Australia Day Baked Potato Bar

It's hard to believe another Australia Day is upon us.  Where has the year gone!.

When planning your celebrations why not try a Baked Potato Bar.  A nice crunchy baked potato with lashings of toppings is just so good.  This could be a meal in itself or nicely sit beside the BBQ.

For dessert we included a blueberry Pavlova and Chocolate Ripple Cake.  Both very Australia desserts.

We trust you have a wonderful Australia Day.

Enjoy

Australia Day Baked Potato Bar

We kept things pretty simple and just included potato, coleslaw, crispy bacon, butter, cheese and sour cream,  I found the small Australia Day cardboard box's at our local supermarket.

Keep it simple: Potato, coleslaw, bacon, butter, cheese and sour cream.

We used an Australian Flag (Also from the supermarket) to cover a small side table used for plates and cutlery.

Australia Day decorating Ideas

We kept dessert simple with a Chocolate Ripple Cake and a Blueberry Pavlova, both very perfect for Australia Day.  Both desserts can be prepared well in advance.  The Pavlova was made with my all time best Pavlova recipe .

Chocolate Ripple Cake - Australia Day

Blueberry Pavlova - Australia Day

I could not resist some classic Aussie starters of crackers, dips, cabana and vegetable sticks.  An Australia Day staple for decades but much nicer with the Australia Day flags.

Australia Day - Classic Starters

Decorate your table and room with lots of flags, bunting and balloons.  I also like to incorporate my large birds into Australia Day parties.

Australia Day Decorating Ideas

Australia Day Decorating Ideas

Australia Day Decorating Ideas

Australia Day Baked Potato Bar

Anzac Biscuits

To conclude our week of Australia Day posts I'm ending with another Australian Classic, the Anzac biscuit.

While I was busy baking I started to ponder how this biscuit came to be? why do we have a classic Anzac biscuit?  From what I can find they were popular with both Australian and New Zealand forces during world war 1.  But they have been through a few transformations.  The first additions were made by loved ones at home wanting to send a sweeter biscuit to friends and family posted overseas as part of a care package.  The biscuit had to survive a long trip safely, so dairy and eggs could not be included.  Around 1921, the recipe was altered to include butter and has stayed in the same basic form today.

They are quick and easy to make, so happy baking on Australia day.

Enjoy

Anzac Biscuits

Ingredients:

• 1 cup rolled oats
• 1 cup plain flour
• 1/2 cup caster sugar
• 3/4 cup desiccated coconut
• 2 tablespoons golden syrup
• 125g butter
• 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
• 2 tablespoons hot water

Method:

1. Preheat over to 180 c.
2. Mix the oats, flour, sugar and coconut in a large bowl.
3. Melt the butter and golden syrup in a small saucepan.
4. Mix the Bicarb with the hot water, then add to the melted butter.
5. Add the melted butter mix to the dry ingredients and mix well.
6. Place 1 tablespoon size amounts of the mixture on a lined baking tray (leave room for spreading).
7. Bake fro 8 - 10 minutes.
8. Remove from the oven and allow to cool on the tray.
9. Enjoy.

Mango and Passionfruit Pavlova - Wicked Wednesday

Another Wednesday has arrived and another fantastic dessert has been served.  I have very early memories of my grandmother making Pavlova with lashes of cream and Passionfruit topping.  Then for a number of years I didn't eat a single Pavlova, for some reason I thought they were too hard to make.

Then, a few years ago I decided to give it a try and found they are actually quite easy and I haven't had a single flop.  Another great reason for making pavlova is that the bulk of the work can be completed hours before required.

I made this Pavlova for our Australia Day blog post, it has to be one of our classic Australian Desserts.

Enjoy.

Mango and passionfruit Pavlova

Ingredients:

• 8 eggs at room temperature
• 2 cups caster sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1 1/2 teaspoons white vinegar
• 400 to 600 mil cream (if the pavlova cracks at the top, it still tastes great but add more cream to even it out)
• 2 tablespoons extra caster sugar
• 2 Mangos
• 4 fresh Passion fruits.

Method:

1. Preheat over to 170 c (fan forced) or 190 c (not fan forced).
2. Separate the egg whites and place in a large bowl (be very careful to avoid any yolk in the mixture as this can stop the whites from whipping fully).
3. Whip the egg whites until firm.
4. Slowly add the caster sugar a table spoon at a time and ensure it dissolves well.
5. Line a baking tray with baking paper and draw a 22 cm circle in the centre.
6. Place the pavlova mixture in the circle, I use the back of a spoon to work around the pavlova from the tray up to get a smooth edge.
7. Reduce the oven the 130 c (fan forced) or 150 c (not fan forced).
8. Bake the Pavlova for 1 1/2 hours.
9. When cooked, turn off the oven and allow the Pavlova to cool with the oven door slightly ajar (I use a wooden spoon to stop the door from closing)
10. Just before serving, whip the cream and extra sugar and pile on the Pavlova.
11. Top with mango and passionfruit pulp.
12. Enjoy.

Australia Day Games for Children

Following on from yesterdays Australia Day post, today I have three wonderful games for Children of all ages.  This year I've created a series of games focusing on our wonderful Australian Animals, these games are great to keep children of all ages occupied while learning some new facts on some of our favourite native friends.

The games include:

• Scavenger Hunt for Australian Animals
• Australian Animal Word Search
• Australian Coat of Arms - word maker game

The above links will download the files, but keep reading for game instructions.

Enjoy

Scavenger Hunt for Australian Animals

The highlight of many of my children's parties is the scavenger hunt, and I'm sure it will work equally well for Australia Day.

For this hunt I've created 27 cards for each child to find.  Nine cards have pictures of Australian animals, nine cards have facts about a specific Australian animal and nine cards have the regular name and the scientific name for each Australian animal.  Once a child has found all 27 cards they have to group the cards so the picture, name and facts are all together for each animal.

If you have younger children I'd just use the picture cards or you could place children in a group.

Scoring: The winner of the game should be the first to collect all cards and correctly match the picture, name and facts.

Hint: If you are having trouble with the fact cards, the Animal picture, fact card and name are in the same position on each sheet.

Australian Animal Scavenger Hunt Picture cards

Australian Animals Scavenger Hunt Fact Cards

Australian Animal Scavenger Hunt Name cards

To make this game simply download the file, using the link above, cut around each card and then hide the cards around your house or garden.  I use a mixture of tapeing cards to skewers and placing at ground level, or using string to tie from trees and even blu-Tack to fix to harder items.  

Note: I have printed the cards on 200 gsm Bond paper, but normal printer paper will work.

Australian Animal Scavenger Hunt

Australian Animal Word Search

This classic word search does not require any explanation, this puzzle if full of Australian Animals to find.  It could be a bit tricky for younger children, so you may want to reduce some of the words.

Scoring: If you would like to add a competitive edge to this game you could award prizes for the first to finish, or count the most number of words found within a specified time period. 

Australian Animal Word Search

Australian Coat of Arms - Word Maker Game

We are all used to seeing the proud Kangaroo and Emu that grace the Australian coat of arms, but how many words can you make from such fine Australian Animals.  I’ve included the scientific name of each animal as Kangaroo are Emu are really tough words to work with and the scientific names have an amazing amount of letters. 

 To even out this challenge I allow younger children to make words from one letter eg: A and I.  As the ages increase set a minimum of 3 and / or 4 letter words for the older children.

Make sure you place either a time limit or the first to an agreed number of words.

 Scoring:  You could take two approaches for scoring.   You can either use the raw count of words, or the raw count of unique words.  For example if more than one person found the word menu then points do not count. 

Australian Coat of Arms - Make a Word

Prizes:  

While not necessary, I do find that children like a prize at the end.  This time of you you can find a lot of Australian products at good prices at supermarkets or discount stores, these make great prizes.

Australia Day Celebrations

With Australia Day just around the corner we have created some ideas for Table Styling, Menu's and Children's Games.  I'm finding that with each passing year our supermarkets are producing some great Australian themed products that really allow you to set the scene for a great Australia Day party.

This year I've found all the styling items (except the toothpicks) from Woolworths,  this has been great as I normally travel around a number of shops before I find everything I need.  Well done Woolworths!

I've had a lot of fun styling this table and experimenting with different ways to use products.  During this post we'll detail how the look was created so you can easily do it at home.  Tomorrow we'll be posting our free Australia Day Childrens Game download which I'm sure will keep your children busy on Australia day.

And whatever you get up to on Sunday, have a fantastic Australia Day.

Enjoy.

Australia Day Table Setting

For the menu I've settled on some Aussie classics of Hamburgers, Lime Prawn Skewers and Potato Wedges accompanied by tomato sauce, BBQ sauce and aioli.

To finish the meal we have made a resplendent Mango and Passionfruit Pavlova and layered Jelly cups.

Complete with your favourite Australian Wines and Beers.

Australia Day Menu 

To create the Dining and Serving tables I've used the following techniques:  

• Plastic table cloths have been covered with Australian flags.  
• Plate setting have been created by placing Australia day plastic plates over a basic white plate, then folding a flag as a final layer.
• I've used two styles of napkins, the first was mostly white and has been folded to show the Australian flag, this has been used on the dining table.  The second napkin design was navy blue and has been used to create a cone to serve the Potato wedges.  be sure to use a sturdy paper on the inside of the napkin when forming the cone.
• A large Australian flag has been used as a backdrop for the serving table and smaller flags, sold as car flags have been attached to the dinning chairs.  
• Plastic cups with the Australian flag have been used for Jelly Cups.
• Final touches include bumper stickers over wine bottle labels and Australian stubby holders for the beer.
• Small Australian flag toothpicks have been used to highlight the Pavlova, Jelly Cups and Hamburgers. 

Tip: The Australian flags will require a good iron to look flat.

Australia Day Place Settings

You will find the recipe for our Mango and Passionfruit Pavlova on our Dessert page.

Mango and Passionfruit Pavlova

Layered Jelly cups are always a hit.  

Australia Day - Layered Jelly Cups

Australia Day Menu with Burgers, Potato Wedges, Prawn and lime Skewers, Pavlova and Jelly..

Prawn and Lime Skewers

Australia Day Dining Setting

Please join us tomorrow for our Free Australia Day Children's games.