WOMEN AS CAMP COOKS.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 199, 11 August 1916, Page 2 (Supplement)

WOMEN AS CAMP COOKS.

EFFICIENCY AND ECONOMY. Every woman nowadays, says an English paper, wishes to be of service to the State, and since the war began 1 have considered myself very fortunate in being b'essed with a knowledge of cooking, for this homely accomplishment, which for many a long day has lam despised and languishing on the shelf, is now proving to be of the greatest value.

It will be remembered how in the early days of the war one was always hearing "complaints of the waste of food that went on in the camps of the Homo Command, and also how the troops themselves, complained of the manner in winch the food was cooked and served, and of the monotony of the diet. Some one must have worked With energy, for since then remedies have been found tor many of the grievances. At the time of tile outcry ladies inspired with patriotism and itching to have a finger in the pie, which naturally they knew more about than some men do, offered their services in the hope that some profit might be made of their expetlence in culinary arrangements, but the Government at that time could not see its way to accept hem. However, ho "old order changeth" very quickly nowadays, ad the efforts of these patriotic ladies probably paved the way lor women being employed for the last eight months as cooks in convalescentcamps throughout the country, and the demamd for them is now extending uj training camps and officers' messes .no one can say where this demand is going to end, because, of course, when women once get an oar in they are bound to go ahead, and where they do the work well, who can gainsay them? PORRIDGE FOR 520 MEN. The fortunes of war, or perhaps the misfortunes of war would lie more coirect, have led me from hospital to canteen and from canteen to convalescent camp. 1 was well accustomed to cooking for a large number an my previous experiences, or at least so 1 thought, but at the start the work to be done in a camp kitchen or cookhouse seemed overwhelming. The first morning 1 arrived 1 was told off to cook porridge for 520 men. Ye gods! I got two large boilers filled with bo'lmg water, and sprinkled in the oatmeal, having to dance from one to the other with my stirring pole to prevent burning, and nearly falling into one of the seething cauldrons in mv anxiety. However, with the hick of being born a Scotswoman probably, "they" turned out beautiful. The work of preparing food lor such large numbers makes a very strenuous existence for a woman; the hours are earlv and long, from 6 a.m. until 4 p.m. ' It entails being out in all weathers, and one must have a good reserve of physical strength; but what of all that when it is good and useful war work? One : s always releasing a man for other service, and ill is wonderful how soon one &«fe Into the "spirit of the hive." We wom,en cooks are animated by * patriotic fervour which pill's us through a great deal of drudgery, and helps us to rise to the oecas : on; we feel that we are do ng our bit for King and cou\try. No trouble is spared if it conduces to the comfort or makes the food more palatable to the Blue Boys who are winning their way back to healtb and strength in the convalescent camp, and, of course, the dear things are much better cared for in spite of Ai-ny rules and regulations it they would all admit it. and some of them do. The conditions vary in d'iffeient camps, but the cooks always receive rations and army pay and t billet, either in huts within the camp or in r house outside. The latter, I nir. giad to say, is my fate, because everyone who works knows how nice it is to get awav from the "shop" sometimes. We wear n khaki uniform, coat, skirt, and blouse, and have to wear thick sensible boots, and overalls, also khak : , for workng in, so we real'y feel that we belong to the Army.

ECONOMIES. From the economies begun by tho Quartermaster - General's Department we women cooks are able to "carry on," and are already proving ourselves a valuable asset in the saving of expens? to the Government. Women cooks are less wasteful than men are, and more careful in the preparation of food. About this I should like to mention a rumour that got about the other day that a mouse had got into the stew! Bad news travels quickly, but. of course, it was on'y a rumour and never official, s;> no one need- to bclisve it.

Ef.-ch cookhuse has now a larder or storehouse wher.e certain stores or anything left over can Ix 1 kept, a thing unknown in the male cooks' time, prow.ding us with :i widow's cruse which ncverVuns dry, and is also a great saving of trouble to the quartermaster. please the taxpayers to learn that nothing in the kitchen is wasted. Bones and surplus fat are sold and yield quite a good revenue. Baking powder is made at a great saving of cost, and colonels from other camps have been glad to borrow the reerpe. Broken loaves ar> soaked and squeezed to form the foundation of puddings or nso in the sausages made in camp twice weekly, or buttered slices with ample currants and custard are made into tblieious brcu and butter puddings. A SAMPLE MENT. The qual'tv of th? food r's exee'.ent, and the meals served in these camps Leave little to W desired, and if there are any who grumble they deserve to have niuch less elsewhere, as they probably will. An average dinner consists of beef steak pudding, flavoured with onions, and potatoes, fol'owed by stewed prunes and custard, or of roast V;ef, cauliflower, and potatoes, wth steamed iig pudd ng or jam roly-poly to follow. For breakfast each man gets two raishers, or two eggs or two saus:ures, or porridge, as already mentioned. One a week cakes, with no lack of fruit, are baked for tea, another ■lay there aire scones, and sometimes watercress. For supper there is generally cold h'vf or ham. and soup in the v.vnt-r time. It will be seen from tlir's specimen of the menu that the "Blue Boys' x<c well looked rfter ill camp., and it is oxeeoding'v gratifying to hear thorn express thoir appreciation of what they get. One Scotsman, coming say good-hve, remarked, "I'm gaun awa", and 1 'want to thank ye for your oxtraordmar fine eooh'ng." This was a liappv dav in en anny cook's life.-- F Mar P.ussel.