Foraging with the Vicomte - Gardenista
When food rationing was imposed on Britain at the beginning of 1940, no one knew that it would last for 14 years. And yet we are still not particularly adventurous. Photographs by Kendra Wilson except where noted. The majority of Persephone books are revived novels from forgotten inter-war writers. Endpaper designs from some of these are shown here from top They Can t Ration These How to Run Your... ...Home without Help The Country Housewife Gardener s Nightcap and Kitchen Essays by Agnes Jekyll sister in law of Gertrude The endpapers are reproductions of textiles exactly contemporary to each book. Vicomte de Mauduit had already written three cookbooks when he was inspired to write his final book They Can t Ration... ...These Dandelion and nettle had long been used by country cooks but the vicomte approaches these with an infinitely lighter touch Like many of his recipes it is quite simple a matter of simmering finely chopped leaves of the dandelion and returning them to the pan... ...with a little butter salt and pepper We know of the French love affair with snails but the British have never really taken to them British wartime cooking is notorious for its fascination with substitutes Rolling mashed potato in cocoa powder gave you chocolate... Photograph by Kendra Wilson. ...truffles Being French Vicomte de Mauduit has more palatable suggestions Try ripe nasturtium seeds ground by pestle and mortar One agreeable cure is an infusion of flowers including roses for a sad heart The recipe begins thus Pluck the petals of fresh red roses and dry them... ...in the sun together with fresh violets borage flowers and anchusa flowers in equal quantities Thoroughly dry them over a few days and preserve in a tightly lidded jar