D-Day and D-ration Chocolate
Updated: Oct 17, 2021
Ages 9+ Total time: 45 minutes WWII Gluten Free
In the years of 1942-1944 the US was engulfed in the war effort. Civilians who did not serve in the army were called upon to contribute their share in other ways: Salvage tin cans, grow their own food, consume less, car pool, join the work force.
Of course, intense preparations were taking place in the Military as well. Designing the perfect chocolate, for instance.
The D-ration chocolate was a joint effort, combining everything Milton Hershey knew about chocolate-making, and the experience General Paul Logan had with battle fields, food and soldiers. Based on what Logan knew, his instructions to Hershey were to make a chocolate bar that will be (a) high in energy, (b) withsatnd high tempratures, and (c) not taste too good. The general did not want the chocolate to be consumed as a sweet snack, and his exact request was for the bar to taste 'just a little bit better than a boiled potato'.
Chocolate from scratch
For a 3 oz. mold
35 gr cocoa butter
35 gr powdered sugar
15 gr cocoa powder
To immitate the D-ration bar:
add oatmeal, rice puffs
Other optional add-ins: Nuts, candy, rice puffs, chili powder
Short cut: Use melted Hershey's chocolate rather than making from scratch
Instructions:
1. In a pan warm all ingredients together
2. Once cocoa and sugar combine into a chocolate melt, remove pan away from the heat
3. Add chocolate melt to the mold
4. Place add-ins in your chocolate mold
5. Chill for 10 minutes in room temperature, then refrigirate for 10 minutes
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Gamify!
For a group activity, you can alot rationed ingredients, and especially - rationed toppings, to each student. Let the students stand in lines to recieve their ration, encourage them to make do with less, and teach them to exlaim 'Don't you know there's a war on??' whenever someone tries to exceed their alotted portion.
To peque interest, print war-effort posters and place them around the room.
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