Honouring a Nation’s Resilience with a Taste of the Past – VE Day 80th Anniversary at Abbey Health Care

On Thursday, 8th May 2025, we are coming together at Abbey Health Care, across all our care homes to commemorate a truly momentous occasion — the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day. VE Day marked the end of World War II in Europe in 1945, and with it came a wave of relief, gratitude, and joyous celebration across the United Kingdom. Despite the hardships of wartime rationing, communities gathered with what little they had, sharing laughter, stories, and simple but heartfelt meals.

As we honour the spirit of that historic day, what better way to pay tribute than by recreating the very foods that graced the tables of those who lived through it?

Wartime-Inspired Menu Ideas for VE Day

During the war, food was rationed and creativity in the kitchen was a necessity. Despite limited ingredients, families found ways to enjoy comforting meals together. For this anniversary, we are inviting everyone to explore dishes that reflect the resilience and inventiveness of the era.

Savoury Selections

• Egg and Cress Sandwiches A nostalgic favourite, these sandwiches offered a fresh bite during rationing and remain a timeless treat.
• Potted Meat and Fish Using preserved meats and fish, these were practical yet flavourful spreads for bread and crackers.
• Mock Banana Sandwiches Made with mashed parsnips and banana essence — a clever substitute when real bananas were scarce.
• Egg Sandwiches Scrambled eggs mixed with mayonnaise and crisp lettuce or watercress for a satisfying filler.
• Lord Woolton’s Pie A wholesome vegetarian dish invented during wartime, featuring chopped root vegetables, oatmeal, and topped with mashed potato.

Recipe Highlight: Lord Woolton’s Pie This classic dish makes use of cauliflower, parsnips, carrots, potatoes, and spring onions, cooked with yeast extract and parsley, and topped with a crust of mashed potato mixed into wholemeal flour. A hearty and nutritious option that showcases wartime ingenuity.

Sweet Treats and Desserts

• Eggless Sponge Cake Made with flour, sugar, baking powder, and yogurt — a soft and fluffy dessert without using eggs.
• Carrot Biscuits Carrots, a natural sweetener during the war, were used in baking to replace sugar, resulting in moist, chewy cookies.
• War Cake An eggless, milkless, butterless cake rich with brown sugar, raisins, and warming spices like cinnamon and clove.

Recipe Highlight: War Cake This cake is a wartime triumph. Boiled raisins, brown sugar, and spices form the base, which is then mixed with flour and walnuts before being baked to perfection — ideal for those seeking a budget-friendly dessert with historical roots.

• Honey Ice Cream Sugar was rationed, but honey was used to sweeten this simple frozen dessert.
• Simple Biscuits With honey and ginger, these rustic biscuits were easy to make and a treat to share at any street party.

Extra Touches for Celebration

• Fresh Strawberries and Cream A symbol of luxury at the time — if available, this was a celebration dish loved by many.
• Saved-Up Beer Many households saved beer or ale to mark this celebratory moment, enjoying a toast with neighbours.

Recreating the Atmosphere

Food was just part of the joy on VE Day. Homes and streets were decked with bunting, Union Jacks flew proudly, and communities sang together in unity. We are recreating this atmosphere by involving

• Playing 1940s music and singing old favourites.
• Dressing in period attire or red, white, and blue.
• Hosting a “ration-style” tea party or picnic.
• Sharing stories or photos from 1945 (especially for care home residents).

Bringing History to the Table

This 80th anniversary isn’t just about looking back — it’s about remembering the resilience, creativity, and community spirit that saw us through the darkest times. By cooking and sharing these recipes, we honour those who endured the war and celebrate the peace that followed.

So, whether you’re baking carrot biscuits with grandchildren, making a hearty Woolton Pie, or sipping tea with eggless sponge, you’re part of a legacy that spans generations.

Let’s eat, remember, and rejoice — just like they did on VE Day 1945.

Thanks to our wonderful chefs and Jo Ankers for helping recreate and reminisce.