Naval Heritage Center -- Rudy Shappee ("Beef Stew for 2500"):
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Description of Pictures: Part of the Navy Memorial’s “Authors on Deck” series of book lectures. Author Rudy Shappee will present his new book Beef Stew for 2500: Feeding Our Navy from the Revolutionary War to the Present, followed by Q&A, a book signing and a lunchtime tasting prepared by the Navy’s culinary specialists.
Imagine having to cut and trim 630 pounds of beef into one-inch cubes and then dredge the meat in 33.75 pounds of flour before browning it in 33.75 pounds of fat. While you are doing this, your assistants are busy washing and cutting up 270 pounds of tomatoes, cleaning and quartering 135 pounds of onions, cubing 135 pounds of carrots, peeling and cubing 270 pounds of potatoes, and dicing 112.5 pounds of celery, all this in preparation of beef stew for 2,500 hungry sailors. Cooking a meal like this requires the labor of eight men toiling over four 80-gallon steam kettles. After adding these ingredients to 90 gallons of beef stock you season the mixture lightly with 8.5 pounds of salt and a dash (11.25 ounces) of pepper. After cooking for two hours, all you have to do is make gravy from 22.5 pounds of flour and 4.25 gallons of water, add it to the stew, stirring with a device that resembles a canoe paddle. After testing for enough seasoning, you are finally ready to begin serving the hungry crew.
To give the reader an understanding of how the U.S. Navy feeds the crews of its busy ships at sea, Rudy Shappee takes his reader on a tour from the Revolutionary War to the present, showing how food was prepared aboard and abroad during periods of conflict in our nation’s history. In addition, the book contains authentic recipes reflecting various foods eaten by our sailors.
Rudy Shappee served on active duty with the Navy for 20 years. His career spanned the Cold War years of 1957 to 1976. During his career, he served aboard three aircraft carriers: USS Bennington (CVS-20); USS Independence (CV-62); and USS Bennington (CVA-64). After retirement, he enjoyed a 20-year career in pub ...More...
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BEEFST_100505_009.JPG: Douglas World Cruiser Chicago
In 1924, the Chicago, piloted by Lt. Lowell Smith and Lt. Leslie Arnold, was one of two US Army Air Service airplanes to complete the first round-the-world flight, a journey that lasted 175 days.
BEEFST_100505_069.JPG: Salt Horse, Spotted Dog and Dandyfunk
Rules for the Regulation of the Navy of the United Colonies of North America:
Established for preserving their rights and defending their liberties, and for encouraging all those who feel for their country, to enter into its service in that way in which they can be most useful. -- 28 November 1775
* All ships provided with fishing tackle.
* Commanders can shorten allowances.
* Substitution of beef for pork in ration.
* Flour and suet in place of beef ration once a week.
* The warrant of the Commander of Captain shall suffice for payment for provisions.
* Officer to inspect provisions, bread, and flesh cask.
* One ell (45 inches) of fresh canvas issued to each mess each year for pudding bags.
An Act to Provide Naval Armament (1794):
* Section 8. And be it further enacted that the ration shall consist of as follows:
-- Sunday: 1 pound bread, 1-1/2 pound beef, 1/2 pint rice
-- Monday: 1 bread, 1 pork, 1/4 pint peas or beans, 4 ounces cheese
-- Tuesday: 1 bread, 1-1/2 beef, 1 potatoes or turnips
-- Wednesday: 1 bread, 2 ounces butter (or in lieu thereof, 6 ounces of molasses), 4 ounces of cheese, 1/2 pint rice
-- Thursday: 1 bread, 1 sale fish, 2 ounce butter or 1 gill oil, 1 pound potatoes
-- Friday: 1 bread, 1 salt fish, 2 ounce butter or 1 gill oil, 1 pound potatoes
-- Saturday: 1 bread, 1 pork, 1/2 peas or beans, 4 ounces cheese
* 1/4 of ration is commuted
* And there shall also be allowed one half pint of distilled spirits per day or in lieu thereof one quart of beer per day to each ration.
Officers' Daily Rations:
* Commanding Officers of Frigates: six rations
* Lieutenants: three rations
* Warrant Officers: 1-1/2 rations
* Officers have the right to sell back to the purser all unused rations at the end of the voyage
* Officers may choose to draw entire ration in cash. May then purchase goods ashore, plus additional live animals to supplement their rations as necessary. (cattle, pigs, goats, hens, most popular)
Menu Items:
* Salt Junk and Ship's Biscuit
* Sailor's Duff (similar to gingerbread)
* Spotted Dog (with raisins or prunes)
* Boiled Peas and Pork
* Dog's Body, or Peas Pudding
* Drowned Baby (Officers only)
* Sea Pie (Officers only)
* Lobscourse (Officers only)
Dandyfunk:
* Soak six navy biscuits per serving in water
* Mash with a pestle of marlinspike
* Mix with the fat taken from the coppers where the meat is boiled
* Flavor with allspice, if available
* Wrap tightly in a pudding cloth and boil for two hours until cooked through
* Slice for serving
* Sweeten with molasses, if available
1861 Ration:
* Ship's biscuit
* Salt pork and beef
* Canned beef
* Dried peas and beans
* Desiccated vegetables including potatoes
* Dried apples or other fruit
* Rice, flour, salt
* Butter
* Tea, coffee or cocoa
* Pickles, molasses, vinegar
* One gill (four ounces) of spirits
Civil War Menus (North):
* Pork and beans
* Chicken gumbo
* Commissary beef stew
* Red flannel hash
* Dandyfunk
* Bubble and Squeak (beef and cabbage)
* Soda biscuits
* Fried pig's feet
* Sheep head soup
* Possum and sweet potatoes
Civil War Menus (South):
* Same as North, except that supplies are short, so actual ration consists of:
-- Salt pork or beef
-- Rice, peas and beans
-- Wild game and confiscated products
-- Parched corn and chicory
-- Supplies taken from captured merchant vessels
BEEFST_100505_107.JPG: The Galley:
The "caboose" or "camboose," more familiar is the name "galley." All cooking was done here in three large kettles, boiling was the principal method of cooking, however, a spit was used for special occasions. About this area were garlands of dried vegetables and spices hung from the overhead. A Marine guard posted near by prevented unauthorized consumption of food.
BEEFST_100505_137.JPG: Grog
Alcohol at Sea:
1665: Vice Admiral William Penn, RN, replaces beer ration with rum and water when his fleet captures Jamaica, his stores of beer having soured.
1731: Regulations and Instructions Relating to his Majesty's Service at Sea: "1/2 pint of run or 1 gallon of beer as a part of the daily ration aboard ships in the West Indies. Served twice a day at 10-12 am, and 4-6 pm.
Vice-Admiral Edward Vernon called "Old Grog" because of a waterproof boat cloak made of grogam, he wore. Issues rum ration both before and after battles, in addition to regular ration.
Rum causes trouble aboard through excessive drunkenness, so ration is mixed with 1 quart of water to 1/2 pint of rum on deck in presence of an officer.
1756: Mixture of rum and water becomes part of Navy Regulations in British Navy.
1794: US Navy adopts Royal Navy ration, including the issue of alcohol.
1841: US Congress changes ration to bourbon rather than rum.
1860: Rum ration only issued to men 21 years of age or older. Younger men paid an additional 5 cents/day in lieu of spirit ration.
1862: Spirit ration eliminated from daily ration in US Navy. (Officers allowed to maintain wine mess until 1914.)
1971: "Black Tot Day" in British Navy.
USN "Seventy day at-sea rule"
BEEFST_100505_176.JPG: Navy Tack North, South
BEEFST_100505_226.JPG: Naval Messing Enters the Modern Age
* First navy cookbook published in 1902
* Congress adds vegetables and tomatoes to daily ration
* USS Missouri gets first dishwashing machine in 1904
* Potato peelers & mashers, meat grinders & slicers, dough mixers, ice cream freezers appear in fleet
* Congress adds jam, eggs and spices to ration
Modernizing of Messing:
* General messing aboard USS Olympia
* Ship's pay officer becomes commissary
* Wardroom treasurer manages wardroom
* Chief commissary steward in charge of general mess
Steel Navy Menus:
* Baked and fried fish and fish cakes
* Beef soups and stews
* Roast beef and pork
* Roast turkey, chicken, geese, ducks with stuffing
* Tinned beef with macaroni
* Tinned fritters
* Plum duff, apple dumplings
* Fresh bread
Typical turn-of-the-century bill of fare:
* Reveille: Hot coffee
* Breakfast: Boiled eggs, liver and bacon, coffee, bread and butter
* Dinner: Fresh corned beef and cabbage, potatoes, new onions and radishes, coffee, bread and butter
* Supper: Chicken stew, tea, bread and butter
* Sunday dinner: Roast pork jelly, fresh green peas, new potatoes and pie (typical)
* Condensed milk and sugar were provided for the coffee
* Vinegar and catsup were stocked in every mess box
BEEFST_100505_274.JPG: Note the drinker
BEEFST_100505_277.JPG: World War Two: Beans, Butter, and Bullets
World War Forces Greater Modernization:
* Provisioning at sea improved
* Special crew needs determine menus
* Use of dehydrated foods expanded: eggs, milk, SPAM, fruits, vegetables
* Ship's cook and baker appears in 1942 for merchant marine vessels
* The Cookbook of the United States Navy published in 1945 (522 recipes)
* Cooking staff receives special training
* Commissary Department established, headed by an officer trained in mess management
* Enlisted personnel may be advanced as additional skills are obtained
* People of color and foreign nationals limited to food preparation duties
* Gas-fired grills replaced wood and coal-fired stoves
* Steam kettles and electric ovens with temperature controls
World War Two Menus:
* Macaroni Republic
* Shrimp chop suey
* Bean soup
* Beef stew
* Baked chicken with noodles
* Corned beef and cabbage
* Escalloped potatoes
* Stuffed bell peppers
* Parker House rolls
* Bread pudding, strawberry chiffon pie
Beef Stew for 2500:
* 630 pounds beef, boneless
* 8.5 pounds salt
* 11.25 ounces of pepper
* 33.75 pounds of flour
* 33.75 pounds of fat
* 90 gallons beef stock
* 112.5 pounds peas, fresh or frozen
* 270 pounds tomatoes
* 135 pounds onions, small, quartered
* 135 pounds carrots, sliced or cubed
* 270 pounds potatoes, cubed
* 112.5 pounds flour (for gravy)
* 4.25 gallons water, cold
Improved food preparation for the fleet:
* Improved training of personnel in mess management and food preparation.
* Sophisticated food preparation equipment such as clam shell grills, combination ovens, Skittles and condiment dispensers
* New food items such as 90 day eggs, pre-cut meats in steak, roast, meat patties, skinless, boneless chicken breasts.
* Pre-breaded pork chops and veal steaks.
* Less fat and salt, more fiber, tripling of vegetable and fruit consumption
* Pre-cooked bacon, meat patties, deep fried chicken, vegetable and beef lasagna, macaroni salad
* Dehydrated pork chops, green beans, cottage cheese, and soups
* Cook-freeze-heat items such as meat loaf, Salisbury steak and gravies.
Modern mess management:
* Rate changes from cook, to commissaryman, to mess management specialist to culinary arts specialist.
* Ney Award established in 1958
* Navy Food Management teams travel throughout the fleets to train aboard ships at sea
* Training of staff includes advanced studies in Culinary Institute of America (150 per year)
* Fleet staffing of one Culinary Arts Specialist per 100 in crew, plus three to four mess cooks
Modern Navy Menus:
* New England clam or fish chowder
* Potatoes au gratin
* Monterey egg bake
* Creamed chipped beef (SOS)
* Noodles Jefferson
* Frijole salad
* Baked stuffed pork chops
* Barbecued spareribs
* Steak, cheese and onion submarine
* Vegetable lasagna
Navy Food Jargon:
* Sandwich = "Banjo"
* Treat or Award = "Benny"
* Coffee with cream and sugar = "Blond & Sweet"
* Pancakes = "Collision Mats"
* Fried mystery meat = "Critter Fritters"
* Soft-serve ice cream = "Dog"
* Chicken a la King = "Dynamited Chicken"
* Tapioca Pudding = "Fisheyes"
* Oatmeal = "Lagging Paste"
* Black coffee = "Mud"
* Candy = "Pogy Bait"
* Hot dogs = "Rollers"
* Hamburgers = "Sliders"
* Cheeseburgers = "Sliders with lids"
* Sausages = "Snorkers"
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2010 photos: Equipment this year: I mostly used the Fuji S100fs until the third one broke and I started sending them back for repairs. Then I used either the Fuji S200EHX or the Nikon D90 until I got the S100fs ones repaired. At the end of the year I bought a Nikon D5000 but I returned it pretty quickly.
Trips this year:
Civil War Trust conferences (Lexington, KY and Nashville, TN), and
my 5th consecutive San Diego Comic-Con trip (including Los Angeles).
My office at the main Commerce Department building closed in October and I was shifted out to the Bureau of the Census in Suitland Maryland. It's good to have a job of course but that killed being able to see basically any cultural events during the day. There's basically nothing of interest that you can see around the Census building.
Number of photos taken this year: about 395,000..
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