Auntie Betty’s rissoles and other culinary exploits

While my great grandparents were away on their second honeymoon in the 1920s, their second daughter Betty Jollyman wrote regularly to give updates on how their four children were looking after the house and garden in Billericay, Essex. It was hard work, starting at 6am to feed all the hens and ducks they owned, as they earned an income selling the eggs. Here she’s describing her attempts at cooking for the family:

I must tell you about our dinner today. I made (or decided to make) rissoles. So out came the end of the joint and I minced that without a mishap (i.e. cat) then, true to my inherited instinct, I turned to the larder to see what I could shove in.

In went the end of the mint sauce – the end of the gravy – and – “why not?” thought I, as my eye alighted on the dish of cold greens, so greens forthwith helped to swell the crowd. (It was rather “stumpy”, so I minced that, too.) Seasoning and an egg I added, then turned to do the washing up.

This tomato sauce is ‘cos Margaret didn’t screw the lid on tight & George “shook the bottle” as he was reading this epistle. “Sorry & all that!”

Not that the washing up has much to do with it, cos the next chapter on the history of the green-meat rissoles opens as George sits at tea,

I’ve just asked him how he liked it “Very much,” said he, but of course, couldn’t guess what was in it, But after I’d told him, he said he thought it was fried greens but it tasted much nicer. (Compliments to my cooking! Eh? What?)

I’ve got 59 eggs ready for grandfather for Thursday – I want 74. What are the chances for and against getting the required number? The R & L totals have been for the total week: with luck I’ll get 15 tomorrow…

Unfortunately though I shall not be able to let Mrs Kent have any until Thursday’s eggs have been laid.

I’ve got about 5 dozen duck’s eggs in the house now, so I hope Mrs Rus O’Brien will have some soon.

Mrs Kent has made some jolly nice apricot jam – 14lbs – and has given us each a wee pot full. I must add we had stewed apricots (fresh not dried!) and cream for tea today!

Mr Hunt will be glad when you are home, Mother. I don’t take in enough milk for his liking.

Mr Baker man (Ducky) pays me a visit each day, but as I have still a loaf and a half of Saturday’s bread left, ’tis all in vain! That is the worst of giving one’s family ground rice & rice & tapioca pudding – to say nothing of gooseberries! For tea.

You remember that semolina pudding you made? & you think I can get rid of it? Margie doesn’t like it & George hadn’t the courage – and sometimes the cats or dog will condescend to eat it, if I give them some.