NAAFI turns back the clock to classic recipes

To coincide with its 90th birthday, NAAFI has re-introduced seven reliable recipes which were originally published in its Imperial Club Magazine in 1940. The dishes proved to be real winter warmers in wartime Britain and in these challenging economic times, may help many people to appreciate how wartime families were able to provide square meals despite rationing. Reg Curtis, NAAFI chief executive officer, explained more about them: "With the dark nights and cold weather now upon us, we're encouraging families across Britain to turn back the clock and try one of these original wartime recipes. These were often used in staff canteens and military bases as well as in the home and with meat heavily rationed during the war years it was necessary to introduce a selection of dishes. "We have reintroduced some tasty yet very traditional recipes from over 70 years ago to coincide with our 90th anniversary and we hope that these dishes will stir a few memories for many people, as well as tickling the taste buds of a whole new generation." The seven dishes – originally introduced to help people get the most out of meagre meat supplies - were sausage pie, vegetable pie, cheese pudding, rice and cheese pie, liver a la Francais, kidneys with mushrooms and sugarless cake. Since NAAFI's formation in 1920, the daily NAAFI Break has long been associated with a period of downtime; a chance to unwind over a cup of tea and a bun, catch up with friends or take a glance at the daily newspaper. Today the term is still commonly used and 189,000 British servicemen and women on duty around the globe still take time out for a NAAFI Break each day, with 300,000 cups of tea brewed up in Afghanistan alone. Reg said: "For Forces personnel serving in theatre, the daily NAAFI Break is a vital part of their busy working day. In the context of Force's life a NAAFI Break is much more than a tea break – it is a vital link to the familiarity of everything that is British, providing a real, heartwarming, taste of home." The classic recipes are available at www.naafi.co.uk/news.php