If you have siblings, there's a very good chance that at some point you've played the annoying I'm-going-to-copy-everything-you-say game. I'll offer similar odds that at some point you drove your parents to the gin bottle up the wall complaining about it. If your's were anything like my folks, they would have told you, in between medicinal sips, "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery".
This week's time-worn tucker is a guest post from Anne who blogs at Domesblissity. I recently read that she's dubbed herself "the Queen of make-do" but I think that she's selling herself a bit short. I'd prefer to call her the Sovereign of Silver Linings. She's sharing a recipe for imitation poultry....
Anne - the Sovereign of Silver Linings
When Amanda started up the "Time Worn Tucker" series on her blog, I thought this is my kind of food. Recipes that were passed down from generation to generation. Recipes that were created on only what was available at the time and this "mock" chicken spread fits in perfectly.
Back in the 70's, I can remember Mum always making this for a Tupperware party or the latest party plan event at one of the neighbour's houses. That and cheese/kabana/pickled onion on a toothpick stuck in an orange or finger sandwiches or a homemade dip with crackers. I don't think this spread resembles chicken in any way but it does resemble the taste of the stuffing and that's pretty yummy. It’s really easy to do with things that most people have on hand and it’s a pleasant change to the range of supermarket dips available.
'Mock' foods originated in World War II when households were rationed to regulate household consumption. You can read more about it here from the Australian War Memorial website. Housewives soon learnt how to become inventive in their recipes, inventing 'mock' dishes such as mock brains, mock goose, mock fish. You name it. I can remember Mum making an apple pie once using choko and it didn't taste too bad considering I hated choko. When there was no choice, you made do with what you had
Mock Chicken Spread
Recipe from "Day to Day Cookery" - my high school Home Economics text book.
Ingredients:
1 small onion, finely diced
1 tsp butter, for frying
1 tomato, skinned and chopped (although I didn't skin mine)
1 tsp dried mixed herbs
1 beaten egg
1 tbs grated cheese
salt and pepper to taste
Method:
Fry the onion in butter until soft but not brown. Add tomato and herbs and simmer until tomato has softened.
Remove from heat and add beaten egg, grated cheese, salt and pepper and stir until mixture thickens. If mixture is still 'watery' add 1 tbs dried breadcrumbs.
Serve with crackers or on sandwiches.
I recently had to pleasure of spending a few days in Noosa with Anne - you can read her version of events in her post. Be sure to pester her for a copy of her Pear, Thyme and Ginger Cake with Ginger Custard and Walnut Praline recipe.
A good friend of mine makes the best 'mock fish' - it's essentially grated potato - and applied liberally, it'll banish a hangover in a heartbeat!
have you tried any 'imitation' foods?
is imitation the sincerest for of flattery or were my parents full of it?
what old-school recipes should we tackle next?
Anne @ Domesblissity says
Thanks Amanda! Sovereign of Silver Linings, I love it. Bit like the Queen who won't step off her throne more like it! LOL Have a great weekend and thanks for the opportunity. xx
Jay (@moodiefoodiejay) says
Oooo I hated that game so much. My brother used to drive me insane with it. Scarred me so much that I forbid my girls to do it to each other around me - makes my blood boil. Perhaps I need help....... As for old school recipes - ANY! I love old recipes xox
cookerandalooker says
Mine aren't there yet Jay, but the kids do hate it when I mimic their whinging!
Janet @ Redland City Living says
Oh I remember this recipe! It's been years and one of those I've lost along the way - very happy to have found it again here!
Jodie@freshhomecook says
My mum used to make something very similar - brings back so many memories! Nice one Anne!!
cookerandalooker says
She's a keeper isn't she Jodie!
Fresh Home Cook says
Absolutely - they both are!! 😉
Mel says
We had something similar too I'd completely forgotten about, but I'm laughing at the cheese kabana pickled onion, you saw those you knew company were comingLol
cookerandalooker says
Absolutely Mel!
bakebikeblogLisa says
ahhh i remember the cheese/onion/kabana toothpicks in oranges!! LOVED THEM!
cookerandalooker says
A friend and I gave a pineapple similar treatment a few years back - it's a classic Lisa! 🙂
SIL says
Love my copy of the Day to Day Cookbook. Mum gave me a new one for our Engagement. Best go to cook book. I recently made the fabulous 'winter warmer' Sticky Date Pudding. Yum.
cookerandalooker says
Agreed SIL - Sonia bought me one years ago and it is fabulous!
Glenda McDonnell says
I haven't had this in years it was on savoy bickies at every party we used to go too...I'm thinking of doing a retro party for my daughters birthday, this would be just perfect 🙂
cookerandalooker says
Great timing Glenda!
Seana - Sydney, Kids, Food + Travel says
Haha... well, my Mum had an ld book of recipes from the wartime. I remember eating 'Pea Pod Soup' , wee bit stringy!!
Chris says
Day to day cookery book is a staple on my bench... it never gets put away in the cupboard with the plethora of other underused cookbooks. My most used recipes are the pikelets (which I have translated to suit the thermi), any biscuit or slice and more recently the caramel self-saucing pudding. Now I feel inspired to check out the dip recipes!