Rebel Wilson and her love for Pavlova

Rebel Wilson, the 28 year old Australian actress, writer and a stand-up comedian, flew home for celebrating Christmas with her family. Neither did she prepare turkey nor honey glazed ham, but was seen munching on the traditional Pavlova or ‘Pav’. This is well portrayed on social sites such as Twitter and Facebook. The recipe has a crunchy and crisp outer-shell and is soft and moist from inside. The texture makes me crave for it right away. I love authentic recipes. Hope you enjoyed Chocolate Lamington.

Did you know that Pavlova has a historical significance? Pavlova is a dessert. It is named after a famous Russian ballet dancer called Anna Pavlova, when she visited Australia. There is yet a long story behind this. Pavlova makes a great summer dessert in entire Australia and New Zealand. Different fruits added to this recipe, give a colorful topping thereby making the dessert yummier. So let’s celebrate Australia day with authentic Pavlova.

Ingredients:-

16 Egg Whites,

2 diced Kiwi fruits,

A pinch Cream of Tartar,

300 ml thickened Cream,

1 1/2 cups Caster Sugar,

1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract,

250g diced Strawberries,

Mint leaves for Garnishing,

1 tablespoon Icing Sugar mixture.

Preparation Method:-

1. Preheat oven to 120 D. C. Line a baking tray and baking paper. With an electric mixer, beat egg whites until stiff peaks are formed.

2. Now add caster sugar. Beat until the sugar dissolves. Then add cream of tartar. Beat for 1 minute.

3. Spoon mixture onto circle. Using a spatula, shape into a circle as shown. Make furrows. Bake for 1 hour or until firm. Turn off oven.  Allow to cool.

4. For the cream, using an electric mixer, beat cream, icing sugar and vanilla until soft peaks form.

5. Place the cool pavlova on a serving plate. Top with cream mixture, mint leaves and fruits as shown. Serve.

Enjoy Australia Day!

Enjoy Traditional Aussie Meat Pie on Australia Day

My neighbor’s little daughter came running up to me and was singing the song, ‘I am Australian’. The song is jam packed with intense meaning. This reminded me that Australia Day is approaching. Hope you liked my blog, Chocolate Lamington, which is also a traditional Australian cake. Today I’ll serve you with classic and spicy Aussie treat. I am very fond of meat recipes. The yummilicious Aussie Meat Pie is a small pie, filled with ground beef, onions and gravy. It is mostly topped with tomato sauce to compliment with the crazy crust. Vegemite is also used in the recipe. Vegemite is delectable Australian spread that is made from used brewer's yeast. 

Meat pie is considered an iconic food in Australia and New Zealand and is served for sure on the auspicious Australia Day. Even after lot of innovative goodies coming up every year, the pie continues to have top ranking in the heart and mind of millions. These traditional pies make a delectable party and picnic food as they are simple to make and easy to serve. Meat pies are popular in different cuisines example Nigerian, British, Lebanese, Australian. The ingredients, method and flavor vary from place to place. Here it goes…

Ingredients:-

1 beaten Egg,

3/4 cup Beef Stock,

3/4 cup Tomato sauce,

1 tablespoon Cornflour,

1 teaspoon Vegemite,

1 tablespoon Olive Oil,

1 chopped Brown Onion,

1 tablespoon Barbecue sauce,

500 grams minced Lean Beef,

2 sheets thawed frozen Puff pastry,

2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce,

2 sheets thawed frozen shortcrust pastry.

Preparation Method:-

1. Heat oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add onion. Cook until soft. Add minced beef. Cook for 4 minutes. Stir until brown.

2. In another bowl, mix cornflour and 1 tablespoon of stock to form smooth paste. Add the remaining stock. Now add stock, sauces and Vegemite to the mince. Bring it to boil. Reduce heat to low. Simmer for 8-10 minutes. Cool the mixture.

3. Preheat the oven to 220 D. C. Place a baking tray into oven. Grease the pie pans.

4. Cut circles from shortcrust pastry as desired. Fill with the beef mince. Brush the rims with water. Cut circles from puff pastry. Place over meat. Press to seal. Trim the rest. Brush with egg and then season.

5. Place pies onto hot tray. Bake for 25 minutes or until golden brown. Enjoy the meaty treat.

Happy Australia Day!

Celebrate Australia Day with Traditional Chocolate Lamington

Australia Day, falling on January 26, has become nation's largest annual public celebration. It brings together Australians from all walks of life. Be sure to grab your spot along the streets of Australia to cheer the bulk parade participants. It's the national day and ultimate time to celebrate with classic and traditional dishes. Australia has a rich variety of food and drinks. Last year I shared with you Australian Cocktails and I'm so glad that everyone loved to dance with those drinks. 

This time I come up with the traditional dessert called Lamington. Lamington are squares of sponge cake that are dipped in melted chocolate and grated coconut. Lamingtons are usually made up of stale cake. I have used fresh cake. So the trick is to freeze it. After this, sauce the lamination when it is slightly frozen. Though I am equally fond of strawberry and raspberry flavor, this time I tried Chocolate Lamington. You can also add in strawberry cream in between the cake as I have done. 

For the Cake:-

3 eggs,

1/4 cup milk,

1/2 cup sugar,

1/4 cup cornflour,

3/4 cup self raising flour,

3 teaspoons melted butter.

For Icing:-

1/2 cup milk,

3 1/2 cups icing sugar,

1/3 cup cocoa powder,

2 teaspoons melted butter,

2 cups desiccated coconut for coating.

Preparation Method for Cake:-

1. Preheat oven to 180 D.C. Now grease and flour a square shaped cake tin. Take a bowl. Beat eggs, sugar, butter and milk in it. Sift this mixture in flour and cornflour mix. Mix until well combined.

2. Pour the mixture into the greased tin. Bake in preheated oven until a knife inserted into the centre comes out clean. Bake time is 25-30 minutes.

3. Allow to cool. Cut into smaller squares. Place in the freezer until it begins to harden, for 1 1/2 hours, uncovered.

Preparation Method for Icing:-

1. Stir butter, milk and cocoa powder, together. Then stir in the icing sugar.

2. Dip frozen cake squares into icing mixture and then into grated coconut.

3. Place on baking paper and allow to defrost. This must take 1 1/2 hours at room temperature.

 Enjoy Australia Day!

Happy Australia Day with Beef in Red Wine Gravy

Australia Day emphasizes on celebrating the past, present and future of the country. The auspicious day is accompanied by awards, celebrations, programmes and events. The shops are full of deals, specials, discounts and coupons. So why not celebrate the day with refreshing cocktails and rich creamy dishes plus delights?? Here we have the thick gravy sumptuous beef recipe all cooked in luscious red wine to double the spirit of the day. The slow cooking dish when blended with spices and red wine, brings the best of red meaty taste. 

Ingredients:-

1 kg steak sirloin,

3 onions chopped,

2 capsicum chopped,

200 gm Portobello mushrooms chopped,

50 gm snow peas,

400 gm cream of mushroom soup,

400 gm mushrooms in butter sauce,

150 ml red wine,

1/4 teaspoon crushed garlic,

1/2 teaspoon parsley,

1/2 teaspoon basil,

1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper,

2 cups warm water,

4 cubes beef stock,

3 tablespoons cornflour,

seasoning to taste,

salt to taste

Preparation Method:-

1. Trim and cut the meat then season with seasoning to taste. Cover with plastic wrap, seal well and set aside in refrigerator until needed.

2. Grease a large roasting dish with some oil. Place chopped onions in the roasting dish.

3. Add capsicums, mushrooms and snow peas scattered to cover the dish. Sprinkle with a little salt and pepper.

4. Place beef spaced evenly on top. In a large jug add the red wine, soup, tinned mushrooms, garlic, parsley, basil, pepper, salt and warm water.

5. Mix well and pour into the roasting dish. Cover with foil and bake in preheated oven at 190 D C for 1 hour.

6. Mix beef stock and cornflour with some water to make a thick paste then add stirring well into the roasting dish turning all contents.

7. Return to the oven and cook for a further 20 minutes then uncover stir contents and cook uncovered for a further 15 minutes.

8. Serve with hot steamed rice!!!

Happy Australia Day!!!

Australia Day Cocktails

Celebrating Australia Day, falling on January 26, with cocktails, shots and punches is a great idea. Here we bring you with more of refreshing drinks to enjoy the day to the fullest with your pals.

Fruit Tingle

Pour Curacao over ice in a glass. Add raspberry cordial and lemonade simultaneously to combined the effect. Served in a old-fashioned glass. Simple yet a party drink!!!

Blood Orange Cosmopolitan

Add vodka, lime juice and cranberry juice. Use one dash of bitters into a Martini glass. Add Ice. Shake and strain into a Martini glass. Top with blood orange soda. Party bloody hard with Blood Orange Soda!!!
 

Vodka infused Watermelon

Simply cut a hole in the top of watermelon, the size of spoon. Scoop out a little bit of the watermelon and make in room for the vodka bottle. Place the bottle upside down in the hole. Allow the vodka to be fully absorbed by watermelon. Place the watermelon in the fridge to chill. Then cut into pieces and serve. Enjoy the chilled Vodka infused Watermelon!!!

Midori Splice

Add in equal quantity of melon liqueur, coconut rum and pineapple juice. Top with fresh cream. Served in a Collins glass!!!

Cosmopolitan Cocktail

Combine lime juice, Triple Sec, cranberry juice, citrus vodka juice in equal quantity. Add citrus vodka a bit more. Add in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake and dance, pour into a cocktail glass. Top with ice. Garnish with a lime twist!!

Ocean Breeze

Feel the motion in ocean with tickling sensation made up of melon liqueur, raspberry vodka, pineapple and cranberry juice. Add in equal quantities. Top with ice cubes in collins glass. Add cherry and cheer!!!

Squashed Frog

Pour Midori and then Advocaat over it in a glass. Add a few dashes of grenadine. Then float Bailey’s on top. It's best in the shot glass.

Hot Lips Punch

Groove with steamy tipple of melon liqueur, dark rum and cranberry juice. You can't stop without saying ‘one more’. Ultimate lip therapy!!!

Lime Mojito

Add mint leaves and 1 lime wedge into a glass. Crush the mint and lime to release the mint oils and lime juice. Add 2 more lime wedges and the sugar, crush again to release the lime juice. Keep the mixture as such. Add in ice. Pour rum over the ice filling the glass with soda water. Garnish with a lime wedge!!!

Pavlova-supreme

Mix in equal quantity of apricot brandy, yellow Chartreuse, lemon juice, sugar syrup. Add in egg white (1 egg). Shake without ice to emulsify egg. Add ice and shake vigorously, strain into a cocktail glass. Serve drink in a cocktail glass for the cocktail party. Party all night!!