Evening star., 1945-01-04
Report to the Housewife

What with the rationing step-up
and the scarcity of meats in loca
markets, this week end will really
put the average housewife on hel
mettle. 1t is going to be no easy jot
to concoct meals that will give the
family all the food values they need
and appeal to their palates at the
same time.
Supplies of all cuts of beef, lamb
and veal are very low indeed, anc
there is practically no pork of any
kind to be found with the exception
of pigs liver and brains. Bacon is
a rosy remembrance for most of us,
and even frankfurters are becoming
a Sunday piece de resistance, rather
than just sidelight of that seventh
inning.
In other times of stress and strain
we had chickens to fall back on
although If you cast your memory
back far enough you will recall that
there was period when chickens
were as scarce and hush-hush as
cigarettes are now. But, except for
occasional shipments of frozen stock
from the West, the markets here are
chickenless to fearsome degree. A
few stores have some ducks, and a
shipment or two of turkeys has ar
rived recently, but there will not
be enough birds to fill a demand
that probably exists, despite the fact
that the Christmas turkey is not yet
made into soup. Eggs of course, are
always help, and it Is good news
to learn that large grade A eggs
have dropped bit in price since last
week.
Butter is, of course, just a dream
for most of us, but there is plenty of
margarine to be had, and still a
good supply of that Gruyere-type
cheese that is useful in eking out
main dish for the meatless meal.
Good stocks of dried beans, peas.
spaghetti, macaroni and SO on also
offer aid to the desperate menu
planner.
Fish. too, comes to the rescue.
News OF the week is the opening Of
the shad season-the first. catch
comes from Florida, and while these
shad are smaller than our more ia
miliar Chesapeake Bay variety, and
the roes are negligible, as rule,
they are delicious eating. Red snap
per. some pompano and fine blue
fish are also coming in from the
South. Recommended especially are
rockfish, Spanish mackerel, cooked
and raw shrimp, trout, porgies and
the f1lleted fish. A few croakers will
be on hand, but they are not as
plentiful as they were. Oysters, as
usual. are scarce, but there are lots
of clans about. One or two spe-
cialty fish markets have some frog
legs-at what a price-f you are
seeking something really different.
The produce picture is the hap
piest. Citrus fruits, particularly, are
plentiful, and very, very good. Ihere
are more lemons than there have
been. and tangerines are running
riot. Oranges from Florida and Cali
fornia are good-the California
navels particularly for table use.
Grapefruit, both white and pink, Is
available, in fine quality. Bananas
are scarce again this week, but there
are plenty of pineapples from Cuba
and quantities of apples, pears and
grapes. Specially markets have per-
simmons, pomegranates, prickly
pears, lady apples, few coconuts
and nuts of all sorts. The first straw
berries have arrived, but aren't
worth mentioning-their trip seems
to have been too much for them.
Snap beans are good buy this
week, as are greens, potatoes, onions,
re rrots haets tprnat0eS from Texas
green peppers and mushrooms. The
cabbage family is well represented.
although broccoli and brussels
sprouts are not too plentiful in some
markets. A few more lima beans than