5 Easy Australia Day Recipes

Every year on January 26, Australians gather to celebrate with festivities, so here are 5 easy Australia Day recipes. Australia Day is the official national holiday to celebrate the arrival of the English "First Fleet" at Sydney Cove in 1788. It has been called Anniversary Day.

Easy Pavlova

Ingredients:

• 4 egg whites, room temperature
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 1-1/2 cups caster sugar
• 4 tsp. cornstarch
• 2 teaspoon white vinegar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup heavy cream, whipped
• 2 cups fresh strawberries (cored and sliced)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 250ºF. Grease and flour an 8-inch round cake pan.
2. With an electric mixer, beat egg whites, salt, and cream of tartar until stiff. Beat in caster sugar until stiff. Beat in corn starch, vinegar and vanilla. Transfer to round cake pan.
3. Bake for 1 hour and cool in oven with door cracked. Pull out of mold and ice with whipped cream for icing and top with fruit.

Aussie Lamingtons 

Ingredients:

• 6 large eggs
• 3/4 cup white sugar
• 1 cup self-rising flour, sifted
• 1/3 cup corn flour, sifted
• 1/3 cup hot water
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• 3 cups baker's coconut

Chocolate Frosting

Ingredients:

• 4 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 1/2 cup milk

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350ºF. Grease a 9-inch round cake pan.
2. With an electric mixer, beat eggs until thick. Beat in sugar and then use a wooden spoon to fold in sifted flour, water and butter.
3. Transfer batter to pan and bake for 35 minutes. Cool for 5 minutes then remove from pan. Cool on wire rack. Trim crusts and cut into squares.
4. Dip in chocolate frosting and sprinkle with coconut.
5. Frosting: combine confectioners' sugar and cocoa, mixing well. Stir in butter and milk, blending until smooth.

Australian Damper

Ingredients:

• 4 cups self-rising flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 2 tablespoons salted butter
• 1-1/2 cups milk
• 1 cup cheese, grated  

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 425ºF. 
2. Cut butter into flour. Add just enough milk so that dough is slightly sticky.
3. Knead dough over floured surface, forming a flat ball 2 inches thick. Cut dough into wedges and top with grated cheese.
4. Bake for 15 minutes and then turn temperature down to 375ºF. Bake for another 30 minutes.
5. Break into wedges and serve with butter.

Barbecued Leg of Lamb

Ingredients

• 3 pounds leg of lamb
• 5 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tablespoon paprika
• ¼ cup lemon juice
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• Non stick cooking spray

Green Olive Mayonnaise

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1/2 cup stuffed green olives, chopped
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice 

Directions :

1. The leg of lamb should have the bone removed and be of a butterfly cut.
2. Combine garlic, paprika, lemon juice and olive oil. Transfer to a container with lid and marinade both sides of lamb. Cover and refrigerate for 3 hours. Turn at least once.
3. Green Olive Mayonnaise. Beat together mayo, olives, paprika and lemon juice. Refrigerate.
4. Spray cold grill with non stick cooking spray. Prepare grill and allow coals to burn down. Remove lamb from refrigerator for 30 minutes prior to grilling.
5. Grill lamb skin side down for 10 minutes. Turn and cook another 20 minutes, turning every 5 minutes to medium doneness. Close lid of grill while cooking.
6. Serve with green olive mayo.

Jacket potatoes

Ingredients:

• 1 cup milk
• ½ pound smoked cod
• 4 large Russet potatoes
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 hard-boiled eggs (peeled and chopped)
• 2 tablespoons chives, chopped
• 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, grated
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 400ºF.
2. In a skillet, warm milk over medium heat. Place cod in milk, skin side up, and poach for 8 minutes. Remove cod and reserve ½ cup milk. Use a fork to remove fish skin and discard skin.
3. Brush potatoes with olive oil, and microwave on high for 12 to 15 minutes minutes. Fork should pierce potato easily. Allow to cool and then cut off tops. Scoop out the center of each potato. Skins should hold their shape.
4. In a bowl, combine fish, eggs, chives, reserved milk, salt and pepper. Mash with a fork and spoon into potato skins. Top with Parmesan.
5. Bake for 20 minutes.