Remembering Canadian Housesoldiers with War Time Recipes

Try war time recipes to start a Remembrance Day conversation around your table.

Also Read: War Time Applesauce Cookies , Extending Butter – A Rationing Hack from War Time, Tasty Vegetable Loaf from WWII Remembrance Day is a time to remember the sacrifices of all those who have served on our behalf in times of war, armed conflict and peace. Wearing a poppy, participating in Remembrance Day activities, pausing for a minute of silence at 11 am, visiting a local veterans’ cemetery, or writing to Canadian troops currently serving are some ways we can remember and honour those who have served. Another way to start a conversation to remember is through experiencing some war time recipes. This will give everyone a glimpse of what rationing was like for the “Housesoldiers” at home and what was considered a treat from home on the front lines. Canadian housewives, aka “Canadian Housesoldiers” were encouraged to “Cook to Win” and prepare “appetizing and nourishing meals that protect and preserve the health of their families.”  The challenge was to do so with fewer resources.

Economy Recipes for Canada’s Housesoldiers  (Toronto: Canada Starch, 1943)

In addition to periodic rationing of sugar, coffee, tea, butter and meat between 1942 and 1945 there were also calls to plant victory gardens, preserve produce, collect fat and bones for munition production and to eliminate any food waste.  My predecessors, Home Economists with the federal and provincial governments, electric companies and major food corporations jumped on board with advice columns, recipes and pamphlets designed to help housewives succeed on the home front.

These booklets and more on Canada during wartime, including nutrition, rationing and food are available at www.wartimecanada.ca. For a taste of rationing, try one of these two War Cake recipes.

War Cake or Boiled Raisin Cake

War cake or boiled raisin cake was a popular cake as it used no butter, milk, sugar or eggs.  It could be made with molasses, honey, syrup or brown sugar – depending on what was available.  Because it has a long shelf life and is very dense it was often wrapped up and sent overseas – a journey that could take several months. Here are two versions, one using molasses and one using brown sugar.  The original source of these recipes is unknown but versions of these recipes are posted on various internet sites.

Recipe for Molasses War Cake

Recipe for Brown Sugar War Cake

We tested both versions several times and one year, I made several war time treats for my son’s Cadet Remembrance Day Service. My family prefers the brown sugar raisin cake but the Cadets devoured everything. Maybe like the soldiers in the trenches – they’d eat anything resembling a treat! The Oatmeal Jam Squares came from page 18 of the Robin Hood Flour Recipe booklet.  Here’s the recipe and how they looked. Making cake without sugar, butter, eggs and milk is not easy. You gotta hand it to those housesoldiers for doing the best they could with what little they had. Could you do it? Will you try one of these recipes to see? If you do let me know what you thought and what your family thought – did it make you think/reflect? I’d love o here your thoughts, leave a comment here or on social media, I’m on Instagram @getgettys and Facebook @GettyStewart.HomeEconomist.

Cook with the seasons, effortlessly! I’m Getty, a food educator and Professional Home Economist, helping you select, store, and serve seasonal ingredients in delicious, simple, everyday meals. Sign up for seasonal tips and recipes delivered straight to your inbox, and dive deeper with my books, guides, or YouTube content.