Hi lovely readers,

In honour…yes honour of Australia day (January 26th) I’ve put together a list of our favourite ‘Australian Recipes” for the event. This is the kind of food that makes my AUSSIE heart flutter with pride. It also makes the homesickness kick in big time. Especially as I really wish I was sitting on beach in Australia or staring at the Cricket on TV, instead of battling the long, dark Pacific Northwest winter.

ANZAC Biscuits

 

Coconut, oats, golden syrup and butter. Need I say more? These treats are names after the Australian and New Zealand Army Corp. History says that the original ANZAC biscuits were made by wives at home to send to their men on the front as the ingredients contained did not spoil easily.  This means that once made, these babies will keep in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks. Browned butter just adds a little extra depth to this already amazing biscuit.

Melting Moment Biscuits

Sausage Rolls

A friend recently asked my what traditional ‘Aussie’ food was and my immediate reply was meat pies and sausage rolls. I don’t know that they’re uniquely Australian, the English eat pies after all.  But to me, pies and sausage rolls  speak of Australia. Hot pies in metal cases streaming out of the canteen, eating a sausage rolls at a party with flaky pastry covering your face and of course it isn’t the same without oodles of tomato sauce (distinct from high-fructose corn syrup laden tomato ketchup).

Mango Macadamia Tart

A tribute to one of the most beautiful places in Australia. If you’re ever lucky enough to be on the far north coast of New South Wales, Australia, make sure you stop in a little town called Lennox Head. It’s a beach-side hamlet, about half an hour from the tourist mecca that is Byron Bay. I’ve spent some amazing holidays in Lennox, sunning, eating, whale watching, eating, swimming and did I mention eating?

 

Friands

A permanent fixture in almost every coffee shop you will see in Australia. Along with the flat whites.

Passionfruit Melting Moments

Another Aussie cafe fixture. It’s quick, requires such few ingredients and goes perfectly with tea. If you’re not lucky enough to have fresh summer passionfruit, even tinned pulp will work. Just taste as you go as the tinned variety already has added sugar. This recipe also works well with a gluten free flour blend, I tend to prefer a blend that’s more rice/potato flour  based.

And a few from our friends…

Lamingtons – Sponge cake, dipped in chocolate covered in coconut!

Pavlova –  If you’ve never had a Pavlova, you’ve never lived!