Wednesday, December 24, 2025

Quick Christmas Pudding

6 oz self-raising flour
1 jar Robertson's English mincemeat

Method: Mix together with one beaten egg and a little milk.

Place in greased basin and stand in boiling water. Steam 2-2&1/2 hours. Serve with custard.

Source: Royal Adelaide Hospital Research Fund Recipe Book (Kurralta Park: Colour Printing House Pty. Ltd., c.1985), p.63.

Saturday, December 20, 2025

Christmas Jewels

3/4 cup glace fruit, 3/4 cup [glacé] cherries, 1/4 cup raisins, one third cup almonds, 1 tsp. lemon juice, 1 tbspn. golden syrup, 1/4 cup butter, 1/4 cup sugar. 1/2 cup plain flour. 

Method: Toss all fruit in flour, melt sugar, golden syrup and butter. Pour on to fruit, blend. Place teaspoon on greased slide in cool oven, press flat with the bottom of a glass.

Source: contributed by Mrs. A. T. Johns in Urania Methodist Guild Jubilee Cookery Book (Kadina/Moonta: The South Australian Farmer Print, 1963), p.70.

Tuesday, December 16, 2025

Candied Figs

6 lbs figs, 4 lb sugar, 4 cups water. Bring syrup to boil, drop figs in and boil gently for 4 hours. Remove and drain figs, put out in sun for several days, then roll in castor sugar, press flat and pack in airtight jar.

Source: Kelly's Cook Book. A New Collection of Favourite Recipes published by 'The Golden Girls' Port Lincoln Uniting Church 1997 (Adelaide: Queens Court Press, 1997), p.54.

Friday, December 12, 2025

Brussel Sprouts

  • Add 1/2 cup of table grapes to 1 lb. cooked sprouts.
  • Add 1 cup sauteed, sliced mushrooms to cooked brussel sprouts.
  • Cook 1 cup diced celery for 2 minutes in 2 tablespoons butter. Stir in 2 tablespoons wholemeal flour. Add 1 cup milk slowly. Stir to blend and bring to boiling point and add the cooked sprouts and season to taste.
  • Cook brussel sprouts and drain. Then add 1 tablespoon melted butter. Put in ovenproof dish. Sprinkle with breadcrumbs. Bake at 175°C (350°F) until crumbs are brown.
Source: Better Health High Fibre Cookbook compiled by the Strathalbyn Kindergarten Committee (Hahndorf, S.A.: Fox Publishing, 1978), p.46-7.

Monday, December 8, 2025

Three Prawn/Seafood Cocktail Sauces

(1) Seafood Cocktail Sauce

(Note: T = Tablespoon; t = teaspoon.)

100 ml mayonnaise
100 ml tomato sauce (variation is to add a dash of Worcestershire sauce)
50 ml melted vanilla icecream or fresh cream
pinch salt
pinch lemon pepper
1 t lemon juice
1 T port wine

Method: Combine all ingredients & chill before serving.

Source: contributed by Dawn Ellis to The Northern Automotive Restoration Club S. A. Inc. 10th Anniversary Cookbook. Compiled & typed by Lynne Newbold (Clare: Northern Argus, 1984) [Number 0408] - "dedicated to N.A.R.C. from it's [sic] feminine members". (p.92)

(2) Cocktail Sauce for Seafood

1/2 pint vanilla icecream
1&1/2 cups mild tomato sauce
2 T worcestershire sauce
1/2 clove garlic
salt & cayenne pepper
1/2 cup light cream

Method: Allow icecream to soften in bowl. Add sauces etc. Just before serving add cream. I can recommend but I use 1/4 of the quantity.

Source: contributed by Flora Haskett to The Northern Automotive Restoration Club S. A. Inc. 10th Anniversary Cookbook. Compiled & typed by Lynne Newbold (Clare: Northern Argus, 1984) [Number 0408] - "dedicated to N.A.R.C. from it's [sic] feminine members". (p.90)

(3) Prawn Cocktail Sauce

1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup cream
1/2 cup icecream
1/2 tin tomato paste
1 T Worcestershire sauce
little brandy or sherry

Method: Beat all ingredients together.

Source: contributed by Julie Davey to The Northern Automotive Restoration Club S. A. Inc. 10th Anniversary Cookbook. Compiled & typed by Lynne Newbold (Clare: Northern Argus, 1984) [Number 0408] - "dedicated to N.A.R.C. from it's [sic] feminine members". (p.91).

Thursday, December 4, 2025

Australian Drink

Take 1 bottle ginger beer and 1 glass of port wine. Mix together, and drink while effervescing.

Source: The Liberals' Cookery Book being Good and Tried Recipes contributed by Ladies from all parts of South Australia, edited by Racey Schlank (Adelaide: Shipping Newspapers Limited [for the Adelaide Women's Branch of the Liberals' Union], 1912), p.118.
"A BIRD IN THE BUSH IS WORTH TWO IN THE TOWN."