Quick'n'Easy Chilled Avocado [Soup]

1/2 cup lemon or lime juice
3 large Avocados
3 cans cream of celery soup
Dry sherry & nutmeg to taste

Puree peeled Avocados, gradually blend in canned undiluted soup. Process until smooth. Season to taste with citrus juice, sherry, freshly ground black pepper & nutmeg. Chill. An avocado stone placed in the soup will stop it discolouring so you can make it ahead of time.

Source: American River C.W.A. Recipes for Christmas and Special Occasions (1998), p.13.

Santa's Diamonds

Pastry:
185g soft butter
4 table spoons castor sugar
2 egg yolks
1&1/2 cups plain flour, sifted

Topping:
1&1/2 cups firmly packed brown sugar
250g unsalted butter
1/4 cup honey
500g pecan nut pieces
1/4 cup thickened cream

Method:

Pastry:
Cream butter & sugar until light & fluffy. Add egg yolks, combining well. Fold in flour, mix thoroughly. Spread mixture evenly into a greased & base-lined 25x30cm lamington tin. Bake in a moderate oven for 10 minutes.

Filling:
Combine sugar, butter & honey in a saucepan. Stir over low heat until butter melts & sugar dissolves. Increase heat, boil for 1 minute. Fold in pecan nuts & cream, combine well & return to the boil. Immediately spread pecan mixture over pastry. Bake in moderate oven for 15 minutes. Reduce heat to moderately slow & bake for a further 15 minutes or until filling bubbles & is deep golden brown. Remove from oven, run knife between crust and pan. Cool completely before turning out. Cut into 4cm diamond shapes. Store in an air-tight container.

Source: American River C.W.A. Recipes for Christmas and Special Occasions (1998), p.66.

Christmas Cake (simple to make)

1 lb. butter.
1 lb. brown sugar.
10 eggs.

Beat well until creamy.

1 heaped tablespoon syrup or marmalade jam.
1 oz. butter.
1&1/2 wineglasses of whisky.

In saucepan, brown sugar and butter, add whisky gradually -- will soften eggs and sugar and butter mixture when added.

Approx. 3 lbs. fruit, consisting of:
1/2 lb. raisins.
1 lb. mixed fruit.
1/2 lb. sultanas.
1/4. lb. dates.
1/4. lb. cherries.
1/4. lb. almonds.
1/4. lb. lemon peel.

More fruit may be added if desired, such as figs, ginger, etc.

Add alternately with fruit, 1&1/2 lb. plain flour, 1 teaspoon spice, pinch cinnamon, ground cloves, nutmeg.

Method: Bake in slow oven at 300 degrees [F] for first hour, then reduce heat to 200 degrees [F] for further 2 hours. (This quantity will fill one 8" and one 6" square tin.)

Source: contributed by Mrs. Bennett Webb in The Walford Recipe Book. Compiled by the Parent-Teacher Association of the Walford Church of England Girls' School. (Adelaide: Messenger Press; October 1966), p.43.