XMAS DINNERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 297, 14 December 1940, Page 12

XMAS DINNERS.

TROOPS IN EGYPT. SPECIAL MENUS PLANNED. (From the Official War Correspondent with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in the Middle East.) CAIRO, Dee. 12. In 30 mess lial!-? ami tents from the Nile Yalle.v to the Western Der>ert soldiers of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force will sit down on December 2"> to Christinas dinners which in richness and abundance will hardly be surpassed in their own homes. Quartermasters and cook* have already planned dishes and placed orders for the good things that Christmas calls for among Britishers everywhere. They have been given wide sc»pe as a result of two useful each •subsidies, one for 1/0 per head from the National Patriotic Fund. and. the other of 1/, which will be increased to 1/li for troops in the field from the rebate fund derived from canteen profits. The.se sums will po a long way in the purchase of foodstuffs produced locally. An illustration of what can be done with sulwidised rations is given by the following specimen menus for dinner and tea, compiled by headquarters as a guide to units:—i>inne.r: Cre unci tomato «oup, roast turkey and pork, apple sauce, stuffing, green peas, cauliflowers and white sauce, roast potatoes, Christmas pudding and brandy sauce, nuts, cigarettes, fruit and beer. Tea: Cold meats, salad, cake, mince pies, fruit salad. . Units have been left to plan their own menus, and enthusiastic cooks have many surprises in store. One battalion has kept true to New Zealand tradition bv obtaining New Zealand lamb. Most units intend to decorate thear messroonii. for the occasion. Officers will dine with the men in many cases, while in at least one unit the officers and non-commis-sioned officers will wait on the men. Everything possible is being done, towards the celebration of Christmas in a manner to which the troops have been accustomed. Even in the desert the dinner will be no less sumptuous than in the more comfortable surroundings of the base camp and hospitals, (iit't pareels of puddings, cakes and sweets from Nfiw Zealand %ill probably be distributed on Boxing Day.