And the hummus was, in fact, ab fab. I sometimes read this blog, an Australian historian/food enthusiast who has a penchant for posting old recipes for the absurd. Hold your horses:

http://companiontotheoldfoodie.blogspot.com/

Tinned Meat, Australian.

The following original recipes (one hundred in number) are the result of several years’ experience in the use of Australian tinned meats. Against these considerable prejudice exists, owing to a great extent, to the fact that few know how to cook them properly. If the recipes, here given, however, are followed, it will be found easy, even for a cook of moderate abilities, to prepare from Australian meats a succession of tasty as well as digestible and nourishing dishes.

2. BEEF TEA.
Turn out a tin of Australian beef. Take a tea-cupful of the clear jelly without a particle of fat, melt in the oven, season with pepper and salt, and brown with a few drops of colouring. Toast a thin slice of bread crisply, cut into dice, and serve in the tin or on a small plate.