Posted by The Progress, NJ on November 20, 2009 at 13:10:43:
Polly Payne cooks up winning World War II recipe
Spam is ‘secret’ special ingredient
Published: Nov 20th, 6:55 AM
West Caldwell TWP. – An On the Homefront: A World War II Ration Recipe Cookery Contest was held at the West Caldwell Public Library on Wednesday, Oct. 7 as part of its first Read Across West Caldwell celebration.
Read Across West Caldwell was a month long community-based, shared reading experience. The book featured this year was “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society” by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows which depicts the life of people living on Guernsey Island during its occupation by the Germans.
“Because references to food rationing are mentioned numerous times throughout the book, I decided that this type of cooking contest would tie in perfectly with the theme,” said April Judge, library director and creator of the program.
Seven contestants entered the contest and made dishes from actual recipes that were used during World War II. One contestant noted that “a plethora of recipes made with sparse ingredients that were available with one’s ration book can be found just by putting ”World War II ration recipes” into a Google search.”
Two local chefs, Chef Jesse Jones of Heart and Soul Catering and Chef Ellie Espo of “Cooking on the Block” served as judges.
West Caldwell resident Polly Payne won first prize for her Hearty Bean Soup which included the “secret” ingredient, Spam. Gert Schneier, another West Caldwell resident, won second prize for her World War II Sweet Spice Cake. Schneier dedicated her cake to “Our soldiers, 1941-45 and 2001-09 who we all hope will come home safely to a sweet life.”
Florham Park resident, Norma Del Sordi won third prize for her Escarole and Beans over Polenta.
Other dishes that were entered in the contest included Eggless-Butterless-Milkless Cake, Depression Cake, Vegetable Meat Loaf Sandwich and Mock Goose.
Jean Hartman of North Caldwell who made the “Mock Goose” said she “choose the recipe because she believed it would most closely reflect the food available to the Guernsey Islanders during occupation in World War II.”
After the winners were announced members of the audience, which totaled 32, had an opportunity to taste each of the dishes.
Judge said since the contest was so popular she plans to schedule another during National Library Week in April.
A booklet featuring recipes from the contest and ration recipes will soon be available at the library located at 30 Clinton Road.
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