Myrtle Bagot's Pages Part 5 - A Revoluntionary Cake

Myrtle Bagot’s Pages

Chatelaine of Milford Station buffet explains all about our mid 20^th century diet.

5. I’m Alright Jack (1959)

I was very interested to see a film called “I’m Alright Jack” because it was about those trade unionist type people. It always fascinates me to see that those with funny ideas, quite different to your own, live similar lives to normal people. It was pleasing to notice that despite the Kite household being a socialist one, they still appreciate the value of a good cake.

Mrs Kite knows what a kitchen is for, and despite being severely tried by her almost Communist husband she can still find it in her to bake a solid cake to have on the table at teatime. That is what I call British resilience, despite all that talk about Russia.

Now I wanted to find a good recipe for a substantial cake, that might see you through any strike or revolution. I found rather an interesting one in my Main Cookery Book that I thought would suit a Socialist because it contains a tin of soup. Yes, you heard me quite correctly. Tomato soup to be exact.

Normally for my contributions to the History Usherette, I get Beryl to copy out the recipe and pass it on. But the Usherette said to me “Mrs Bagot, I don’t think anyone is going to quite believe that this recipe has really been published. You’ll have to take a photograph of it.” I do see her point. So I borrowed Mr Godby’s Box Brownie and he took the film to Boots. Here it is:

Make of that what you will. I for one will not be baking it but if you are left-wing then it might be quite alright for you to try.  I’m going to go and make some Bath buns, which I’m sure Winston Churchill would approve of.

The History Usherette has written a book of short stories inspired by the work of Joyce Grenfell, who never knowingly ate soup and cake in the same mouthful. Click here to purchase for the price of a tin of Heinz.

Myrtle Bagot's Pages Part 4 - Green Pea Puffs

Myrtle Bagot’s Pages

Chatelaine of Milford Station buffet explains all about our mid 20^th century diet.

4. The Tawny Pipit (1944)

It’s that time of year again. Time to hitch up your skirts, squat over a bowl and shell a few peas.

Mr Godby and I were watching a lovely film called “The Tawny Pipit” which is all about a rare bird taking up residence in a perfect English village.  Now, Mr Godby says to me, “You’re a rare bird yourself, Mrs Bagot, do you ever feel like going all rural and settling in the country?”

Well, I had to say to him, “No Mr Godby, I don’t. There are very few country railway stations that have a substantial buffet, and what would my life be without somewhere to sell my Bath buns? No, you can keep your countryside for day trips and films.”

But I was taken back by a scene in “The Tawny Pipit” where dear old Katie Johnson sits in her garden shelling peas. My old mother used to do much the same because living on the canal bank we used to have room for a few rows of peas. Every summer, there she would sit, popping away, the little green peas landing in the chamber pot where she normally kept her aspidistra. I did like the fresh peas. But I used to try and get to a few before she boiled them for 20 minutes and shovelled in half a pound of salt. Well, when you’ve left them in the pod for too long they can go a bit hard.

Here’s another recipe to disguise hard peas from Silvester’s Sensible Cookery:

Green Pea Puffs

¼ lb Cooked green peas

½ lb Mashed potatoes

1oz Margarine

1 egg

Pepper and salt

Add cooked peas to mashed potatoes, seasonings and egg; mix and place on a greased tin in rocky pieces, and bake 20 minutes.

That should obliterate them nicely.

Update:

Martin Allen (Twitter & Instagram: @martinallen72) kindly gave the Pea Puffs a whirl and reported the results.

Really rather fine. A bit mid-20th century bland - tastes as you’d expect, mash and peas. Not sure what the egg did but it was in there. Will definitely make again!

So now we know! Possible additions include cheese and spring onions. I feel Mr Godby would approve of that.

There’s gardening, village intrigue and prefabs in my novella “Temporary Accommodation”. It’s as cheap as marrowfat peas. Click here for some gentle summer reading