Hi folks A few years ago ( a good many actually) my mother would mix some flour and water to make batter for fish or scallops. She used to colour it with batter colouring. Does anyone have any idea what was used as the colouring? As I recall, water was mxed with an orangey coloured powder which was obtained from the chemist at the bottom of News Street, at the junction with the High street, West Bromwich. I think the chemist was called Bell and Jones. For some reason, it was discontinued, I seem to think there was some sort of health risk attached to it. . Pat Allen (Leicestershire) Best wishes to all for Christmas and the New Year.

Hi Pat Not sure but we used to use "egg colour" in the bakery trade, it was an orangey powder and watered down gave a rich yellow colour like egg yolks. I believe that also has faded from use. I tend to use yellow colour (from most supermarkets). I would imagine the result should be similar. Kind regards Dave Regards David Allen Tech. I.O.S.H; Cert. NEBOSH CIEH Registered trainer; AM IfLMember Association of First Aiders T 01472 429 392 M 07950 833 609 E allen1610@hotmail.co.uk > From: MOUSENGROUSE@aol.com > Date: Mon, 19 Dec 2011 14:10:36 -0500 > To: ENG-BLACK-COUNTRY-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: [Black Country] Batter mix > > Hi folks > > A few years ago ( a good many actually) my mother would mix some flour and > water to make batter for fish or scallops. She used to colour it with > batter colouring. > > Does anyone have any idea what was used as the colouring? As I recall, > water was mxed with an orangey coloured powder which was obtained from the > chemist at the bottom of News Street, at the junction with the High street, > West Bromwich. > > I think the chemist was called Bell and Jones. > > For some reason, it was discontinued, I seem to think there was some sort > of health risk attached to it. > > . > Pat Allen (Leicestershire) > > > Best wishes to all for Christmas and the New Year. > ------------------------------------- > The only List that specifically covers the whole of the Black Country. Run by Black Country folk who were born and still live in the area. > ****************************** > ATTENTION TO ALL:- When replying please remove the details that do not apply to your mail and change the SUBJECT LINE for best useage of ARCHIVED MATERIALS. > ------------------------------- > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to ENG-BLACK-COUNTRY-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Hello Pat, I'm pretty sure it was called saltpetre. My Mom used to use it as well. It was sold either in Boots the Chemist or Timothy, Whites & Taylor in Dudley. It was discontinued because of health reasons. I suppose it was used as it would have been cheaper than using eggs. Regards Jean ----- Original Message ----- From: <MOUSENGROUSE@aol.com> To: <ENG-BLACK-COUNTRY-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, December 19, 2011 7:10 PM Subject: [Black Country] Batter mix > Hi folks > > A few years ago ( a good many actually) my mother would mix some flour and > water to make batter for fish or scallops. She used to colour it with > batter colouring. > > Does anyone have any idea what was used as the colouring? As I recall, > water was mxed with an orangey coloured powder which was obtained from > the > chemist at the bottom of News Street, at the junction with the High > street, > West Bromwich. > > I think the chemist was called Bell and Jones. > > For some reason, it was discontinued, I seem to think there was some sort > of health risk attached to it. > > . > Pat Allen (Leicestershire)