Champers Punch

can of cherries
can pineapple juice
2/3 cup lemon juice
1/2 cup brandy
1 tbs grenadine
2 bottles champagne

Source: The Parson Knows: Easy Dinner Party Recipes (The Parish of St. Stephen, Glenunga; n.d.), p.72 ['Buffet Party Menu']

Christmas Club Sandwich

3 slices thin buttered toast, crusts removed
2 tablespoons cream cheese
1 tomato sliced
1 cucumber sliced
3 rashers bacon, crisply fried
large lettuce leaves, washed & dried
slices of chicken or turkey with stuffing or relish

Method: Start with 1 slice of toast, spread with half cream cheese & follow with tomato & cucumber slices. Add rasher of bacon & lettuce. Another piece of toast spread with cream cheese, then thin slices of turkey or chicken with stuffing. Top with tomato, cucumber & lettuce & last piece of toast. Accompany with cranberry sauce or pickles.

Source: American River C.W.A. Recipes for Christmas and Special Occasions (1998), p.100.

Mulled Claret

In a stainless steel or glass saucepan (never aluminium), boil together 500 ml water, 2 slices lemon rind, a stick of cinnamon, 12 cloves and 2 tabspns sugar. In a separate saucepan heat, but do not boil, 1 litre claret, cask claret is acceptable, it is a waste of vintage wine. Strain the boiling water into a warmed jug, add the warm wine, dust the top with a little nutmeg if you wish and serve. If you have a double boiler you can boil the water in the bottom and warm the wine in the top.

Source: The Embroiderers' Recipe Book. Compiled by members of The Embroiderers' Guild of South Australia Incorporated ([Adelaide], n.d.), p.93.

Pineapple Glazed Ham

1 x 4kg half-leg of ham
whole cloves
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 x 450g cans pineapple thins
fresh herbs to garnish

Method: Remove rind by cutting through the rind to within 15cm of the shank of the leg in a zigzag pattern. Remove by running thumb around edge of rind just under skin. Start pulling the rind from the widest edge of the ham, using fingers to loosen it from the fat. Cut across fat in a large diamond pattern, not deeply, or the fat with spread apart during cooking.

Place ham in a baking dish. Insert cloves into fat. Press sugar firmly over top. Arrange undrained pineapple slices around ham.

Cook in a moderate oven, 180C, for about 45 minutes. Garnish ham with pineapple slices and fresh herbs. Serve ham warm, cut into slices dipped in pan juices.

Source: American River C.W.A. Recipes for Christmas and Special Occasions (1998), p.25.

Christmas Fruit Rockies

1 cup butter. 1&1/2 cups sugar, 3 eggs, 3&1/2 cups flour, 1 small teaspoon bicarb. soda, 1&1/2 tablespoons hot water, 1/2 level teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1 cup chopped nuts, 1/2 cup each of currants and raisins, 3/4 cup sultanas.

Cream butter and sugar, add beaten eggs, and mix well. Add sifted flour and spice, the fruit, and finally the soda dissolved in hot water. Mix to a fairly stiff consistency, adding a little more water if needed. Drop in small spoonfuls 1 in. apart on buttered tray. Sprinkle with sugar and bake in moderate oven for about 15 to 20 minutes.

Source: contributed by Mrs. Syd. Waters (Port Augusta) in The South Australian Country Women's Association Calendar of Cakes: A Cake a Day for 365 Days (Kent Town: S.A.C.WA.; 11th edition, 1973), n.p. "DEC. 18".

Festival Pork Chops

6 loin pork chops
1&1/2 cups apple cider
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon curry powder
2 teaspoons beef extract
6 prunes, pitted
12 dried apricots
1 tablespoon cornflour
1 tablespoon water

Method: Trim rind and fat from chips. Brown chops in deep pan for 5 minutes. Pour off any fat. Combine apple cider, sugar, salt, curry powder and beef extract. Pour over chops in the pan and place the prune and apricots on top. Cover and cook very slowly for 1/2 hour or until chops are tender. When cooked, remove from pan and place in serving dish. Spoon prunes and apricots over. Combine cornflour and water and add to the liquid in pan, stirring constantly. Bring to boil and cook until thick. Pour sauce over chops and serve.

Source: Cooking Barossa Style by the Ebenezer Community Centre (2000), p.43.

Pineapple Christmas Cake

1 cup butter, 1 cup pineapple juice, 1&1/2 cups each of currants, sultanas, chopped tinned pineapple, and brown sugar, 1 cup raisins, 1 cup chopped nuts, 1/2 cup mixed peel, 1 small teaspoon salt, 2 teaspoons cinnamon, 2 teaspoons allspice, 1 teaspoon ground cloves, 4 eggs, 3 cups S.R. flour.

Mix butter, sugar, and egg-yolks till creamy. Sift 2 cups of the flour, spices, and salt, and add alternately with the pineapple juice. Then add fruit and nuts previously mixed with the remaining cup of flour. Fold in stiffly-beaten egg-whites. Put into prepared tins and bake in a slow oven for about 3 hours.

Source: contributed by Mrs. A. Bradley (Cungena) in The South Australian Country Women's Association Calendar of Cakes: A Cake a Day for 365 Days (Kent Town: S.A.C.WA.; 11th edition, 1973), n.p. "NOV. 29".

Mock Turkey

1 large tomato
1 small onion
1 tablespoon butter
1/2 cup grated cheese
1/2 cup bread crumbs
1/2 teaspoon mixed herbs
1 egg
Salt and pepper

Method: Melt butter, add finely chopped tomato and onion and cook without browning until onion is soft. Remove from heat and add grated cheese and beaten egg while still hot. Blend well, then add breadcrumbs, herbs and seasoning to taste. Use as sandwich filling.

Source: More Favourite Recipes from our Quartermaster Marj Dennes in aid of Blue Lake Ladies Pipe Band (Mount Gambier, S.A.: 1981), p.57.