Chocolate Almond Gateau

1 x 8" sponge cake
1/4 pint strong coffee
1-2 tbs Tia Maria

Filling:
3 oz butter
1 egg yolk
1-1&1/2 oz cocoa
1-2 tbs strong coffee
3 oz sieved icing sugar
2-3 oz blanched ground almonds

To decorate:
Carton of cream
Grated chocolate
1-2 tbs Tia Maria
browned chopped almonds

Method: Line a cake tin (same diameter as the sponge) with greaseproof paper. Cut cake into 3 layers and put one into the tin. Mix the coffee and Tia Maria and moisten the bottom layer of cake.

Cream butter and add all ingredients of filling to give a soft consistency and spread half over cake. Cover with a second layer of cake and moisten with coffee mix, cover with remaining filling mix. Put on third layer of cake and moisten with rest of coffee mix. Cover with greaseproof paper and then a plate. Leave in frig at least several hours (can be days) then turn out when ready to decorate. Whip cream, add Tia Maria and spread all over cake. Decorate with almonds and chocolate.

Source: The Parson Knows: Easy Dinner Party Recipes (The Parish of St. Stephen, Glenunga; n.d.), p.34 ['Autumn Menu']

Apricot Chocolate Gateau

1 x 9" sponge
1/2 pint cream
2 tbs drinking chocolate
1 tsp instant coffee
2 tbs apricot jam
juice of 1/2 large orange or some cointreau
1 tbs icing sugar

Method: Freeze sponge cake, then cut into 3 layers. Place bottom layer on serving plate. Mix orange juice or cointreau with apricot jam and cover bottom layer with half this mixture. Beat cream, drinking chocolate, coffee and icing sugar until just stiff. Cover bottom sponge layer with cream mixture. Put on next sponge layer and cover with jam mixture then cream. Put on top layer and cover entire cake with cream. Decorate with walnuts and grated chocolate. Best made day before required and kept in refrigerator.

Source: The Parson Knows: Easy Dinner Party Recipes (The Parish of St. Stephen, Glenunga; n.d.), p.31 ['Autumn Menu']

Rum Pudding

1 small jam roll

1/2 cup sugar

1 heaped tbs cocoa

1 tbs gelatine

whipped cream

1 tin Carnation milk

1 heaped tbs Nescafe

1 tbs rum

1/2 cup hot water

walnuts, cherries/strawberries

Method: Line a basin - bottom and sides with slices of jam roll. Beat chilled Carnation milk, add sugar (slowly), Nescafe, cocoa and rum. Beat in gently, then stir in gelatine dissolved in hot water (when cool). Pour mixture into basin and set in refrigerator. Turn out of basin and cover with whipped cream flavoured with rum. Decorate with walnuts and cherries or strawberries. [Serves 4]

Source: The Parson Knows: Easy Dinner Party Recipes (The Parish of St. Stephen, Glenunga; n.d.), p.28 ['Autumn Menu']

Banana & Chocolate Sponge Dessert

1 heaped tbs cocoa

1/2 pint water

Juice 1 orange/lemon

2 large bananas

few blanched almonds

1 dsp gelatine

1 oz sugar

2 egg whites

vanilla

Method: Slice bananas and arrange on base of individual bowls, sprinkle with juice. Dissolve gelatine in water, add slowly to cocoa and sugar, blending all well together. Whisk egg whites until stiff, fold into mixture lightly with vanilla and rest of juice. Pour over bananas to cover and top with split almonds. Serve with custard made with left over egg yolks or whipped cream. Serves 6.

Source: The Parson Knows: Easy Dinner Party Recipes (The Parish of St. Stephen, Glenunga; n.d.), p.25 ['Autumn Menu']

Asparagus Mousse

2 x 16oz cans asparagus spears

3/4 pint cream

3 egg whites

2 tbs gelatine

6 tbs water

salt & pepper

green colouring

Garnish: asparagus, tomato

Method: Drain asparagus and puree, then put through a sieve. Sprinkle gelatine over water, leave 5 mins and then dissolve over low heat. Add to puree, stirring constantly. Cool until mixture begins to thicken around edges. Whip cream lightly and carefully stir into asparagus until smooth. Season to taste. Fold in stiffly beaten egg whites and tint a delicate green with food colouring. Pour into 3 pint mould which has been rinsed with cold water. Cover with either foil or plastic wrap and chill. For a dinner party can be set in individual serving dishes. [Serves 6]

Source: The Parson Knows: Easy Dinner Party Recipes (The Parish of St. Stephen, Glenunga; n.d.), p.30 ['Autumn Menu']

Avocado and Chicken

1.1/2 cups chopped cooked chicken 

1/4 cup chopped green pepper 

3/4 cup diced pineapple (tin) 

1/3 cup mayonnaise 

1 tbs lemon juice
3 medium avocadoes 

1/2 tsp salt 

lettuce leaves 

Method: Mix all ingredients together and chill. Cut avocadoes in half, brush with lemon juice. Fill halves with mixture and serve in a lettuce leaf. 

Prepare on the day of the dinner party. [Serves 6] 

Source: The Parson Knows: Easy Dinner Party Recipes (The Parish of St. Stephen, Glenunga; n.d.), p.32 ['Autumn Menu']

Cassata

1/2 sponge, crumbled

2 litres vanilla ice cream

Method: Beat ice cream, divide into four bowls. Into first bowl add 1 heaped tsp Nescafe dissolved in a little water. Second bowl - add 2 tbs Creme de Menthe and green colour. Third bowl - add 1/2 tsp almond essence and 1/4 cup chopped almonds. Fourth bowl - add 2 tbs cherry brandy, 1 cup chopped crystalised cherries and a few sultanas soaked in brandy. Make a layer of each bowl in the ice cream container, sprinkling crumbs of cake between each layer. Re-freeze until hard. Can be made several days ahead. [Serves 4]

Source: The Parson Knows: Easy Dinner Party Recipes (The Parish of St. Stephen, Glenunga; n.d.), p.27 ['Autumn Menu']

Wine Steaks

2lb undercut steak cut in serve sizes (or T bone)

1 good tsp Vegemite

1 med sliced onion

1 cup burgundy/claret

1 cup tomato juice

pepper

Method: Fry steak in butter till brown, add onion, brown; add other ingredients and bring to simmer. Let stand until ready to reheat and serve.

Serve with creamy mashed potatoes with chives. [Serves 4]

Source: The Parson Knows: Easy Dinner Party Recipes (The Parish of St. Stephen, Glenunga; n.d.), p.27 ['Autumn Menu']

Prawn & Grapefruit Cocktail

200g tin prawns

200g tin grapefruit OR 1 fresh grapefruit

1/4 pint reduced cream

1 tbs tomato sauce

3 drops Tabasco (optional)

1 tbs brandy

1 tbs lemon juice

1-2 tsp horseradish

salt & pepper

Method: Empty prawns from tin and rinse in cold water - drain well. If using fresh grapefruit, remove pith and skin, then dice fruit and mix with prawns. Pour over brandy and lemon juice and leave to marinate for an hour at least. Meanwhile, mix all other ingredients to make sauce - pour off excess juice from prawns, etc. and mix with sauce. Serve garnished with parsley or a prawn or a grapefruit segment. Serves 4.

Source: The Parson Knows: Easy Dinner Party Recipes (The Parish of St. Stephen, Glenunga; n.d.), p.24 ['Autumn Menu']

Brain & Walnut Patties

2 sets lamb brains

1/4 cup dry white wine

2 sticks celery

1 tbs chopped walnuts

dry breadcrumbs

1/2 cup water

1 lb potatoes

8 spring onions

1/2 oz butter

2 eggs

flour & oil

Lemon Sauce:

1/2 cup dry white wine

3 spring onions

1/2 cup cream

1 tsp cornflour

1/4 cup lemon juice

2 oz butter

salt & pepper

2 tsp water

Method: Soak brains in cold water and remove membrane. Place brains in water & wine, bring to boil, reduce heat and simmer for 4 mins. remove from saucepan and drain. Peel and boil potatoes until tender. Drain and mash well, add finely chopped celery and walnuts, salt & pepper. Mould warm potato around each set of brains and shape into patties. Refrigerate for 30 mins. Coat in flour, lightly beaten eggs and then breadcrumbs. Heat oil in pan, add patties, cook 3 mins each side until golden brown.

Lemon Sauce:

Place wine and lemon juice in saucepan, add chopped spring onions, bring to boil. Boil rapidly until reduced to half quantity. Reduce heat to low, add butter cut into small pieces; stir until dissolved, add cream, season with salt & pepper. Mix cornflour and water together, pour into sauce until slightly thick and strain. This may be made early in the day. Patties can be cooked just before guests arrive and kept warm in the oven (250°F). Serve in ramekins, cover with heated sauce and sprig of parsley on top. [Serves 4]

Source: The Parson Knows: Easy Dinner Party Recipes (The Parish of St. Stephen, Glenunga; n.d.), p.26f. ['Autumn Menu']