Australia Day

[Rosalie]

Australia Day is only a week away so I was wondering what if anything, everyone will be doing to celebrate?
With my kids being 17 and 20 we don't seem to do a lot together anymore.So I've decided that we shall have a picnic lunch somewhere not to far away. You never know what is happening with total firebans, so we'll forgo the BBQ and have sangers and my mum's pineapple tarts.

http://static.flickr.com/19/88354579_b7561d4dae_o.jpg

Am I Patriotic or what!

[MarthaB]

:) YEP it's the same here, we used to take the kids to the fire works at southbank, but now they are grown up and they do their own thing.
Are you talking about pineapple upside down cakes Rosalie, yummy

[Rosalie]

I am the keeper of my mum's famous ( well only in the family) pineapple tart recipe. They are a flan base with a custardy pineapple filling topped with whipped cream.
Any party or gathering we went to, Mum was instructed to take these tarts. The joke was always to hide one..that was my oldest brother Don's job.. he used to say "that's mine..hands off!"

[Rosalie]

My wattle tree is in bloom and with a hot north wind blowing, I open my front door to the scent of wattle and warmth. Summer in Oz
http://static.flickr.com/13/88380888_d3df8c64a3_m.jpg

[deviation72]

Hi Rosalie and Martha,

I'm having an Australia Day BBQ for the first time - finally have a backyard and a BBQ after 10 years of flat-dwelling. It'll be just myself and my partner, and the cat, but I'm looking forward to the day off!

Those pineapple tarts sounds YUMMY!!!!!!! Unfortunately pineapple, my favourite fruit, is on the banned list with my IC! Never fair is it?????

Have a great Australia day!!!!

[nss]

To be honest I haven't planned anything as yet. A BBQ sounds like a great idea. Rosalie those pine apple tarts sound delish, but alas I can't eat them. Mmmmm I can just imagine how they would taste though.

I hope everyone has a great Australia Day, and an extra special birthday wish for Sara who's birthday is on that day. :birthday:

[MarthaB]

:birthday: for the 26th Sara hope you have a great day!!
And hope all of you aussies have a great Australia day too,
Martha :)

[Rosalie]

Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday dear Sara, Happy Birthday to you
Please imagine this with a choir of sweet voices in three part harmony.

Have a wonderful birthday and Austalia Day

[andcohen]

Hope everyone has a great Australia day, no plans here for anything. But whatever you so I hope there is plenty of relaxing involved.


HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO SARA HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU :kissing:
Hope things with the new bub are going well.

Take care all
Andrea

[ICNDonna]

Here I sit, cold and wet in Oregon --- I wish I could come visit all of you. I'd have to try the pineapple treat with lots of Prelief. It would feel sooooo good to feel warm all day.

:)
Donna

[Katrina]

:birthday: Sarah and Happy Australia day to all! This is a great thread :)

[SharonA]

I just love reading these posts. You guys put a smile on my face.

HAPPY AUSTRALIA DAY!!!!!! I know this is probably late, but hope the day was wonderful for all of you.

Rosalie..How about sharing the recipe for those tarts among your friends on the other side of the ocean? My mouth is watering. Or is it a secret? I would be willing to take a whole bottle of Prelief just to be able to have one. YUMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!

[deviation72]

Here I sit, cold and wet in Oregon [snip] It would feel sooooo good to feel warm all day. Donna

Hi everyone, Hi Donna,

I think a few of us from the southern states of Australia are wishing we could feel *cold*, just for a little while at the moment - it is currently 41 degrees celcius in Melbourne (about 106 fahrenheit) and its been hot hot hot for days. I'm praying for a cool change and rain soon. Even the airconditioning isn't coping as it's too hot!!!

Hope everyone is well...

[Rosalie]

Kirsten, the change has just arrived but it is taking its time dropping in temperature.
With only a few days of relief, the predicted temp for Australia Day is again 40C. That ends any ideas of a picnic for us! The fires around the state are also a worry. One of the places we like to go is Anakie - great winery there! But the bushfire threat is enough for me!

Sharon, thanks for your wishes for all us Aussies. Australia Day is on Thursday 26th Jan. So you haven't missed our celebrations yet. Perhaps you can celebrate as an honourary Australian with a lamb chop off the BBQ and a Vic Bitter! But you''ll probably have to go without the sprig of wattle...LOL
Mums recipe isn't secret. I'll post it a little later...It's mostly in my head, so i'll have to think about writing it down.

[SharonA]

Okay...I know what a lamb chop is...lip smacking good. I now know what a wattle is because of the picture you posted...very pretty, but what the heck is a Vic Bitter? :hmm:

[andcohen]

Ok Sharon I'll give you an answer for Rosalie on this one. VIC BITTER is a type of beer over here in Australia it is short for Victorian Bitter Beer. I have tried it a couple of times & it is not too bad for a beer but not being a beer drinker at all I couldn't really compare it to others.
There you go you have learn't another thing about Australia Ha Ha.
Take Care
Andrea

[SharonA]

Thanks...I'm not a beer drinker either, so I don't think I would risk my bladder's response to that. There's just some things that aren't worth the outcome. :shake: :)

[George]

Hi Everyone,

Looking forward to Australia Day tommorrow. We will be having a lamb roast. Today it's cool and raining in Sydney, but I am hoping for some sun tommorrow. Hope you all have a lovely Australia Day tommorrow.

George

[MarthaB]

:) Hi George, could you send some of that cooler weather to Brisbane?? and some rain too please!! they said that we have a slight chance of rain today, but I'm not holding much hope for that one, hope you have a great australian day too,
Martha :)

[Rosalie]

Victoria Bitter is brand beer and a very nice drop it is too!
Wattle is our Australian Floral emblem.

[Rosalie]

Hey George, can you send some rain and cooler weather down here too? Its been far too hot and today the humidity is horrid. You need a snorkle to breathe outside!
The bushfire situation is pretty dire as well.

Sharon, it's a bit late but heres my mum's pineapple tart recipe:
1 large 825gm can crushed pineapple or pieces cut small
1 dessertspoon butter
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons custard powder
1 dessertspoon water
2 pie cases- bought is easier but mum always made her own
Drain pineapple and reserve liquid. In a pot bring to boil the water, pineapple juice, butter and sugar. When boiling add the custard powder made into a paste with a little water. Cook one minute until thick. Cool slightly. Add pineapple. Fill pastry cases and when cold top with whipped cream.
Now you have a little piece of the McKenzie/Witham clan!
Story goes - Mum met dad through her brothers motor cycle club. Uncle John would take her on rallies only if she made these pineapple tarts. I don't know how she managed it on the back of a motor bike but she carried them on her back along with the cream in a jar!

PS. Its probably these pineapple tarts that caused the awful time I had with urethral pain all last night! But it was worth it!

[MarthaB]

:) Thanks Rosalie, I'll be printing that one out too, they sound yummy.
How far away are you from the fires, I'm hoping a long way!!
I also heard thet had quite severe storms last night in Melbourne, because I am not familiar with Melbourne I can't tell if any is near you, lets hope and pray these terrible bush fires cease soon, I feel so sorry for the families of the fire fighters who lost their lives, they try so hard to prevent the fires from spreading to nearby homes, and not to mention the wildlife we loose every time we have those horrible fires in Australia.
Martha :)

[Rosalie]

Martha we are not near to either the bushfires or the damage done with the wild storms last night. However, my girlfriend's property is right in the path of the Kinglake fires. Rain last night has given them a breather but with more hot weather on the way they will be on high alert for some time to come.

[SharonA]

Sorry... but I seem to be Aussie Speak challenged. I have some questions about this recipe

1 large 825gm can crushed pineapple or pieces cut small
1 dessertspoon butter (How big is a dessert spoon in your country? Here it is the usual spoon one uses to eat things like cereal or ice cream.)
2 tablespoons butter ( More butter???)
2 tablespoons custard powder (What is custard powder???Is it like boxed pudding mix?)
1 dessertspoon water
2 pie cases- bought is easier but mum always made her own
Drain pineapple and reserve liquid. In a pot bring to boil the water (the dessertspoon water listed above????), pineapple juice, butter and sugar )How much sugar???). When boiling add the custard powder made into a paste with a little water (More water other than the spoonful listed above???). Cook one minute until thick. Cool slightly. Add pineapple. Fill pastry cases and when cold top with whipped cream.


You are probably sorry you brought this subject up with all the trouble I am causing you. These just sound so delicious that I want to make them and do not want to make mistakes. Besides, I so want to surprise hubby with a slice of Australia.

Thank you :kissing:

[deviation72]

We were in the path of the Australia Day 'mini-tornado' (I'm in the eastern suburbs) and my street and the streets around us are full of uprooted trees, branches down, etc. The SES had to come to several places where trees had fallen. A branch fell on my car and dented my bonnet so now I am off to the smash repairers on Monday - but oh well. I am ever thankful I am not in the midst of the bushfires which are much, much worse. I cannot believe our wild weather in Victoria - in the West its burning away, and here in the eastern suburbs of Melb we have a torrential downpour!!!

[andcohen]

OMG. Kirsten, so glad your are ok. Sorry about the car :mad:
Andrea

[deviation72]

Thanks Andrea! I was very lucky and so was everyone else in my street that no-one was outside and got hit by flying debris. And I just keep thinking about all the people losing whole houses and everything in the fires, and I am one of the lucky ones to just have a dented car.... :)

[MarthaB]

:) Glad your'e allright kirsten, this weather in melbourne is shocking at the moment, bushfires, storms, what is next??? nothing I hope, I hope there is going to be end to all this very soon.
Martha :)

[Rosalie]

Kirsten, I am sorry that you went through such a scary time. I am in the north-west and it was pretty windy but no damage. Your poor little car! Will you be without it for long while its being repaired?

Sorry guys, I probably should have transferred this to the craft thread under cooking but its an aussie dish so I suppose it belongs here too.

Sharon, sorry about the mix up. I've edited the recipe. It should read two tablespoons sugar. And yes, the dessertspoon measurement sounds the same. The water is the dessertspoonful as in the ingredients..I know sounds so little but?....can't ask mum!.
As for the custard powder, I'm not sure how to explain it ...we buy it to make custard.
What do you use for that? The ingredients listed on the box are: wheat starch, sugar,salt,colours(102,110), canola oil, flavour. Hope this helps.

[SharonA]

Thank you so much for this, Rosalie. I am not sure if our boxed custard mix is the same as yours, but the next time I go to the grocery store, I will check it out. We do have both Custard and Pudding mixes at the grocery stores, here. Our boxed pudding mix ingredients are listed as: Sugar, Dextrose, Corn Starch, Modified Food Starch. Less than 2% Salt, Polysorbate 60, Calcium Carrageenan, Artivicial Flavor, Yellow 5 and 8. Yummmmmm...Sounds so appetizing when it is spelled out, doesn't it? :rolleyes: Your Custard mix sounds healthier. I do hope I will be able to find an equivalent to your product.

Again, thanks... :kissing:

[MarthaB]

:) while searching the net for maybe something similar to custard powder, I came across this site, it has comparisons to the different words we use, have a look it's interesting,
http://www.aussieinamerica.com/language/net_dictionary.htm
Martha :)

ps, I am sure custard powder is the same as your dry pudding mix, I googled it, and it all says the same thing.

[Rosalie]

Hey Martha I checked out that site. Very interesting! I'll say it again you are 'the ants pants' in web research!

[MarthaB]

thank you very much, I'll try, at the moment i'm hunting ideas for Campbells party, lucky we still have plenty of time to come up with ideas, at least the venue is booked, any ideas we come up with can then be fitted into the party, I'm sure we will come up with stacks of things.
Martha :)

[SharonA]

Martha...Thank you very much for the pudding/custard tip. That site is fantastic. I will have to take a longer look at it tomorrow. It's getting late here in Elvis :elvis: Town.