Summary

Alternative Name(s): Cookery Book, Cook Book

96-page cookery booklet written by Sarah Dunne of The Herald, Melbourne, circa 1945. The booklet provides information on food alternatives/substitutes during World War II when many food items were rationed.

Shortages of food, clothing and other products were part of life on the homefront during World War II. The first controls over the production and distribution of products were introduced in 1940, partly due to disruption of shipping. In 1942, after Japan entered the War, comprehensive rationing was introduced to manage shortages and control civilian consumption. The first product to be rationed was clothing, gazetted on 12 June 1942. Each adult was allowed 112 clothing coupons per year. Tea rationing was introduced the following month, followed by sugar, butter and then meat. After the War, rationing was gradually phased out. Clothing rationing was abolished on 24 June 1948. The last rationed product was tea, which ended in July 1950.

'Sarah Dunne' was the pseudonymn for Edith Margaret Allen, daughter of Henry Brookes Allen and Ada Rosalie Elizabeth Mason, who also worked as a journalist with the Argus and Australasian, but is best known for this collection of recipes for the Herald. Her sister was the artist Mary Cecil Allen.

Physical Description

96-page recipe booklet. Cover of booklet is blue/green with a white pattern, red writing and band at bottom of page. There is a small tear in the top left corner of the cover and a strip of sticky tape on the bottom left corner of the spine.

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