Pancake Cutlets

Mince some cold chicken and cooked ham, about 1/2 lb. in all. Mix with 1/4 cup gravy, a little tomato sauce, pepper and salt. Make a batter of 1/2 cup flour, 1/2 cup milk and 1 egg. Beat until smooth. Heat some lard or good dripping in a frying pan, pour in the batter and cook on both sides. Turn out, cool a little, then spread mince over pancake, roll up neatly, cut into 1/2 inch slices, dredge with flour, roll in egg and breadcrumbs and fry in boiling fat.

Source: contributed by Mrs. Alb. Keil in The Barossa Cookery Book: 1000 Selected Recipes from a District Celebrated Throughout Australia for the Excellence of its Cookery. Every Recipe of Proved Merit and Signed as such by the Donors (33rd edition, 2006), p.24.

Heavy Cake

Heavy Cake. made up light.

450g S.R. Flour

125g butter or margarine

300ml milk to mix

a little peel [optional]

175g currants and sultanas mixed

100g lard

100g sugar

1 egg [optional]

a good pinch salt

Method: Rub the fats into the flour. Add sugar and fruit. Add salt and milk, mixing with a knife till it becomes dough. Place on a floured board and roll out 2cm thick. Score the top lightly with the back of a knife. Brush with milk, water or egg. Place on a flat baking tray; cook for 20 minutes at 200C. Cut into good sized squares.

Proper Heavy Cake

225g mixed fruit (threequarters currants, the rest sultanas]

100g margarine

400g plain flour

A little peel [optional]

75g sugar

300ml milk

50g butter

50g S.R. Flour

125g lard

quarter teaspoon salt

Method: Place the flour in a bowl. Rub in the lard and margarine lightly, add sugar, salt and fruit. Mix with the milk. Roll out mixture on a flour board. Dab butter on two thirds of the surface, fold the unbuttered side over and fold again, rest for 30 minutes. Roll out again and fold in three. Rest a little then roll out again 2cm thick into a large round or square. Score crisscross lines on the top. Brush with egg or milk wash. Bake 200C for 20 minutes.

Source: Australia's Little Cornwall. Cornish Cook Book (Moonta, S.A.: National Trust of South Australia Moonta Branch, n.d. [post-1998]), p.10.

Ginger Biscuits

100g S.R. Flour

2 tablespoons golden syrup

2 level teaspoons ginger

Half teaspoon bi-carbonate soda

50g lard and butter mixed

1 level teaspoon cinnamon

1 level dessertspoon castor sugar

Method: Sieve dry ingredients. Melt fats and syrup, when cool, mix all together. Break off pieces about the size of a walnut and place - well spaced on a lightly greased baking tray.

Bake for 15 minutes 190C.

Source: Australia's Little Cornwall. Cornish Cook Book (Moonta, S.A.: National Trust of South Australia Moonta Branch, n.d. [post-1998]), p.9.

Surprise Pies

Filling:

150ml chicken stock

23g plain flour, 23g margarine

180g diced cooked chicken

2-3 tablespoons mixed vegetables

salt & pepper

2 hard boiled eggs

milk

Pastry:

240g plain flour

salt

60g margarine

60g lard

cold water to mix

Method: Make a thick sauce using flour, margarine & stock. Add chicken, vegetables & seasonings. Make a basic shortcrust pastry. Line 4-6 individual pie pans. Place half an egg in each. Divide chicken filling evenly between them. Top with pastry lid. Seal well. Make a steam hole in each. Brush with milk. Bake at 200°C for 30 minutes.

Source: American River C.W.A. Recipes for Christmas and Special Occasions (American River C.W.A, 1998), p.36.

In the past weeks, Kangaroo Island and parts of the Adelaide Hills have sustained terrible damage from catastrophic bushfires. How to help:

* KI Mayoral Relief and Recovery Bushfire Fund

* SA State Emergency Relief Fund - Cudlee Creek Fire Appeal

* South Australian Veterinary Emergency Management (SAVEM) Inc.

Iced Vo Vo Biscuits

Sift into a bowl 6oz S.R. flour and rub in 4oz butter, lard or dripping, add 4oz sugar and mix to a firm paste, with 1 egg. Roll out on board to a biscuit thickness and cut in shape. Bake on a greased oven tray in a moderate oven for 20 mins. When cold spread red jam down centre of each one, and ice with pink and white icing down the sides. Place each one face down into cocoanut.

Source: contributed by Sylvia Hartmann, Charleston in The Golden Wattle Cookery Book. Compiled by Ladies of the Kindergarten Committee. In aid of Kindergarten Funds. (Lobethal: 1948), p.73.

Rabbit with Sweet & Sour Sauce

1&1/2 lbs rabbit pieces (without bone), 1 tbspn lard or butter, 1/4 cup water, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 2 tbspns cornflour, 1/4 cup vinegar, 1 cup pineapple juice, 3/4 cup sliced green pepper, 1/2 cup chopped celery, 1/4 cup chopped spring onion, 1 small can pineapple pieces, freshly cooked rice, 1 dspn Soy sauce.

Method: Cut rabbit flesh into pieces about 2" long & 1/2" wide. Brown them lightly in hot lard or butter, stirring well. Add the water, cover & simmer until rabbit is tender. Stir occasionally, as there is very little liquid. Combine brown sugar, cornflour, vinegar, pineapple juice & Soy sauce in a bowl, & stir until smooth. Place into a saucepan & stir over a medium heat, until the mixture boils & thickens. Pour over the rabbit pieces. Cover & simmer for about 5-6 mins, then add pineapple pieces, onion, green pepper & celery, & cook for a further 5-6 mins. The vegetables should remain crisp. Serve at once with freshly cooked rice & a little extra Soy sauce if desired.

Source: Well Tried Barossa Recipes (Tanunda: St John's Lutheran Ladies Guild; reprint 2000 of 2nd edition 1975 [1st edn 1974]), p.17.

Kidney Soup

3 sheep kidneys

1 dessertspoon soy sauce

1 teaspoon cornflour

2 ozs mushrooms

1 pint stock, hot

1/2 oz lard or oil

Method: Skin kidneys and remove core. Cut into very thin slices. Mix cornflour with enough water to make a thin paste, add kidney and mix well. Fry the sliced mushrooms and the kidneys in the hot lard or oil for 3 minutes. Add the hot stock, bring to the boil and serve.

Source: A Recipe Book. St. Ann's School for Children with Special Needs (Marion, n.d. [c.1980]), p.13.

Sausage Meat Tart

500g sausage meat

1 cup milk

1 onion

1 packet chicken noodle soup

2 eggs

Short Pastry: -

2 level tablespoons lard or dripping

1 level tablespoon butter

1/2 small cup milk

1.1/2 cups S.R. Flour

1/2 teaspoon vinegar

Method: Beat lard and butter to a cream with vinegar and a pinch of salt. Then add milk and flour. Line a dish with pastry, put in mixture and bake in a moderate oven.

Source: contributed by N. Smart in Gulnare Gourmets (Adelaide: Gulnare Primary School Welfare Club, 1984 [2nd edition]), p.35.