Maine Sardines

I came across a sardine use and preparation booklet a while back. 

I'm not much on sardines being in recipes. Honestly, the occasional sandwich or toast is about as fancy as I get. Straight from the tin with crackers is my sardine dining choice. After seeing that the booklet was published in 1952, the height of sardines' popularity, I was in a weir. I love old literature from the '50s when snake oil was still snake oil. A brief flip through the booklet has some info; then it opens up to sardine recipes, lots of sardine recipes. I have decided to use every recipe and post pics of them in the recipe section. Since every recipe calls for Maine sardines, and since Maine is no longer canning sardines, I'll venture up North and use some from Blacks Harbour, New Brunswick Canadian cannery. * Some of the fish they can are from Maine*. As I opened the booklet, I came across a little intro from the governor of Maine, congratulating everyone who has the opportunity to receive this booklet. Then I see a line that has 1950's all over it: "We would like to see them used to best advantage by every housewife in America." here is even a page entitled "" he WWoman'sTouch.""  points out that all women who work in the cannery are "i"immaculately uniformed." " provocative or sloppy dress in that cannery!   the picture caption reads 

Reading through the list of preparation ideas, the wording is great. favorite suggestion reads "Ba"helors' B'dget Snack." "
Remember, whether you like it or not.

Other sections and suggestions have wonderful 50'50'sawings to coincide with the recommendations.  

One reads "Sp"rts Special." H" convenient it is to just eat sardines straight from the can at a sports event. B t, "If "he gal friend objects to such informality, take along a bunch of sandwiches as per suggestions on preceding pages." (N"w will the gal friend have a copy of this booklet?    ving a gal friend a copy of this, and she reads the housewife bit, will she think, 'you want to go steady or even play on a promise ring?' Oh' or gal friend. W the gal friend make the sandwiches, or would the guy'sguy'smake them for him? I can't but picture June Cleaver making sardine sandwiches for WalleWalley'sfriend.)

        


   Other suggestions are:

·         Picnic Perkups: The star of every picnic. ( hi   
dating my wife, we did a lot of picnicking, and we still do, but if I had brought a tin of sardines for her to a picnic, well, I just don'tdon't!)

·         Refrigerator Raids: It suggests sardines for a bedtime snack.

· Rod' Rod' h'rs:  Every hunter and fisherman should have a tin available. ( he e's no m There's f tree huggers!)

·         Card Party Snacks:  At the next card game, be sure to serve sardines.      say, e have friends who play cards regularly, and I have seen a particular lady mix up sardines for a card-playing snack, so I can relate.)

·         School Set Snack Spread: "After school" when hungry moppets are homeward bound in search of more than higher education…" (How many m" ets in today's Americtoday'soing to ask for a tin of sardines?  M t  ruin  on over processed crap!)

·         Radio-TV Treats:  It suggests sandwiches during radio and TV time.

·         Lunchbox Specials: "These will p "se the palate of Junior and his father."

Every other"page shows pictures of prepared sardine dishes.  I  v e old icture set up of the dishes.  Not n ke t ay's food ditoday'sups.  Thos j mak you feel all "Leave it to Be"ver" not "Sex and "he Ci"y." A life less r" ed where families sat down for dinner and didn't eat on thdidn't

One page mentions the variety of pure salad oils and 
sauces that sardines were packed in at that time.

·         Soybean oil

·         Mustard sauce

·         Olive oil

·         Peanut oil

·         Cotton seed oil

·         Tomato sauce

I've never triedI'veseen sardines in peanut or cottonseed 
oil.  I see h ot  uce was not mentioned in this booklet. I'm cur ou  as   'men sardines in hot sauce made its debut.  Do you n  It oes me    rdines in tomato sauce.  At the b t f ach page that the recipes are on are little info sentences.  Each one  g  th "Maine sardines h"ve/will/provides etc." 

           "                Some of my favorite are. 

                             Straight teeth?  Who knew?

 
 ne sardines contain Vitamin A, which maintains healthy skin and night sight. (They turn y u    o a vampire).

A list of a few things they say eating Maine Sardines will help:

·         Builds and repairs body tissues (high quality protein)

·         Normal functioning of digestive and nervous systems (Niacin)

·         For good red blood (Iron)

·         General physical well being (Vitamin B2)

·         Prevents simple goiters (Iodine)

·         Twice as much lime as fresh milk

·         Promotes steady nerves

·         Improves digestion (Vitamin B1)

·         Low cost protein

I believe the first recipe I will try will be sardines on toast or a sandwich. 

PESCADOR- 79

PESCADOR: TOMATO SAUCE

APPEARANCE:

NUTRITION:
N/A

PRODUCT OF: 
Portugal

INGREDIENTS:
Sardines, Tomato, Vegetable Oil,  Salt

PRICE:
1.00

OVERALL:
These come in small tins; they are the size of anchovy tins here in the states. Upon opening, a very faint tomato aroma, three fish to the tin, and a very thick tomato sauce. A very salty tin of fish, fish is on the dry side. No fishy taste or after taste, not spiny at all. The sauce has a strong but decent flavor. I would eat again. 3 Sardines.

PESCADOR: IN VEGETABLE OIL

APPEARANCE:

NUTRITION:
N/A

PRODUCT OF: 
Portugal

INGREDIENTS:
Sardines, Vegetable Oil, Salt

PRICE:
1.00

OVERALL:

No strong fish aroma upon opening. Three nice round, tightly packed fish to the tin. Salt is prominent on the first bite. A very meaty, clean-tasting fish, no fishy taste or after taste: not spiny. I would eat again 3 1/2 Sardines.

PESCADOR: SPICED IN TOMATO SAUCE

APPEARANCE:

NUTRITION:

PRODUCT OF: 
Portugal

INGREDIENTS:
Sardines, Tomato, Vegetable Oil, Chili Pepper, Salt

PRICE:
1.00

OVERALL:
Faint tomato aroma upon opening. There are three tightly packed fish to the tin; roe-filled fish, roe is on the gritty side. The fish still possess scales; they are unnoticeable. A chili pod is snugged down in the tin, both ends cut off to release that chili goodness. Nice heat to the fish that was packed on top of the pod. A good textured fish, a good heat throughout the rest of the fish. Tomato sauce is almost undetectable from the heat of the chili  I would eat again. 4 1/2 sardines.

PESCADOR: SPICED IN VEGETABLE OIL 

APPEARANCE:

NUTRITION:

PRODUCT OF: 
Portugal

INGREDIENTS:
Sardines, Vegetable Oil, Chilli Pepper, Salt

PRICE:
1.00

OVERALL:
The tin reads, Spiced Sardines in Vegetable Oil (Hot Sauce)   *putting chili in vegetable oil becomes hot sauce? OK..*    Oil aroma upon opening, three tightly packed scaled mangy fish to the tin, chili pod is on top of the sardines instead of under these guys. A soft textured fish falls apart, removing them from the tin. An excellent heat to the fish, oil is a little off-putting. I may eat again. 2 Sardines.

LA CHOL IA-78

LA CHOLIA: IN SOYA OIL

APPEARANCE:

NUTRITION:
Calories- 80
Fat Calories- 20
Total Fat- 20g
Sat. Fat- 1.0g
Cholesterol- 33mg
Sodium- 170mg
Protein- 10g
V.A- 4%
V.C- 2%
Calcium- 20%
Iron- 6%

PRODUCT OF: 
Ecuador

INGREDIENTS:
Fish, Soya Oil, Salt

PRICE:
1.28

OVERALL:
Oil aroma hits you on opening, followed by fish. Four plump sardines to the tin. I really don't see seven servings in this tin as the can says. *Perhaps that's why Americans are so overweight.* Salt is very prominent, fish has a nice texture, the fish is a tad on the chewy side alone. No strong after taste, only oil. I would eat 2 Sardines again.

MASAGARA -77

MASAGARA: IN TOMATO SAUCE

APPEARANCE:

NUTRITION:
Calories- 110
Fat Calories- 50
Total Fat- 6g
Sat Fat- 2.5g
Cholesterol- 55mg
Sodium- 680mg
Carbohydrates- 3g
Protein- 13g
Vitamin A- 2%
Calcium 6%
Iron- 10%

PRODUCT OF:
Philippines

INGREDIENTS:
Sardines, Water, Tomato Paste, Soya Oil, Modified Starch, Iodized Salt, Spices

PRICE:
.72

OVERALL:

A very strong fish aroma upon opening. A very watery tomato sauce, four sardines to the can. Scales are in patches and floating throughout the sauce. It is a roe-filled fish, a very salty fish; the taste is as if it came from an MRE. A soft textured fish, no real strong fish taste or after taste, a slight fish after taste, yet nothing a drink of beer won't wash away. I would eat again. 2 sardines.

What special!?

Drew's Three S special, that special...

My area PPD Autumnal equinox festival was today, and some dear friends were running the concession. They sent out a menu via the Internet letting everyone know what they could expect to enjoy today,

As great as the menu appeared, I only saw one problem, no sardines... So I demanded they put sardines on there. Okay, in reality, I jokingly said they needed sardine wraps. * My friends hate sardines. So wraps were out of the question, but we are still friends. * Minutes later, they update the menu and send this out. 

How great is this!? Killer ass great! That's how. I was told I better *had to* buy some, then again, I told them if they didn't have sardines at the event, I would write a formal complaint for false advertising. And I know they would have told me where to stick my complaint letter, for that's how great they are. Then it occurred to me! What kind of Sardines do non-sardine eaters buy!? At this point, I was expecting the worse. Here is the sign at the event.

Lunchtime came around, and I ventured up to the concession stand.   I asked my buddy, Raven, what kind they were. He hadn't a clue. He just set out three stapled bags in front of me. They read soybean oil, mustard, and water. The decision, decisions. I knew they had to come from a supermarket locale, which would determine a two dollars well spent depending on what brand they were. 

I chose the mustard, then Polar sardines popped in my head.   I put them back and went with the soybean oil. *buying tinned fish in a poke is very different* 

Ah, Northern Catch... You also get 13 crackers in every bag. Gracious with the crackers, I knew Crystal was not a sardine eater when she packed these. Sardines, crackers, and a drink, for two bucks. Now that's a deal. I asked about utensils, but they had to be left out to keep costs down. *But who needs utensils to eat sardines with anyhow?* 

 Then other people got the Drew's three S special, so I made them pose... 

Here is Robin M. with tin in mustard... She had almost killed the tin off before I noticed she got 

em... Northern Catch is good in mustard, by the way...

 

                                                    I caught Chris A. as he was opening his bag... 

Now that's a mouth full of sardines...

They also run a food drive for the local food banks as a community event. They collected almost 1000 pounds of food today. Great job, guys! Seeing that Canned Fish is one of the most needed items, I was happy to give... 

Before you call me a cheap bastard, I gave a lot more than just two tins of sardines-- a bag of excellent imports and several 5 sardine tins. *Not to mention the bags of mundane canned goods my wife took.*

It was a great day and event; wonderful people and happenings. I even received the Drew's three S specials that didn't sell. Two is all that didn't sell. 

SOL-MEX- 76

SOL-MEX: IN TOMATO SAUCE

APPEARANCE:

NUTRITION:

Calories- 45
Fat Calories- 10
Total Fat- 1g
Cholesterol- 35mg
Sodium- 290mg
Protein- 8g
Calcium- 20%
Iron- 4%


PRODUCT OF:
Thailand


INGREDIENTS:
Sardines, Tomato Sauce, Water, Salt, Chili

PRICE:
.50

OVERALL:
The strong fish aroma hits you on opening, five fish to the can. All possess their scales, a very soft mushy fish; the only texture is the scales, a very faint heat from the chili I, a very bland almost flavorless fish, a thick sauce. I would not eat again. No Sardines.

IBERIA- 75

IBERIA: IN TOMATO SAUCE

APPEARANCE:

NUTRITION:
Calories- 70
Fat Calories- 45
Total Fat- 5g
Cholesterol- 5mg
Sodium- 202mg
Protein- 6g
Calcium- 23%
Iron- 3%

PRODUCT OF:
Indonesia

INGREDIENTS:
Sardines, Tomato Sauce, Water Salt

PRICE:
.59

OVERALL:
A very faint sardine aroma upon opening, four plump fish to the tin. A very soft textured fish, fishy taste hits you on the first bite; yet disperses as quickly. There is no noticeable solid after taste, not spiny; the sauce is a little on the watery, bland side. Not a bad can of fish. I could eat these again. 2 1/2 Sardines.