A Mess Tin Primer: Part I

A Mess Tin Primer, Part I – An Introduction and the Early Years

Overview

     I feel that no discussion about field rations would be complete without addessing the subject of that humble implement of fine soldierly field dining, the mess tin. Mess tins are an important, but relatively unexciting, item of an individual soldier’s field gear. Mess tin design just doesn’t seem to generate the same level of historical interest as the evolution of the submachine gun or the V-2 missile. 

     This series of posts will provide a brief overview of mess tins through the 20^th century, with the emphasis on identifying military mess tins and their country of origin. In addition to basic design changes, most armies’ mess tins have experienced numerous variations in manufacturer's details and markings, materials, and accessories. 

Mess Tin: What’s in a Name?

     What exactly is a mess tin? It depends on where you are in the world and who you ask. The word “mess” has its origin in the Old French mes, "portion of food". In a military context, mess refers to a communal eating place, where soldiers gathered to eat those "portions of food". Generally speaking, mess kit (aside from its application to formal military evening wear) refers to a set of utensils for eating in field conditions, consisting of a food container accompanied by eating utensils. The food container is intended to serve as container for prepared food, as a cooking vessel, or both.

  In the British and Commonwealth armies the food container itself was referred to as a “mess tin”. Around 1876 the US Army approved the adoption of a standard issue mess kit, and christened it as a “meat can”. In 1955 it was officially re-designated as “mess pan”, the nomenclature it retains until the present day. However, in the US military, the term “mess kit” (officially, the mess pan with eating utensils and carrier) came to be commonly applied to the meat can/mess pan itself. In other armies, the terminology is usually (but not always) more specific as to the intended functions:

Finnish: kenttäkeittoastia (field cookware) kenttäpakki (field kit), or (slang) pakki (kit)

French: gamelle (bowl)

German: Kochgeschirr (cooking utensil)

Hungarian: csajka (mess tin, mess kit)
Italian: gavetta (mess tin)

Japanese:  ハンゴー (han gou=rice cooker)

Norwegian: Feltkokekar (field cookware) or Enmannskokekar (one man cookware)

Swedish: Enmanskök (one man kitchen), or Kokkärl (cookware or pot)

Swiss: Essgeschirr (dish on which food is served)

Russian: котелок (kotelok=kettle or pot)

   In lieu of a universally accepted term, for the purposes of this blog post I will refer to the individual meat can/mess pan/boiler/mess tin itself (i.e., exclusive of eating utensils, carriers, stoves, windscreens, straps, covers and the other paraphernalia that may accompany them) by the British term “mess tin”. Although not usually used here in the US, "mess tin" is more specific and less apt to lead to confusion than "mess kit".

History

     In the design of mess tins it is often difficult to pinpoint exactly where on the ancestral family tree a specific mess tin belongs, although there have been some tell-tale developments along the way. The design of the mess tin followed a slow developmental process, evolving from a nondescript assortment of commercially procured tin plates, kettles and frying pans that accompanied armies to the field. Prior to the adoption of individual mess tins, a commonly found utensil in the camps of many armies was the “boiler”. A lidded cooking vessel for boiling or heating water and food, boilers were commonly constructed of tinned steel and were equipped with a wire handle for carrying and for suspension over a cooking fire.

Reproduction 18^th-19^th century boiler (http://www.blockaderunner.com)

The transition from boiler to mess tin is quite apparent, as illustrated below. The British Army was one of the first to begin issuing individual mess tins, as early as 1813. The British D-shaped mess tin was basically a boiler with a flat side to allow it to fit more closely when strapped against field gear.

Reproduction British D-shaped mess tin, as first issued in 1813. The insert on the right was intended to be used as either a frying pan or a dish.

http://www.militaryheritage.com

British D-Shaped Mess Tin, typical of the type issued during WWI.
(http://www.digitaltmuseum.se)

 By the late 1800s many European armies had adopted mess tins of similar design to the boiler, although it is difficult to say who copied whom. Many were "kidney" shaped (when viewed from the top) or oval. A common feature was one or more metal loops for straps that would secure the mess tin to field gear. 

German M1887 Kochgeschirr. The handle was carried separately and inserted into the metal loop to use the lid as a frying pan.
(http://lagrandeguerre.cultureforum.net/t1198-la-gamelle-du-soldat-allemand-en-14-18)

Italian mod.1896
(http://freeforumzone.leonardo.it)

Norwegian M1876
(http://www.digitaltmuseum.se)

This Russian mess tin of the early 20th century was a kidney-shaped version of earlier round kettle designs.
(http://www.digitaltmuseum.se)

France, Austria-Hungary, Russia and Sweden adopted round mess tins in the mid-to late 1800s. They were similar in appearance to cooking kettles or pots.

The French Army’s gamelle individuelle modelle 1852 is essentially a lidded bucket. French soldiers in WWI often discarded the noisy chain. The modelle 1852 served until 1935 when it was replaced.
(www.ebay.com)

Austro-Hungarian M1899 Mess Tin - enamelled steel
(http://www.storiainsoffitta.it)

Russian M1889 Mess Tin did not have a lid or insert.

(http://www.aboutww2militaria.com)

Swedish M1859 Mess Tin
( http://www.digitaltmuseum.se)

The United States followed a divergent path with their first issue mess kit, which entered production in 1876. As the usual method of individual cooking in the field was pan frying, the U.S. Army issued a mess tin that was in effect a frying pan with a long folding handle and a lid.

US Army Meat Can, late 1800s manufacture, tinned steel.
Early US mess tins were not assigned a model number. 
 (http://www.casewickantiques.net)

 (http://www.casewickantiques.net)

Materials

     Prior to World War I mess tins were usually constructed of tinned or enameled steel or, less commonly, of copper.

Swedish M1888 - copper
( http://www.digitaltmuseum.se)

Russian M1889 - copper
(http://www.aboutww2militaria.com)

 In many nations the necessities of wartime shortages during both World Wars resulted in the same model of mess tin being produced in different materials. The Austro-Hungarian M1899 was produced in tinned steel prior to WWI; wartime production used enamelled steel.

Austro-Hungarian M1899 - tinned steel
(http://i007.radikal.ru)

Austro-Hungarian M1899 - enamelled steel
(http://i022.radikal.ru)

      By the 1920s and 1930s many nations had transitioned to aluminum as the material of choice. Aluminum was lightweight, cheap, easy to fabricate and corrosion-resistant. On the minus side, it can be dented quite easily. During WWII, wartime shortages of aluminum caused some nations to temporarily revert to tinned or enameled steel construction.

     The United States experimented with a variety of materials during WWII, including enameled steel and aluminum, but eventually settled on corrosion resistant steel. Sweden produced earlier versions of the Emanskok M.40 in stainless steel, but later switched to aluminum. With few exceptions, in the post-WWII years most armies settled on aluminum mess tins.

Sources
www.aboutww2militaria.com
www.digitaltmuseum.se

www.etymonline.com

www.freeforumzone.leonardo.it

www.i007.radikal.ru
www.storiainsoffitta.it
www.usmilitariaforum.com

Roasting Coffee in the Field

      Depending on the army and the historical period, the coffee issued to individual soldiers or mess sections could have been green and unroasted. There was a good reason behind this practice: as long as they are kept dry, green coffee beans can last as long as 2 to 3 years and still retain their flavor. But as soon as they are roasted, the volatile oils that give coffee its taste and aroma begin evaporating rapidly. Here is a simplified method of roasting coffee in a field environment.

     If you have no local sources for green coffee, there are numerous purveyors of green coffee on the internet. My personal favorite is BurmanCoffee.com, but most vendors are reasonably priced. Their websites are also a great source for info on home roasting, storing, coffee varieties, etc. Store green coffee beans in a breathable package such as a paper or burlap bag in a cool, dry, dark place  (but not in the refrigerator). Do not store green coffee near food items with a strong aroma, as the coffee may absorb those aromas.

     Roasting coffee in the field is not at all difficult and can produce an outstanding cup of coffee if done properly. Coffee can be roasted in a dry, grease-free steel or iron frying pan. I prefer a cast iron frying pan that is not used for any other cooking, so that the coffee doesn’t pick up any tastes from what was previously cooked in the pan. Do not use a Teflon-coated pan. I highly recommend that you do your coffee roasting outside, using an outdoor grill, a camp stove, or an open fire.

Green coffee beans.

Opinions and techniques vary, but here are several basic recommendations that should be observed: 

Roast coffee outdoors. It will produce fairly strong odors, smoke, and chaff.

Do not crowd the pan. Roast only a single layer of beans at a time, and leave a little surface space for expansion. 

The most important thing to remember while roasting is to keep the coffee beans moving! Do not let the beans set still for longer than 15-30 seconds while roasting. Moving the coffee around is what gives an even roast and prevents burning. Pan roasting will not give you as perfect a roast as can be achieved with a rotating drum roaster, but you can achieve a fairly even roast with practice. 

While roasting, flip the beans as if you were sautéing, or stir with a wooden or steel spoon or spatula.

     Coffee beans will pass through several stages, or styles, as they roast. Once the beans pass the medium light brown stage, the longer that they are roasted:

• Acidity decreases
• Body becomes fuller (until very dark roast, when the body becomes weak)
• Aroma decreases
• Sweetness increases (until very dark roast, when the sweetness drops sharply)

There are several major steps in roasting coffee, and different levels of roasting: 

First Crack

     As you begin roasting, the water content of the beans is heated and expands, causing a cracking sound similar to a crackling wood fire. The beans will expand in size and lose approximately 15% of their weight. The cracking noise eventually stops. The beans will be a light brown or cinnamon color and the surface will be dry. At this stage they will produce a coffee that tastes grassy or sour; keep roasting!

      As the beans continue roasting , they reach the medium light brown or American style roast. If you prefer a lighter roast, you may stop at this point and proceed with the cooling step. 

The coffee beans are at the medium light brown stage.
I moved the beans to one sid in order to show the chaff which is produced.

Second Crack

     After the beans have gone through the light and medium brown roasts, they reach the second crack stage. The beans crack again, and are at the full medium brown or City style. You may stop roasting and proceed with cooling at any stage. If you continue roasting, the beans will start to develop a glossy sheen from the heated oils. This is the medium dark brown or Full City  or Viennese style roast, a stage preferred by many. 

The coffee beans are going from medium dark brown to dark brown roast.
Notice the large amount of smoke. This is normal, and not a cause for concern,
as long as you keep the beans moving.

      If you prefer an even darker roast, continue roasting until the beans develop a shiny surface. This is the dark brown or French or Espresso style roast, and is the style preferred in many European countries (and my personal preference). Beyond this stage is the very dark or Dark French style roast. Beans at the very dark stage will have a very shiny surface.

Coffee bean roasting stages, clockwise, from upper right: 

Light brown/cinnamon

Medium light brown/American

Full medium brown/City

Medium dark brown/Full City/Viennese

Dark brown/French/Espresso

Center: green coffee beans

Cooling

The beans should be immediately cooled once the preferred roast stage has been achieved in order to stop carryover cooking. Pour the beans into a metal colander or bowl and swish them around, or pour back and forth between two containers. This also helps to eliminate the chaff. Large amounts of chaff can give the coffee an “off” taste.

Be careful! The beans will still be quite hot, and can cause some very painful burns.

Curing or De-Gassing

     Although not always feasible in a field environment, the freshly roasted beans need to rest and develop their flavor. Before grinding, store the freshly roasted (but cooled) beans in an airtight container for a minimum of four hours, up to about 24 hours. The time needed to develop full flavor and aroma depends on the type of bean, roast, and most importantly, individual preference. I know that the average soldier would probably not have been able to wait 24 hours, but unless you're participating in a one-day re-enactment or under threat of a surprise offensive by the Boche, then it's worth the wait.

Storage

     If kept in an airtight container, whole bean roasted coffee can remain fresh for 7 to 10 days, but is best consumed as soon as possible. Grind only the amount of roasted coffee beans that you need for immediate use. Once ground, the beans begin to rapdily lose the volatile oils that give them their flavor.

Grinding

     Grinding coffee beans in the field is not too problematic. During the US Civil War, soldiers would grind the beans between two rocks or use a rifle buttstock and a rock. Many years ago a fellow soldier told me of how his Texan grandfather would still grind his morning coffee with a hammer and a brick, then throw the grounds into a pot of boiling water over an open fire, resulting in what my friend insisted was the best coffee he ever drank.
     Of course a more elegant solution was for the soldier to procure a small commercial hand-cranked coffee mill, or as was the case of the French army, to issue a standard coffee mill (below). German rolling field kitchens (gulaschkanone) were equipped with a coffee mill.

French Army Coffee Grinder M1896 (Moulin a café " KLEPPER "Modèle 1896).
The "klepper" was issued at the basis of one for every 2 squads. (http://lepoilu-paris.com)

Canteen Cup Coffee (aka Cowboy Coffee)

     Few things are more comforting than a hot cup of java after a cold night spent in the field. The following methods are a basic, simple way to make "field coffee" (and we don't need no steenkin' French presses or no fancy perky-lators!). 

Method 1      

Place 2-4 mess kit spoons (2-4 tbsp) ground coffee and 16-20 fluid ounces (475-600 ml) cold water in a canteen cup or similar container. Bring to a boil and immediately reduce heat or remove from heat. Let brew for 4 to 7 minutes and the grounds have settled to the bottom

Method 2

Using measurements in Method 1, place coffee grounds in a canteen cup and pour boiling water over the coffee. Let brew for 4 to 7 minutes and the grounds have settled to the bottom.

With any of the above methods, pour the coffee off of the grounds into another container or just stop drinking when you get to the grounds at the bottom of the cup.

The US Army's official 1916 recipe for coffee for one man was as follows:

Yield: one medium strength cup of coffee

1 heaping spoonful coffee
(the US Army mess kit spoon was one tablespoon (1/2 fluid ounce or 15 ml.))
2/3 cup (5.3 fl oz/ 160 ml) water

Add the coffee when the water is boiling, and let boil for 5 minutes.
Stir grains well when adding.
Let simmmer ten minutes after boiling.
Settle with a dash of water or let stand a few minutes.

  

Kasha, Soviet Army, WWII

     Kasha (каша) is probably most accurately defined as grain porridge. It has often been described, including in some Western intelligence manuals from the Cold War era, as a porridge made from buckwheat groats. While buckwheat is preferred in many areas, kasha is not exclusively made from buckwheat and may be made from most any whole grain, to include millet, rice, semolina, oats or barley. Soviet Army kasha consisted of grain, liquid (water, broth, whole or diluted milk), fat, and sometimes onions. Kasha was classified as fluffy, sticky or slurry, depending on the ratio between the amount of liquid and cereal grains.

          Published in 1947*, the kasha recipes given here are the World War II (Great Patriotic War, if you prefer) version. Soviet Army food was somewhat repetitive and bland by Western standards, with a preponderance of kasha, soup and bread. The diet was based on whole grains, primarily in the form of bread and kasha. These were supplemented by root vegetables and leafy greens (primarily cabbage), with small amounts of meat and fats. Much of the time the vegetables and meats were canned or dehydrated.

     When cooking kasha pay attention to the cooking time needed when making your first batch, as cooking times can vary somewhat due to differences in the grains being used. Once the grain and boiling water have been mixed together, lower the heat to prevent excess moisture loss. Slow cooking over low heat is important to insure that the grain is fully cooked, as incompletely cooked kasha is quite unappetizing. Soviet soldiers had many disparaging terms for half-cooked kasha, such as “bullets”, “bolts” or “shrapnel”. Kasha has completed cooking when all of the liquid has been absorbed and the grains are not dry inside. Sticky kasha should have a texture similar to risotto, without any excess liquid.

     If using broth, beef broth is preferred. Sunflower oil was a commonly available fat, although any type of fat may be used. Tushonka was a popular accompaniment to buckwheat or barley kasha. If adding tushonka, shred the meat into small pieces, add it to the kasha as soon as it is cooked, while still very hot, and mix well.

     The amounts given in the following kasha recipes are for one serving.

*в помошь войсковому повару, составил л.и.артамонов, поднолковник медицинской службы

 (Assistance for the Military Cook, edited by L.I. Artamonov, Lieutenant Colonel, Medical Service)

Three varieties of Soviet Army kasha, served in M36 mess tin lids. From left to right: barley, buckwheat and  oat kasha.  Each mess tin lid contains one portion. The bowls in front of the cooked kasha contain one portion of the uncooked grain. 

Soviet M36 Mess Tins. A close copy of the German M31 Kochgeschirr, it had a capacity of approximately 1.7 liters for the body and 0.5 liters for the lid.

Buckwheat Kasha, Fluffy

Toasting the buckwheat groats before boiling is basic to making good buckwheat kasha. In the US, buckwheat groats are available either raw or toasted. If you are buying raw buckwheat, take care to toast the groats only until they are lightly browned. Over-toasting will result in kasha with a burnt taste. Ten grams of finely chopped onion is approximately one rounded tablespoon in volume.

US                               Metric                         Ingredients

4.25 oz                        120 g                           buckwheat groats

6.5 oz                          180 g                           water

.35 oz (2 tsp)               10 g                             fat

.35 oz (1 tbsp)             10 g                             onion

to taste                        to taste                         salt

yield: 9 oz/250 g

Procedure

Sort through the buckwheat groats and remove any impurities.

Boil the water in a separate pot.

Toast the groats in a dry pot over medium high heat until lightly browned. Stir constantly to avoid burning. After toasting, let the groats cool for a couple of minutes.

Pour the boiling water over the groats while stirring continuously until the groats begin to swell. Then add salt to taste and cook over low heat until it thickens.

As soon as the kasha groats begin to swell, cover the pot tightly, lower the heat, c and simmer over low heat for 20-30 minutes until the buckwheat is well cooked.

While the kasha is cooking, cut the onions into fine pieces and saute in the fat until lightly browned.

Once the  kasha is nearly cooked, add the onion and mix well until it is evenly distributed.

Buckwheat groats, raw (left) and toasted (right).

Barley Kasha, Sticky

Pearled barley is used in this version. Sticky kasha requires a long cooking time which results in a creamier texture.

US                               Metric                        Ingredients

3 oz                             80 g                            pearled barley

15 oz                           400 g                          water

.35 oz (2 tsp)               10 g                             fat

to taste                        to taste                         salt

yield: 15 oz/400 g

Procedure

Bring salt and water to a boil.

Pour the barley into the boiling salted water and simmer until tender

Add the fat and mix in well, cover the pot, and let rest for a few minutes.

Required cooking time is up to 2 hours.

Oatmeal Kasha, Sticky

US                               Metric                          Ingredients

3 oz                             80 g                              oat groats

10.5 oz                        300 g                            water

.35 oz (2 tsp)               10 g                              fat

to taste                        to taste                          salt

yield: 15 oz/400 g

Procedure
Bring salt and water to a boil.

Pour the oats into the boiling salted water and simmer until tender

Add the fat and mix in well, cover the pot, and let rest for a few minutes.

Required cooking time is up to 2 hours.

Cooking in the Trenches: Part 2, German Army 1915

I've been MIA for a bit, just a bit overwhelmed by everything going on at one time. But I have also been working on a number of projects which are coming to fruition, and will soon be published in this blog.
In this post we'll take a look at more recipes from the German trenches of WWI: rice, vegetables, sauces, and more potatoes. But first I thought it might be helpful for those unfamiliar with equipment of that era to give a brief overview of individual German mess gear in the First World War.

  The German Kochgeschirr M.1887 was rather massive for an individual mess kit. With a 2.5 liter capacity, it had nearly 1.5 times the volume of the later M.31 Kochgeschirr. Some M.1887s were still in use at the outbreak of the First World War.

Kochgeschirr M.1887

It was replaced by the Kochgeschirr M.1910 model, with a reduced capacity of 2 liters. An interesting development at that time was a folding spoon and fork eating utensil (the Essbesteck ,German for cutlery) and perhaps the first mass-produced spork. The M.1910 Kochgeschirr had a small metal lug on the inside the body to hold the Essbesteck neatly for transport (see illustration below). 

Kochgeschirr M.1910

Reichswehr soldiers in 1932 chowing down.
 This photo gives one a good idea of the size of the M.1910-type mess kit.  

Here are a few more recipes from Kochbuch für den Schützengraben (Cookbook for the Trenches). If you are striving for authenticity, when a recipe calls for bread crumbs it would normally have been a coarse 100% rye bread. 

Potatoes

As mentioned in an earlier post, the potato daily ration was 1,500 grams, which of course could vary greatly due to disruptions in the supply chain. As with most of the recipes in Kochbuch für den Schützengraben, no amounts were given for potato recipes. 

Mashed Potatoes

Force boiled potatoes through a sieve. Add a little milk and salt.

Mashed Potatoes (Baked)

Mix plenty of fat and grated cheese into mashed potatoes.

If eggs are available, separate the eggs and beat the egg whites until they form soft peaks.

Mix the egg yolks, fat and grated cheese into the warm mashed potatoes, then fold in the egg whites.

Sprinkle cheese and butter on top.

If baking in an oven, bake uncovered like a casserole in a 350°F/205°C oven.

If cooking on an open fire, use a heavy lidded container such as a Dutch oven. Cook over hot coals with more coals on top.

Cook until heated through and lightly browned on top.

Instead of the cheese add sugar to taste to about half a pound of potatoes per serving.

Add fruit sauce, apple sauce, stewed fruit or other cooked fruits.

Bake as for the baked mashed potatoes.

Mashed Potatoes (Croquettes)

Form cooled mashed potatoes in balls the size of an egg, roll in beaten egg then in bread crumbs. Fry in hot fat.

Apple Potatoes:

Peel and cut up or grate the potatoes.

Cooked until the potatoes are slightly undercooked.

Add an apple that has been peeled and cut into small pieces.

Add some fried bacon bits.

Cook until the apple and potatoes are soft.

Sauces

Sauces were an accompaniment to many of the recipes in Kochbuch für den Schützengraben. Roux was made with a tablespoon of butter or other fat, such as lard, oil, or bacon grease. The fat was heated until melted, a spoonful of flour added, mixed into a smooth paste, and then the other ingredients were added to it. If flour was not available, a handful of crumbled bread was substituted.

  

Béchamel Sauce:

Ingredients

fat

sliced ​​ham, pepper, onion.

broth or water

cream or milk.

bread crumbs

salt (if needed)

grated cheese, if available.

Procedure

Chop the ham, peppers and onion into small pieces.

Heat the fat and add the sliced ​​ham, pepper and onion.

Cook over low to medium heat until softened.

Add a little broth or water and cream or milk.

Add bread crumbs, salt (if needed), and a little grated cheese, if available.

Tomato Sauce

Ingredients

fresh tomatoes

butter or water

Procedure

Cut up the tomatoes into large pieces.

Place tomatoes in a pan with a little butter or water.

Cook over low to medium heat,

Once the tomatoes have softened, force them through a sieve to remove the seeds and skin.

Boil the tomatoes (stirring constantly) until they have thickened into a paste.

To the cooked tomato paste add a little water or broth, butter and bread crumbs.

This tomato paste (or canned tomato paste) is excellent with eggs, beef, mutton, meatballs, or the like. It also makes a very tasty addition to rice, pasta or macaroni.

Tomato soup can be made by adding broth to the tomato paste.

  

Mustard sauce:

Ingredients

butter or other fat

meat stock (use fish broth if serving sauce with fish)

2-3 tbsp mustard

bread crumbs

egg yolk

Procedure

Bring the stock or broth to a boil.

Remove from heat and add a little bit at a time to the egg yolk while stirring (to temper the egg yolk and prevent it from curdling).

Place butter, stock, mustard and bread crumbs in the pan.

Over low heat, bring the sauce to a simmer while stirring constantly.

Remove from heat, allow sauce to cool slightly; add the egg yolk while stirring vigorously.

Optional: add a little sugar and vinegar, to taste.

Rice

     The rice recipes are scaled for one portion. According to WWI German Army daily ration tables, 125 grams or rice or 250 grams of pulses (peas, beans, or lentils) could be substituted for 1500 grams of potatoes. Buckwheat, oat groats, or other grains can be used in the same way as rice in any of the following recipes.

Risotto

     Of course this is not the “proper” method of cooking risotto, but classic risotto made with Arborio rice could hardly have been expected to be prepared in a trench under combat conditions. Any type of rice may be used, but preferably it should be a short-grained, starchy variety. You will need to use a sufficient amount of meat stock so that the cooked rice is a bit more wet and sticky than steamed rice.

US                               Metric              Ingredients

4.4 oz/5 fl oz               125 g/150 ml      short-grained rice

10-12 fl oz                   300-360 ml        meat stock (amount depends on the type of rice)

to taste                        to taste               grated cheese

to taste                        to taste               salt

Optional

½ fl oz/1 tbsp              15 ml               tomato paste

to taste                        to taste            meat scraps, chicken liver or mushrooms (canned or                                                                  

                                                         cooked)

Procedure

Heat fat in a saucepan and add the dry rice.

Stir until the rice grains are coated with fat.

Add the meat broth, bring to a boil, lower heat and cook for twenty minutes.

When it is nearly cooked, add plenty of grated cheese.

At this point, also add the tomato paste, meat scraps, chicken liver or mushrooms.

Variations

Rice can also be baked in a covered pan that has been greased with butter or other fat, as in the potato dishes.

Apple Rice 

Ingredients

4.4 oz/5 fl oz               125 g/150 ml   rice

8-10 fl oz                     120-300 ml      meat stock (amount depends on the type of rice)

½ - 1 tbsp                    15-30 ml          butter

Procedure

Put the rice, water and butter in a covered pan.

Boil or steam the rice until soft, about 20-25 minutes.

While the rice is cooking, chop the apples into 3/8 inch (1 cm) pieces.

Add the chopped apples to the cooked rice.

Vegetables

Brassicas (cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts) can be cooked until soft in boiling water, drained, and then simmered with a little meat broth or water, fat, and salt to taste.

Young green beans, peppers, cabbage, carrots, asparagus, chicory, Brussels sprouts, etc. can be cooked until soft with a little water and salt. Drain, serve, dot with pieces of butter.

Asparagus: serve with melted butter.

Chicory:  pour over with melted butter, sprinkle with grated cheese.

Spinach: bring one or two spoonfuls of water to boil, add the spinach and heat until boiling. Remove from heat and add a little butter or anchovy paste.

Kale: boil, drain, then chop up and cook in a little fat until soft.

Red or white cabbage: Cut into thin strips. Bring a little water to a boil and steam the cabbage until soft. Add a little fat and some finely chopped apples. Cook until the apples are soft.

Cauliflower: boil until soft and serve with Hollandaise sauce.

Beets (all varieties): boil until soft, broth with fat and bread crumbs made ​​creamy.

Dried peas, beans, and lentils: boil until tender. Add tangy sweet bacon gravy (refer to my earlier post for the recipe).

Sources
Kochbuch für den Schützengraben, Hans Werder, Otto Janke Publisher, Berlin, 1915

http://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kentt%C3%A4keittoastia
http://www.ir63.org/index.php?page=33
http://www.wehrmachtlexikon.de/heer/waffen/ausruestung/allgemeine/essbesteck.php

Constructing a British Army Improvised Cooker

     In an earlier post I addressed the basics of improvised cooking equipment in the British Army. I find it to be a fascinating aspect of field cookery, and decided to recreate a working example. Most manuals were terribly lacking in details, but I found a good resource for construction techniques in the British Home Office’s “Civil Defence Manual of Basic Training, Volume 1, Welfare Section”, published in 1952. In the aftermath of nuclear, biological and chemical warfare and the resultant destruction of infrastructure and disruption of essential services, it was expected that large segments of the population would be in need of basic necessities.  The Home Office turned to the British Army for a solution to the problem of mass feeding.

     The Civil Defence Manual of Basic Training stated that “The improvised equipment illustrated has been successfully used for many years by the British Army and all of it can be made, at very little cost, from scrap material.” I found this to be absolutely true. The cooker was constructed entirely from scrap material that I had on hand, with the exception of two cans of high-heat enamel spray paint. High-heat enamel may not be historically correct, but I want to extend the service life of my cooker for as long as possible.

     Very little was required in the way of tools, as all of the tasks could be accomplished with simple hand tools. The only power tools I used were a drill for the oven handle (4 holes) and a jigsaw to expedite cutting of the sheet metal metal-cutting shears worked fine, but were much slower). Pug was mixed with a hoe and cement tub. Steel bars were cut with a hacksaw. British Army manuals recommended “running over repeatedly with a lorry” to flatten the corrugated metal sheets. Not having an army lorry readily available, I flattened the corrugated sheets by pounding repeatedly with a big hammer (very time consuming and admittedly not a lot of fun, but it provided great stress relief).

    My example is a combination cooker, but without the water boiler. Alternately, it could be considered an “oven with frying plate”, but with a longer frying plate. It has the following features for cooking:
1. A flat area to place pots or pans for boiling or frying, known as the “boiling/frying plate”.
2. An oven made from a metal drum.
3. A covered hot plate or hot cupboard for keeping cooked foods warm.
4. A hole in the boiling/frying plate to accommodate a stock pot, as would be done with a camp kettle. British Army 3-gallon camp kettles had tapered sides and would not fall through the hole. I just cut the hole slightly smaller than the pot. Pug was placed around the camp kettles or pots for insulation. 
    
     There were many adaptations of the given designs and, if I understand the instructions of the manuals correctly, the designs do not have to be adhered to unquestioningly. They could be modified to accommodate local requirements and available resources. My intent was to demonstrate the technique for building improvised field cookers. As expected, I encountered many issues not sufficiently described in manuals. These details could only be worked out by actually working my way through the construction. 
     One aid to determining many of the dimensions was in counting the bricks in photos of improvised field cookers. British Imperial bricks were most likely used, and they fit in quite well with the given measurements.
 However, I had to modify the dimensions slightly to take into account the smaller size of US bricks:
Imperial bricks (excluding joints) - 8-5/8 x 4-1/8 x 2-5/8 inches (L x W x H)
U.S bricks (excluding joints) - 8 x 4 x 2¼ inches (L x W x H)
So for example, instead of using 6 courses of bricks to achieve the proper height of the boiling/frying plate, I had to use 7. To further complicate the process, most of my bricks were locally produced and often quite old, so there were some additional minor variances in the sizes. 

When building a cooker, there are several important design considerations which should be followed to insure proper functioning:
1. The ground should be reasonably level and firm.
2. The firebox should not be more than 10 inches wide by 24 inches long and 9 inches high.
3. The firebox uses grating, grid, or perforated sheet metal, not more than 3/8 inch thick.
4. The chimney hole is centered over the top of the barrel oven.
5. The height of the chimney (from the top of the chimney to ground level) should not be less than the horizontal length of the flue.
6. Boiling/frying plate is a piece of sheet metal, not more than 3/8 inch thick.
7. Boiling or frying plate sections, kettle trenches are approximately 24 inches wide. 
8. The oven is made from a 55 gallon drum or other metal drum, preferably food-safe. It is recommended to burn out the inside of the barrel before use. Do not use a barrel that contained toxic substances. Contrary to the techniques described in the Home Office Civil Defence manual, it is not recommended to use galvanized trash cans for ovens.

Here are a few helpful hints for construction: 
1. Soak the bricks in water before laying. This prevents the bricks from absorbing too much water from the pug and possibly weakening the joint.
2. Pug is sifted earth, preferably clay-type soil, mixed with enough water until it is the consistency of thick oatmeal. Chopped dry grass or straw should be added as a binder. The amount of straw added will vary with the soil type.
3. Estimate the amount of soil that you will need, and then double that. I used about 10 cubic feet of sifted soil for my cooker, much more than my original estimate.
4. Use gloves whenever you are cutting, bending or handling sheet metal. The cut edge of sheet metal can result in a really nasty cut. 

Should you wish to indulge in constructing your own improvised cooker, you are responsible for your safety, fire prevention and compliance with local laws. Any recreation of the techniques given here is taken at your own risk. 

And now that we have the obligatory legal disclaimer out of the way, let's see how it was done.

I leveled the area, tamped the soil, measured and set out marking stakes. Then I laid out the first course of bricks (dry) to get a more exact idea of the layout. 

Note the materials laid out next to the construction area: bricks, sheet metal, metal rods, sifted soil (in the black nursery pots), chopped pine straw (in the galvanized trash can), and a 55 gallon drum.

A layer of pug is spread on the ground. Note that the near side is twice as wide as the rest. This is to accommodate the inner wall which will be the support for the closed end of the drum oven. Fortunately, for the pug I have a nearly endless supply of sticky of Alabama red clay soil and pine straw, which doesn’t deteriorate as quickly as dried grass or wheat straw.

Lay out the first course of bricks, putting about a 3/8 inch (1 cm) layer of pug in between each brick. Note that the bricks on the open end (on the right) are half bricks. The bricks are “keyed”: they are laid so that each course has the joint between two bricks centered over the middle of the bricks on the course below it.

The bottom course for the inner wall is also laid.
Put a 3/8 inch layer of pug on top of the first course and continue to lay each successive course.

After four courses are laid, the firebox grate is added, and the 5^th course of bricks over it.

Close up detail of the supports for the firebox. Optionally, a metal grid or perforated sheet metal can be placed on top of the 4th course bricks, without the support rods. By using support rods, I can easily replace the firebox grid once it deteriorates through use. 

Continue until 7 courses have been laid. Build up an inner wall as shown in the photo above, to the height of the frying/boiling plate section. This is to support the closed end of the drum oven.

View from the front of the cooker.
Note how the grates are laid over the support rods to create a firebox, and the inner support wall to the left rear.

Another view of the cooker after the 7th course has been laid.

Before continuing, the base of the flue is filled in. Rubble was normally used, but I had a large amount of coarse gravel available. I laid a short retaining wall at the rear of the firebox to keep the flue material in place.

The flue slopes upward from the front of the cooker to the rear.
(Before filling in the flue, I laid down a sheet of permeable landscape fabric. This fabric is not necessary, but it serves as a barrier to insects (fire ants are a problem here) and to make clean up easier if the cooker is disassembled or moved.)

A layer of pug or sheet metal is placed over the flue base. 

As I will be using a rather thin sheet of corrugated steel for the boiling/frying plate, I needed to add some steel rods for support. If a thick sheet of steel is not used, reinforcement must also be added for the front wall of the oven section which spans the flue. Those are the two long rods on the left side. I spaced the short rods evenly, except for the large gap towards the left. The opening for a stock pot will occupy this space.

The top of the seventh course is the height of the boiling/frying plate, which is laid over a layer of pug on top of the 7^th course. A hole has been cut for the stock pot. Originally, this would have been an oval opening to accomodate a camp kettle. The bricks on top of the plate are temporary, to hold the plate in position.

Next we turn our attention to the oven section. Lay several bricks for the next course of the forward oven wall and on the ends of the inner wall, to prevent the drum from rolling. A thick layer of pug is put down where the drum will rest and formed to the curve of the drum. 

Detail of the rear (closed) end of the drum. The inner wall is used for supporting the rear end of the drum. Continue to lay bricks around the barrel, making sure that the courses are keyed. Use broken or cut pieces of brick to insure a snug fit around the front of the barrel.

Ten additional courses of bricks have been laid to enclose the drum oven. Pug is used to seal around the curve of the barrel. Before the last course was laid, reinforcement was added over the top of the drum oven for the bricks that spanned it in the last (10th) course.

Two concrete reinforcing rods are set in a layer of pug on top of the top brick course. They will help to support the weight of the pug on top of the sheet metal.

A piece of sheet metal is placed over the top of the oven, and temporarily held in place with bricks.
Note the hole cut for the chimney, centered over the drum.

 Close-up detail of the chimney hole.
The material in the hole was cut and bent upward to form flanges to help secure the chimney.

 I greased the bottom half of a stock pot with cooking oil to make removal and cleanup easier. The pot was set in place over the hole in the boiling/frying plate. A layer of pug about 3½ to 4 inches (9-10 cm) deep was formed around the pot.

The sides of the frying area are then constructed from pug.
I used a rather stiff mixture of pug for the boiling/frying area. 

The stockpot has been temporarily removed to show the hole in the boiling/frying plate.

The chimney is made out of 4 inch (10 cm) diameter cans.
Both ends are cut off and one end is crimped with needle-nose pliers. The crimped end is inserted into the non-crimped end of the next can, and carefully tapped in further with a rubber mallet until it is secure. Do not use excessive force, or you will bend the cans. If done properly, a sufficient length of stovepipe can be fabricated that is both straight and secure.

Formed out of sheet metal or a square tin, a hot cupboard was used as a food warmer. My example is constructed out of sheet aluminum. It will be mounted on top of the oven and covered with pug. 

The hot cupboard was secured in place and covered with pug. A section of chimney was put on the flange and a support built up around it. The support could be a column of bricks or pug. I cut the bottom off of a plastic nursery pot which was then, inverted, centered it over the stovepipe and filled with pug.

 View from the front.
I sized the frying plate and hot cupboard to accommodate a half sheet pan (approx. 13 x 18 inches).

The completed combination cooker. 

The handle for the oven lid was fabricated from a piece of flat steel that I cut to size, forged into shape and drilled for mounting bolts. The barrel has a clamp to hold the lid. If you are using a lid without a clamp, latches will have to be added to hold the lid in place.

The cooker with the chimney removed and the oven opened. The oven rack is a bit small, but will suffice for now. I plan on making a larger rack that will set higher up in the oven and provide more space.

View from the rear of the cooker. Although the firebox opening faces the direction of prevailing winds for this area (west), today the wind refused to cooperate and blew in from the east. I’ll have to do another test firing later in the week, especially to determine if the 4-inch diameter chimney is sufficient or whether I may need to increase the size.

Sources:

Manual of Military Cooking and Dietary, 1924. H.M. Stationery Office, 1924

Manual of Military Cooking and Dietary, Part I - General. H.M. Stationery Office, 1940

Manual of Army Catering Services 1945, Part III. The War Office, 1945

Manual of Army Catering Services 1954. The War Office, 1954

Civil Defence Manual of Basic Training Volume 1 Welfare Section  (Improvisation of Large Scale Cooking Equipment), Pamphlet no. 2B. H.M. Stationery Office, 1952