Creamed Chicken Spiced Soup

1 cup raw potatoes
1/2 cup finely chopped onions
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 diced banana
1&1/2 cups chicken stock or 1 pkt. cream of chicken soup or tin cream of chicken soup
1 cup diced peeled apples
1/2 teaspoon curry
1/2 cup diced celery

Method: Boil until tender and beat well. Add 1 cup cream and 1 tablespoon butter. Serve with nutmeg sprinkled on top. Also very nice chilled and served with chopped chives or nutmeg.

Source: contributed by Lorna Johns (Earl of Chester Lodge, No. 98) in The Grand Lodge of Antient, Free and Accepted Masons of South Australia presents Favourite Recipes submitted by wives of South Australian Freemasons (Adelaide, 1979), p.9.

A Nice Way of Using Cold Potatoes

Make a sauce of a tablespoon of gravy, a spoonful of grated cheese, an ounce of butter, the well-beaten yolk of an egg, pepper, salt, nutmeg, and the juice of a lemon to taste. Stir all these over a slow fire -- till nearly boiling -- not quite -- and the sauce is thick. Then put a layer of potatoes in a buttered pie dish, cover with the sauce, then another layer of potatoes, and so on till the dish is full. Cover with grated cheese and breadcrumbs mixed, bake for half an hour, and serve hot.

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.47.

Mock Shrimp Paste

8 oz tomatoes, skinned and mashed
1 small onion, finely chopped
2 oz butter
1 cup soft breadcrumbs
salt and pepper
1 egg
1/2 tspn nutmeg

Method: Place butter in saucepan, add onion and tomato and cook till tender. Beat with a fork, add well beaten egg, breadcrumbs and seasoning. (Cheese finely grated, improves this). Keep in the fridge. Excellent for sandwiches or on toast.

Source: contributed by Shirley Low in 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.14.

Rabbit Mould

2 dessertspoons (1/2 oz.) Gelatine
2 cups (1 pint) water
1 onion
1/4 lb. bacon
4 cloves (remove blossom end)
1 rabbit
1/4 cup hot water
Pepper and salt
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

Method: Place prepared rabbit in saucepan with cold water, pepper, salt, cloves, sliced onion, nutmeg and bacon and other spices available. Cook until tender. Remove bones, cut meat into thin slices, arrange with bacon in mould or basin. Dissolve gelatine in hot water, add to stock and strain into mould. Garnish with shredded lettuce and salads available. Sliced hard-boiled egg may be included as an ingredient.

Source: contributed by Mrs. L Newman in Cooking for Two. Compiled by Women's Auxiliary of the S.A. Council on the Ageing for Adelaide's Second Senior Citizens' Week, April, 1969 (Adelaide [Allied Publishing Company), 1969), p.32

Home-Made Camp Pie

One lb. steak, 1 cup bread crumbs, 1/2 nutmeg, 1/2 cup water, pepper and salt. Mince steak well; mix all together, put in a mould and steam for 2 hours. To be eaten cold.

Source: contributed by Minna Karutz 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.19.

Sponge Lumps for Soup

One egg and 1 tablespoon water; beat well together, add enough S.R. flour and a little grated nutmeg to make the mixture as stiff as dumpling dough. With a teaspoon drop little lumps into soup and boil 10 minutes.

Source: contributed by Mrs. J. Obst 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.8.

A Delicious Pudding Sauce

One cup cream, 1 cup sugar, 3 pints milk, 1 egg (well beaten), 1 dessertspoon butter, 1 teaspoon cornflour. Boil all together to a syrup, then take from the fire and add a small glass of wine and nutmeg.

Source: contributed Mrs. H. Steicke 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.133.

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.

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.

Anchovy Paste

1 lb. lean stewing steak.
1/4 lb. butter.
2 tablespoons anchovy sauce.
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper.
1 teaspoon salt.
1 teaspoon nutmeg.

Method: Trim meat and cut into pieces. Steam with all other ingredients for about 4 hours. Put through mincer, mix all thoroughly and allow to set. Delicious in sandwiches or on toast.

Source: contributed by Mrs. G. I. F. Hogg 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.61.

Continental Mustard

4 ozs. dry mustard.
5 ozs. castor sugar.
1 teaspoon salt.
1 teaspoon curry powder.
1 teaspoon ground mixed spice.
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg.
(all measures level).

Method: Blend well in a glass jar. Mix with 50/50 sweet vermouth and vinegar to a paste. Wait two to three days for the moisture to absorb the sugar. Use small wooden or plastic spoon. This mustard remains edible for months.

Source: contributed by M. Young 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.61.

[Microwave] Shrimp de Jonghe

3/4 cup margarine
4-5 cloves garlic, peeled and sliced
1/4 teaspoon tarragon
1 tblspn. chopped parsley
dash of ground nutmeg
dash of dried thyme
1/4 tspn. chives, finely chopped
1/4 tspn. instant minced onion
1&1/2 tspns. salt
1/2 cup dry sherry
3/4 cup fine dry breadcrumbs
1kg. raw, shelled deveined shrimp

Method: Melt butter in a deep, 2 litre, heat resistant non-metal[l]ic casserole in microwave for 1 min. Add sliced garlic and heat uncovered for 2&1/2 minutes on high. Remove garlic from butter. Add tarragon, parsley, nutmeg, thyme, chives, onion[,] salt, sherry to butter and stir to combine. Remove 1/4 cup of seasoned butter and mix with 3/4 cup of breadcrumbs. Place shrimp in shallow 2 litre casserole with the remaining seasoned butter. Stir to coat shrimp. Sprinkle buttered breadcrumbs over shrimp. Heat uncovered in microwave for 10 minutes or until crumbs are brown and shrimp are pink. Do not over-cook shrimp as they will become tough. Serves 4.

Source: contributed by Dagmar Preusker in Angaston Kindergarten Jubilee Cookery Book 1955-1985. 1986 edition (Angaston, 1986), p.33.

Baked Tofu Balls

(Tofu is soybean curd, available from health food shops)

1 finely chopped onion
2-3 cloves garlic
1 block Tofu drained and mashed
2 eggs
1/2 cup dry breadcrumbs
1/2 cup grated parmesan or matured cheese
1/4 tspn. nutmeg
1/4 tspn. oregano
1/2 tspn. basil
2 tspns. soy sauce
1/4 cup finely chopped parsley

Method: Preheat oven to 350°F. Oil a baking tray. Fry onion and garlic gently in small quantity of butter till soft. Beat eggs into Tofu until smooth. Mix in all other ingredients, stir well. Shape into 2" balls. Bake balls in oven 15 mins. each side until golden brown.

Source: contributed by Lyn Leader-Elliott in Angaston Kindergarten Jubilee Cookery Book 1955-1985. 1986 edition (Angaston, 1986), p.16.

Sultana Loaf (Eggless, with mashed potato)

2 to 2&1/2 cups S.R. flour, 1/2 teaspoon each of spice, cinnamon and nutmeg, 1 cup sugar, 1 cup mashed potatoes, 1 cup sultanas, 1 cup milk.

Method: Sift flour and spices. Add remaining ingredients and mix well. Bake in a greased loaf tin for 45 to 60 minutes in a moderate oven. Serve sliced with butter.

Source: contributed by Mrs. J. N. Dalzell (Cadell) 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), 'Jan. 13'.

Swedish Meatballs

1 kg minced beef
1&1/2 cups fine breadcrumbs
1/4 cup milk
1/3 cup stewed apple
2 eggs
Small onion, minced
60 g butter
salt and pepper
1/4 tspn ground nutmeg

Method: Combine all ingredients except butter, mix well and form into about 48 small balls. Brown in butter. Then add 2 cups stock (use beef cube). Cook covered for 1/2 hour.
Serve with noodles or rice.
For curried meatballs add 4 tspns curry powder to stock.

Source: contributed by Mary Ragless in The Embroiderers' Recipe Book. Compiled by members of The Embroiderers' Guild of South Australia Incorporated ([Adelaide], n.d.), p.14.

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.

A Dinner Cooked with Claret

Soup: To give your pea soup a lift, add 1 soup spoon of claret per person when serving.

Beef Steak Special: This is particularly good with gravy beef. Cut beef in 3/4 inch slices and lay in oven-proof dish; slice onion or leeks over the top and pour over enough claret to just cover. Put in refrigerator for 24 hours. Drain beef and coat well with seasoned flour and return to claret in dish with onions. Add any other vegetables in season, e.g. peppers, tomatoes, and celery. Cook slowly in oven for approx. 4 hours. Cheap and wholesome.

Spiced Pears: Heat a pint of claret in a saucepan and then put in 3 or 4 peeled (but not cored) pears, together with 1/2 cup sugar, a little nutmeg, and stick cinnamon, and 1 clove. Cook slowly and serve with fruit together with the liquor, hot or cold, with cream.

Source: contributed by Mrs. Alan Archer 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.25.

Egg Nog Sauce for Plum Pudding

2 eggs

1/2 cup sugar

1 dessertspoon rum

3/4 cup cream

1 teaspoon vanilla

Nutmeg

Method: Separate whites and yolks. Beat each with 1/4 cup sugar. Combine the 2 mixtures and fold together. Whip cream with vanilla and rum. Fold into egg mixture. Sprinkle with nutmeg. Refrigerate in a bowl with lid on. Can be made for 2 or more days before needed. 

Caution: Before beating egg whites be sure to rinse beater well with hot water to remove any trace of oil or grease, otherwise whites will not whip to a peak.

Source: Cooking Barossa Style by the Ebenezer Community Centre (2000), p.80.

Breakfast relish balls

Mince any cold meat (mutton, beef or ham)

2 oz breadcrumbs

1/4 tsp lemon peel

salt and pepper to taste

1 egg

parsley and/or chives or dill.

pinch nutmeg or other spices of your choice

Method: Combine meat, lemon peel and spices and then shape into balls and dip into beaten egg and roll in breadcrumbs and fry in hot fat/oil. Garnish with herbs and lemon slices.

Source: Elizabeth Woolcock's Cottage Recipes - compiled and edited by Ani Peters (?Adelaide, S.A, 2016), p.13

[Note: this souvenir recipe book, bought in October 2021 at the Moonta Mines Museum, has little relevance to the short, brutalized life of Elizabeth Woolcock (the only woman hanged in South Australia).]

Little Steak & Kidney Rolls

750 g round steak 1/2" thick

3 sheeps' kidneys

4 rashers bacon

1 onion, grated

finely chopped parsley

pepper and salt

2 tabspns shortening (1/2 butter, 1/2 oil)

2 tabspns flour

1 tabspn tomato sauce

1/2 tspn nutmeg

1 dessertspn soy sauce

2 cups stock

Method: Trim the steak into pieces 1&1/2 x 4&1/2 inches.

Remove skin from kidneys and slice thinly. Divide the kidney between the steak pieces. Remove the rind from the bacon and chop two rashers small, sprinkle over kidney with a little pepper, salt, onion and chopped parsley. Roll up firmly and tie each with coarse cotton.

Roll in a little seasoned flour.

Heat butter and oil in pan and brown rolls evenly.

Remove rolls and place in a casserole. Add remaining flour and any pieces of parsley, onion, etc. left over.

Brown and add stock, sauces and nutmeg.

When boiling pour over rolls. Cover and bake in a moderate oven for 1&1/2 to 2 hours or until meat is cooked.

Take from the oven 20 minutes before cooking is completed and remove cotton from the rolls.

Cut the remaining bacon into short lengths and roll into small rolls, thread on short skewers and place on top of the meat.

Cook in the oven without the lid for the remainder of the cooking time.

Source: contributed by V. McGeorge in The Embroiderers' Recipe Book. Compiled by members of The Embroiderers' Guild of South Australia Incorporated ([Adelaide], n.d.), p.28.