Evening star., 1942-11-12
By Betsy CgssceH,
women's News Editor.


as We were not able to obtain our
But 1t would seem safe to say that
Is becoming more Of q problem all
put to it to feed her family ade-
Quately and economically.
1t was, for instance, much to my
surprise that I found the nuts
listed as Victory Food Specials to
be selling at prices that seem un-
reasonably high. OF course, all prices
are higher than they have been in
other years-how well We all know
that!-but in an item that has been
especially designated by the ANA
as .. recommended buy, one would
expect the picture to be q little diff
ferent. In many instances, for the
price Of one pound of the nuts the
purchaser could have bought a nice
bit Of fish, or even some calves
liver, and certainly as many as
eight lambs kidneys. These are all
unrationed-so there doesn't seem
to be much incentive to choose the
nuts, does there?
With the new cut in available
supplies of beef, we can soon learn
that rib roast or juicy fat steak
exists only in our dreams. Lamb
and veal we still have, and there is
some pork to be had If you look
hard enough. The first part of the
week not a stewing chicken was to
be found in a number of markets,
although it was promised that this
situation would improve toward the
week end. You can buy turkeys
any number Of them-if you have
the cash, but they have to be made
to do" for number Of meals to
repay the expenditure. Rather small
baking chickens and fryers and
some ducks are also available. And
there is q good bit of fish and, as
always, fine cheese, dried beans and
other legumes for the meatless
meals.
Hoarders Responsible
For Vanished Coffee.
Those charming people who stood
In line in front of stores in the
District as soon as Mr.. Henderson
released the news of coffee ration
ing are responsible for the non
existence OF coffee in most WASH
ington shops now. Those ,of us who
tried to play fair have found that
virtue, as usual, doesn't pay, when
others don't practice it. We have, Of
course, the somewhat limp consola-
ton that we HAVE been patriotic
and public spirited, but we have q
sneaking feeling that the guy sip
ping that steaming cup Of morning
coffee doesn't find that guilty con-
science makes 1t any harder to
swallow.
So well try to warm up our tepid
consolation with swig Of tea.
Other rather odd disappearances
have been noted. Corn starch has
been scarce in some stores, for no
particular reason. Canned soups are
vanishing rapidly, except the con-
densed type, but we expected that.
Certain cleaning materials, such as
steel wool mats with special soap,
have done fade-outs in some shops.
In one store there will be a big
supply OF spices-with paprika as
the sole missing item. In another.
only paprika, and perhaps a tin or \
two Of cinnamon, will be left on the
shelves.
A confusing business.
Produce Better
But High.
Potatoes have risen little In price
and onions are still high, and the
rest Of the produce picture Is not
too rosy. The same roster Of green's,
cauliflower, broccoli, celery cabbage
and Brussels sprouts are displayed
In most stalls. Escarole, romaine,
garden and iceberg lettuce are to be
had, but the luxurious endive has
been missing of late. Leeks and
"spring" onions are good, and not
too expensive-try cooking them in
thin slivers with peas. They make
the peas go further, and lend nice
flavor, too. You can also exc out
string beans by serving them mixed
with thin strips of cooked carrots.
You get your vitamins. and your
variety, and don't spend quite so
much money!
Persimmons are good now, as are
Boso and Anjou pears, sweet little
pineapples from Florida. grapes
from California, and the citrus
fruits from both States. incidentally
grapefruit and tangerines have been
selected as the Victory Food Special
for the period beginning December
8, and continuing through December
IL. This years crop is expected to
reach its peak at that time. Let's
hope the prices won't mirror the nut
situation!
The first of this years fig pack
has been released to the public,
which Is good news for those of us
who like the luscious sweet fruit,
and find 1t invaluable in making
rib-sticking desserts and vitamin-
filled breads and cakes. The figs
ere large, moist and good and
should help satisfy the sweet tooth
In the family who still feels be-
trayed by sugar rationing. under
stand dates should be along too, very
soon, just in time for the Thanks
giving menus.
Speaking of odd disappearances,
am much interested to see the
opposite. side Of the picture in the
presence of q goodly quantity Of
candied fruits and peels for Christ
mas fruit cakes. We're trying to
work you up some good recipes that
will go easy on your sugar supply,
90 that you may still have your
Christmas cake after all.