I was a small child during America's involvement in WWII. The War Effort impacted our daily life in many ways. Strategic commodities were rationed. Rationed items included: gasoline, fuel oil, solid fuel, sugar and coffee. Civilians were encouraged to work in defense jobs, buy War Bonds, and grow Victory Gardens. During the war, overweight people were considered unpatriotic slackers!
Our garden began as a Victory Garden and morphed into an ongoing operation. The garden contained: beets, carrots, corn, cucumbers, dill, onions, peas, potatoes, radishes, raspberries, squash, strawberries and string beans(aka Green Beans). I helped tend the garden; it was the ultimate threat & punishment.
Our diet was mainly beef, garden vegetables, fruit and home-made baked goods. The daily fare was prepared bland, on Dad's orders. Mom cooked with no spices other than salt & pepper. Dad had "stomach problems" no doubt related to over use of salt tablets in a hot, humid work environment. The most exotic dishes allowed were Swiss Steak and AuGratin Potatoes. Mom was an excellent baker making cookies, cakes, and pies for me when sugar was available. Dad didn't care much for desserts.
Green salads, in season, were a special treat. The main ingredient was lettuce. A hint of onion, a touch of radish and a few small tomato chunks were added using mayo for the dressing. Judging by our sparing use, tomatoes were an endangered species. I cannot recall any pasta dishes from those meals.
I had to weed, pick, and snap our green beans. They smelled bad and tasted worse! Some neighbors grew them as a cash crop and paid 3 cents a pound to pickers. Unpleasant at best and not a get rich quick scheme.
When served, I was required to take a "No thank You" helping. I then pushed the beans around my plate till there was no place to hide them. Invariably the order came "You're not excused until you eat your green beans!" Those were fighting words. I would sit and stare at the miserable beans for 30-45 min before Mom would cave, and excuse me. Hey, you have to draw the line somewhere!
To this day I save green beans for last.
