd lived through rationing and after a bit of guidance from the Ministry of Food used what they could in the best way possible. People just don't have the same skills today, despite Jamie Oliver's best efforts.
Today there's part of me that thinks it a bit strange that someone is suggesting buying a new book as an means to save money. I think I'll be looking to use my existing cookbooks instead – or possibly looking for a copy of Delia's original version in my local charity shops.
Alice C says
I used Delia’s ‘Frugal Food’ when I was a student and just the reminder of the title in your post made me feel a little queasy. I am not sure why – perhaps it had recipes for oxtail stew and suchlike.
Mrs C says
Sorry Alice – certainly didn’t mean to make you feel queasy. Is it even worse of me to say that I actually like oxtail… Sorry!
Alice C says
Sorry – I realised afterwards that my comment sounded a bit rude! It certainly wasn’t meant to be – I have enjoyed stumbling upon your blog and reading your posts – it is good to meet you.