The Wartime Kitchen and Garden - Complete Series

The Wartime Kitchen and Garden
BBC, 1993

Illuminating series narrated by Peter Thoday in which head gardener Harry Dodson and cook Ruth Mott recreate the home front of World War II.

Episode One
We begin during the 'phoney war', as flowers are cleared out to make room for vegetables and the larder is filled. Plus help is on hand from a land girl and an evacuee.

Episode Two
Rationing began in January 1940 and quickly encouraged 'creative' cooking, so Ruth rustles up breast of lamb in egg and breadcrumbs. Meanwhile, Harry gets to work building some giant compost heaps and shows his land girl, Annie, how to make glass cloches.

Episode Three
During the summer of 1940, cooks were donating their utensils for weapons manufacture and gardeners were 'digging for victory'. In this edition, Ruth makes a chocolate pudding with carrot as a sweetener. Plus find out more about the cardboard wedding cake.

Episode Four
Inspired by the 'pig clubs' which emerged from the ruins of a blitzed Britain, Ruth makes brawn from half a pig's head - not a task for the squeamish! Plus Harry uses an uncomfortable period backpack to spray his potato crop.

Episode Five
Focusing on austerity measures, Ruth asks Harry to buy a few tomatoes 'under the counter'. She also gets to work on making a mock banana using mashed parsnip.

Episode Six
Even when the tide of war began to turn in the allies' favour, there was no let-up in the domestic situation back home. Ruth bakes salt cod with boiled nettles, and Harry grows and cures tobacco.

Episode Seven
By the time of D-day, Britain was into its fifth year of war, and keeping healthy had become a national preoccupation. In this edition, Ruth makes a 'Swiss breakfast' of oats, raw carrot, apple and raisins. Meanwhile, shrapnel shatters the glasshouse and damages Harry's tomato crop.

Episode Eight
By 1945 there had been no improvement in the food situation, and the winter brought with it the worst fuel crisis of the war. Ruth saves on gas by using a steamer to make elderflower fritters, while Harry cultivates haricot beans and celebrates VE day.

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