Our school theme this year, "Food Detective Academy (FDA)", inspires teachers and students alike in creating marvelous writings ideas. Our P.6 boys have recently composed a piece of fiction based on a wartime cooking manual first printed in England in 1940! Authors of the five best pieces receive a reprint of the cook book purchasable from England today. See the five best pieces below and be ready to travel back to the time of WWII to experience food rationing in England!
Back to London of 1943, Christmas Day Cyrus Chow 6A
I’m Cyrus of Food Detective Academy. I was assigned a mission to travel back to the war-time of England to see the hardship of people’s living.
I entered the time travelling machine and set the targeted time and place. Then I activated it and landed in the middle of a market. I believed I had arrived in London of 1943. I walked around the market and found people selling something strange, for example, tripe, cow-heel, ox-tail and sheep’s heads.
I asked a butcher, “Why do you sell such strange meat?” The butcher replied, “It is war-time! The food and fuel are so limited. The government suggests that we save fuel and food. We are so frustrated but we can do nothing about it. All British are suffering at this time.’ I consoled him that the war would end in 1945 but he didn’t believe me.
I wanted to know more about the hardship of British people, so I took a “Magic Pill” to make me invisible. I went to a village and entered a house. I saw a woman who was cooking dinner. She said to her son, “Today is Christmas Day, I’m going to cook beef and sausage roll and meat and macaroni pie.” Her son said, “Mum, I want to eat Turkey!” The woman said, ‘We are so lucky to have sausage and meat because it’s war-time. We should follow the government’s guidance to save food and fuel.” Her son was unhappy, so the woman said gently, “The war-time will be over soon. We will have turkey on Christmas Day next year!”
Before I left the house, I left some candy canes on the dining table. Then, I went back to Hong Kong of 2015 in the time travelling machine. After this trip, I realized that we are so lucky in Hong Kong nowadays, we should treasure food and fuel. My new year’s wish is “World Peace Forever!”
I entered the time travelling machine and set the targeted time and place. Then I activated it and landed in the middle of a market. I believed I had arrived in London of 1943. I walked around the market and found people selling something strange, for example, tripe, cow-heel, ox-tail and sheep’s heads.
I asked a butcher, “Why do you sell such strange meat?” The butcher replied, “It is war-time! The food and fuel are so limited. The government suggests that we save fuel and food. We are so frustrated but we can do nothing about it. All British are suffering at this time.’ I consoled him that the war would end in 1945 but he didn’t believe me.
I wanted to know more about the hardship of British people, so I took a “Magic Pill” to make me invisible. I went to a village and entered a house. I saw a woman who was cooking dinner. She said to her son, “Today is Christmas Day, I’m going to cook beef and sausage roll and meat and macaroni pie.” Her son said, “Mum, I want to eat Turkey!” The woman said, ‘We are so lucky to have sausage and meat because it’s war-time. We should follow the government’s guidance to save food and fuel.” Her son was unhappy, so the woman said gently, “The war-time will be over soon. We will have turkey on Christmas Day next year!”
Before I left the house, I left some candy canes on the dining table. Then, I went back to Hong Kong of 2015 in the time travelling machine. After this trip, I realized that we are so lucky in Hong Kong nowadays, we should treasure food and fuel. My new year’s wish is “World Peace Forever!”
A Wonderful Feast Mark Tse 6D
“I am so hungry,” Tom shouted. He is my brother. We were living in England during World War II. It was hard for us to be full during that time. We could only eat bread or potatoes every day.
Today was Christmas Eve. My parents tried to get more food for us. They wanted to let us feel warm and happy. We were busy preparing the dinner. We decided to cook curried vegetables and egg pudding. We planted different kinds of vegetables such as cabbages, tomatoes, potatoes, corns, carrots and cucumbers in the backyard. Therefore, we could sell or exchange the food with other people. Today, we exchanged some eggs and sugar. We were very lucky to get curry powder from my neighbours because they were Indian.
“Tom, wash the vegetables first. Mark, cut the vegetables into small squares.’ Mum yelled. Mum wanted to save the fuel so she requested us to do it faster. After all the ingredients were prepared, Mum added the curry powder. Dad was busy too, he needed to cook the egg pudding. After the dishes were all ready, we started our feast. “Today is like a Thanksgiving Day, we need to be thankful during this time; we still have a feast. Let’s give thanks for our food.” Dad said. I lifted my fork. The dinner began.
I thought my dad was right. We have to give thanks for all we have – our friends, our home and family. And thanks for the food and fun as well.
Today was Christmas Eve. My parents tried to get more food for us. They wanted to let us feel warm and happy. We were busy preparing the dinner. We decided to cook curried vegetables and egg pudding. We planted different kinds of vegetables such as cabbages, tomatoes, potatoes, corns, carrots and cucumbers in the backyard. Therefore, we could sell or exchange the food with other people. Today, we exchanged some eggs and sugar. We were very lucky to get curry powder from my neighbours because they were Indian.
“Tom, wash the vegetables first. Mark, cut the vegetables into small squares.’ Mum yelled. Mum wanted to save the fuel so she requested us to do it faster. After all the ingredients were prepared, Mum added the curry powder. Dad was busy too, he needed to cook the egg pudding. After the dishes were all ready, we started our feast. “Today is like a Thanksgiving Day, we need to be thankful during this time; we still have a feast. Let’s give thanks for our food.” Dad said. I lifted my fork. The dinner began.
I thought my dad was right. We have to give thanks for all we have – our friends, our home and family. And thanks for the food and fun as well.
Grandma’s Special Dishes Edmund Wu 6B
The Second World War was raging. The mad Nazi made us back away. We were pushed to abandon France and go back to England — my home. We were doomed as the Nazi bombed London. I had to return to my grandma’s house, which is quite far from the capital, yet my heart is broken. There was no way to win the Nazis, especially when it came to food shortages.
Grandma seemed to understand my feelings. She gave me a bowl of mouth-watering tripe and liver hot-pot. She told my troops to have a share, too. Everyone thanked Grandma. I tasted the hot-pot. The tripe, beef and liver were brilliant. Once I chewed the meat, the juice would squeeze into my mouth and it tasted wonderful. I felt so warm even in the freezing, snowing coldness outside. During the stay, she cooked a lot of savoury dishes for us, like curried mutton, sausage and tomato pies, etc. All of them were warm and delicious.
We finally distinguished the Nazi and it’s good to be home! Then, someone told me that my Grandma had passed away. She left me the War-Time Cookery recipe book. Not long after, the Cold War came.
This time, I called my troops to have meals at my base. Although I was a lousy cooker, all my troops said it was warm and wonderful. I kept asking myself, “Why are my meals warm even I’m bad in cooking?” Ah yes, this was it -- love.
No wonder Grandma’s dishes were so special.
Grandma seemed to understand my feelings. She gave me a bowl of mouth-watering tripe and liver hot-pot. She told my troops to have a share, too. Everyone thanked Grandma. I tasted the hot-pot. The tripe, beef and liver were brilliant. Once I chewed the meat, the juice would squeeze into my mouth and it tasted wonderful. I felt so warm even in the freezing, snowing coldness outside. During the stay, she cooked a lot of savoury dishes for us, like curried mutton, sausage and tomato pies, etc. All of them were warm and delicious.
We finally distinguished the Nazi and it’s good to be home! Then, someone told me that my Grandma had passed away. She left me the War-Time Cookery recipe book. Not long after, the Cold War came.
This time, I called my troops to have meals at my base. Although I was a lousy cooker, all my troops said it was warm and wonderful. I kept asking myself, “Why are my meals warm even I’m bad in cooking?” Ah yes, this was it -- love.
No wonder Grandma’s dishes were so special.
The Curious Boy Cyrus Ho 6C
In 1937, during the world-war period, battles were over England. When people walked on the street, they saw buildings collapse, they heard someone screamed and they observed jet fighters fly in the sky. It made people feel scared. Especially the Ho's family who lived in a hut which was made by wood.
One day, Mrs Ho carried a bag of food and walked quickly on the street. When she reached her hut, she immediately ran in and locked the door. While Mrs. Ho was reading the War-Time Cookery book which told steps and recipes for easy meals, her son, John came in and asked, "Mum, may I learn how to cook?" When Mrs. Ho wanted to say no, John suddenly begged her. Then, Mrs. Ho thought for a while and said cheerfully, "Sure, my dear son."
Then, Mrs. Ho taught John how to make an Onion and Cheese Pudding according to the book. First, Mr. Ho grabbed John's hand and taught him how to fry the onion. Second, they sprinkled strips of bread with grated cheese. John felt very happy that this was the first time he cooked. However, Mrs. Ho felt very sad and sorry in her heart because John needed to live in such a harsh time.
Several minutes later, the pudding was finished. They ate it joyfully. However, the taste was very bad. After a few seconds of swallowing, John felt disgusted and threw it into the bin. Mrs. Ho immediately took it out from the bin. John was very surprised and asked, "Mum why did you need to get back this disgusting thing?" Mrs. Ho answered nicely, "Mr dear son, we should not waste food because there are wars outside, so we should eat less. If England won in the world war, we would have better life to live. Therefore, we should eat less and save food for the soldiers. This action could support the soldiers to win in the war. Do you understand, my boy?" "Sure, Mum," John answered. After that, John and his family ate whatever Mrs. Ho cooked.
Seven years later, England finally won in the world war. Everyone deserved a better life for supporting the soldiers for seven years. However, they still remembered that we should not waste food because food was not easy to get.
One day, Mrs Ho carried a bag of food and walked quickly on the street. When she reached her hut, she immediately ran in and locked the door. While Mrs. Ho was reading the War-Time Cookery book which told steps and recipes for easy meals, her son, John came in and asked, "Mum, may I learn how to cook?" When Mrs. Ho wanted to say no, John suddenly begged her. Then, Mrs. Ho thought for a while and said cheerfully, "Sure, my dear son."
Then, Mrs. Ho taught John how to make an Onion and Cheese Pudding according to the book. First, Mr. Ho grabbed John's hand and taught him how to fry the onion. Second, they sprinkled strips of bread with grated cheese. John felt very happy that this was the first time he cooked. However, Mrs. Ho felt very sad and sorry in her heart because John needed to live in such a harsh time.
Several minutes later, the pudding was finished. They ate it joyfully. However, the taste was very bad. After a few seconds of swallowing, John felt disgusted and threw it into the bin. Mrs. Ho immediately took it out from the bin. John was very surprised and asked, "Mum why did you need to get back this disgusting thing?" Mrs. Ho answered nicely, "Mr dear son, we should not waste food because there are wars outside, so we should eat less. If England won in the world war, we would have better life to live. Therefore, we should eat less and save food for the soldiers. This action could support the soldiers to win in the war. Do you understand, my boy?" "Sure, Mum," John answered. After that, John and his family ate whatever Mrs. Ho cooked.
Seven years later, England finally won in the world war. Everyone deserved a better life for supporting the soldiers for seven years. However, they still remembered that we should not waste food because food was not easy to get.
The Most Memorable Night Edison Kwok 6E
It was a freezing cold night. It was the night I was about to die in front of a family's door. I was ten at that time. I would never forget this night.
I had not eaten anything, not even tripe or grassroots. But since the world war had started, these were considered valuables so it was understandable that I could not find any, as an orphan. Both of my parents died in the wars. I felt very ashamed of my country so much. England only meant a defeated loser who took my parents' lives to me.
Since when I was about to faint, a strong arm got me. When I woke up I was in a wooden bed. I smelt food. It was potato short bread!
"Sorry, we don't have any margarine so the bread was kind of hard," the strong man who saved me said so. I immediately ate it.
A woman then handed me a pot of liquid. "This is water from onions, carrots and potatoes. It contains lots of nutrient, which is good for your weak body now," she told me.
I finished up everything and felt so grateful to have this. They even handed me a war-time cookery manual and taught me how to survive with limited resources.
And now I came to the same door again. Two kids opened the door and were shocked to see a nicely dressed gentleman in his 80s taking off his hat bowing to them.
I was led to the house. I told them a story about me and left them a pot, not vegetable soup this time, but gold.
I had not eaten anything, not even tripe or grassroots. But since the world war had started, these were considered valuables so it was understandable that I could not find any, as an orphan. Both of my parents died in the wars. I felt very ashamed of my country so much. England only meant a defeated loser who took my parents' lives to me.
Since when I was about to faint, a strong arm got me. When I woke up I was in a wooden bed. I smelt food. It was potato short bread!
"Sorry, we don't have any margarine so the bread was kind of hard," the strong man who saved me said so. I immediately ate it.
A woman then handed me a pot of liquid. "This is water from onions, carrots and potatoes. It contains lots of nutrient, which is good for your weak body now," she told me.
I finished up everything and felt so grateful to have this. They even handed me a war-time cookery manual and taught me how to survive with limited resources.
And now I came to the same door again. Two kids opened the door and were shocked to see a nicely dressed gentleman in his 80s taking off his hat bowing to them.
I was led to the house. I told them a story about me and left them a pot, not vegetable soup this time, but gold.
