Christmas during the Second World War and the years of rationing that followed was a frugal time for most Britons. In order to put some cheer in the austere offerings on many dining tables, The Ministry of Food took out adverts in The Times that featured handy food tips and recipes for readers. We've gathered some of the best of them below

"It'll take more than Hitler to stop the British housewife setting the festive table," starts one such bulletin from the Ministry of Food in 1942 which goes on to list recipes for Christmas fruit pies for the kids, mock goose for the troops and hot cinnamon toast instead of cake with tea: Frugal but festive ideas

A countdown to Christmas advert from 1948 has a six-step pictorial guide to making a Christmas cake, as well as recipes for mincemeat and candied peel: Six step Christmas cake recipe

An easy-to make recipe for a "rich tasting, spicy Christmas pudding" in 1944 that "tastes almost as good as pre-war": Christmas pudding

20 thrifty recipes from the austerity years

• Waste not want not, Gordon Brown tells families

Top 10 tips for a cut-price Christmas

How to halve your festive food bill with a little forward planning

• The big feast: Part 1

Related Links

• 10 Christmas food videos

According to this advert in 1946, Christmas classics must be "traditional, colourful and use the best ingredients available". The four recipes include one for mock cream made with margarine and custard powder: Four recipes for Christmas Cheer

"Let tasty [dried] egg sauces add niceness and nourishment to your Christmas fare," suggest this MoF advert from 1944 - one sharp, one with lemon: Two tasty recipes for egg sauce

Four ideas for Christmas Fancies to brighten up the festivities include gingerbread men as stocking fillers, snow pudding, coloured sugar and spiced fruit punch: Christmas fancies

This Food Facts ad from December 27, 1944 poses the question What's left in the larder? and comes up with some recipes using the Christmas leftovers including corned beef hash on cabbage and Brussels sprouts with cheese: The Ministry Of Food Christmas leftovers recipes

Finally, a Food Facts Christmas Quiz from 1941 - "anyone who scores less than 10 should be made to do the washing up".