Anyone for tennis? Well, actually, no! They don’t stop play for any old reason at Wimbledon, but during the Second World War the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club found some more timely uses for their well-watered grounds. Among them, a small farmyard of which we thoroughly approve. So, hens, pigs and rabbits were in and strawberries and cream were out, but this didn’t mean people couldn’t whip up their own at home. In fact, we think strawberries and cream is a very ration-friendly pud, combining a grow-your-own element with a substitution recipe.
So, firstly, let’s serve up some mock cream. We’re not sure it quite lives up to its creamier equivalent, i.e. the real thing, but if Marguerite Patten, wartime cook extraordinaire, is willing to try it, then so are we!
Here is a simple recipe from We’ll Eat Again – A collection of recipes from the war years selected by Marguerite Patten.
Preparation time: 5 minutes
Quantity: 2-4 helpings1 oz margarine
1 tablespoon dried milk powder
1 oz sugar
1 tablespoon milkMethod: Cream the margarine and sugar. Beat in the milk powder and liquid milk.
Now for the strawberries! These will definitely require a bit more care and attention than a bowlful of mock cream, but will yield a lovely crop if we adhere to three basic principles: avoid frost, lots of sunshine and shield from the wind. Besides, as well as the satisfaction of enjoying the fruits of our labour, we know we’re going to be feeling positively virtuous for our frugal ways. After all, what 1940s housewife wouldn’t have had a turn if she’d heard the price of strawberries and cream for the whole family at the All England Club? Yes, far more fulfilling to grow your own and save the pennies.
The grow-your-own spirit also has a flavoursome effect on the juiciness of your strawberries. A little bird told us (don’t let little birds anywhere near your strawberry plants, by the way) that strawberries do not travel well, but if the furthest you have to go is your own back garden, then you’re in for a treat. Our motto: pick it at its prime! (The All England Club does know about this, and the strawberries for Wimbledon are picked the day before in Kent, in case you’re wondering!)
The next best time for strawberry planting is early September, so we’re afraid you’re not going to see much fruit this summer, but if your strawberries are already flourishing, do let us know your top tips and send us some pics. To find out more on growing your own strawberries, check out this Royal Horticultural Society guide.
