Breads, Scones, Buns, Damper
Australian Wetlands Brolga
From the family of the Crane species the Brolga stands around 1.3 metres tall with the female shorter. Found in tropical northern Australia, central NSW and western Victoria the Brolga feeds on tubers, crops, insects, etc. The Brolga can be found in open wetlands, mudflats and vegetated plains. Birds mate for life, normally hatching two chicks per season, and both parents share in raising the young.
The Recipes
Re-Edited & Updated November 28/07
Helpers
1 gill = 1/2 cup
Scant = Not quite full measure
Tammy Cloth = A fine woollen cloth
Unless specified otherwise, all temps are in Fahrenheit
Flour = Unless otherwise stated, "flour" refers to plain flour.
Fats, dripping, lard, etc can be substituted with your selected oils.
All oven temperatures are based on the standard wood oven, gas oven and electric oven.
Special Recipes
Old Handy Hints & Ideas
Measure Conversions & Cooking Terms Link
Oven Temperatures & Reference Link
Banana Bread
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 tablespoons grated lemon rind
3 ripe bananas
3/4 cup of sugar
1 egg,
1/4 cup of good fat
Method
Sift flour, baking powder, and salt, add grated lemon rind, mash bananas and add sugar and unbeaten egg, add to dry ingredients. Melt fat and fold into to mixture but do not beat. Place in greased tin, bake in a moderate oven 40 minutes.
Aussie Damper
Normally made in a camp oven which is a cast pot and lid. The mix is placed inside, lid put on and entire covered in hot wood coals till baked. Camp oven sometimes placed in a hole dug in the ground and surrounded in hot wood coals till cooked.
Ingredients
2 cups self raising flour
8 oz milk (normally powdered)
1/2 tsp salt
Home Method
Mix flour and salt. Make well in the centre and add milk, mixing with a knife to form a moist dough. Turn into a greased 7" tin. Bake in a hot oven for 25 minutes, then turn onto wire cooling tray.
Variations can be the addition of either sultanas, dried fruit, herbs, sugar, 2oz butter, lemon, sugar, etc
Dampers by Keith Garvey
Knew a bloke once called Damper Dan
Remember the bludger well I can
And his dampers
Bottomless moleskins hangin' slack
Tin of treacle, sticky and black,
Heap of flour in a dirty sack
For dampers
Always camped by a bore-drains flow
Whiskery and greasy and foul and low
Eatin' dampers
Never would buy a loaf of bread
'Too bloody dear' he always said
Cooked every day like lumps of lead
Heavy dampers
Down he'd sit with a toothless grin
Mixin' the dough in a gallon tin
For dampers
Over his bulgin' bottom lip
Nicotine and slobber would slip
Run down his pipe and slowly drip
In the damper (to top)
Bore-drain water and weevily flour
Welded into a mixture sour
For damper
Stick to yer ribs and clog yer pipes
Give the goes as well as the gripes
And he'd say, 'She's a lovely feed, by cripes
Bonzer damper'
Beef or mutton he wouldn't touch
Brownie or cake he didn't like much
Only damper
'Nothin' he'd say, 'like good clean flour
Never gets stale or mouldy or sour
Nothin' gives yer muscular power
Like damper'
Follered his funeral without regret
Went where there's plenty of heat, I'll bet
For dampers
And it's safe to bet the devil could tell
How he sits all day by the hearth of hell
With his sack of flour and his evil smell
Cookin' dampers.....Soddy bloody dampers
Drop Scones
Ingredients
8 oz plain flour
salt
level teaspoon of cream of tartar
level teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda
5 teaspoons of castor sugar
one standard egg,
1/4 pint of milk.
Method
Heat a heavy based frying pan and lightly grease. Sift flour, salt, cream of tartar and bicarbonate of soda together and mix in the caster sugar. Create a well in the centre and add the egg and some of the milk. Slowly mix the flour into the egg and milk, adding more milk as you go, until you have a mixture which has the consistency of thick batter.
Drop a small amount of batter onto the greased girdle or pan - bubbles should rise to the top in a few seconds, if it is the right temperature. Drop in enough mixture to make individual small scones. When the underside is brown turn over and cook the other side. Regrease the pan after each batch. Serve warm with butter, honey or jam, etc.
Handy Hint -Eggs should sit for at least three days before using in cakes or like.
Aussie Country Bun
Ingredients
1/4 lb. butter
1/4 lb. sugar
1 egg
1/2 lb. plain flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
lemon cheese
almonds
Method
Cream butter and sugar, add egg, flour, and baking powder, divide into two parts and press one into a greased tin. Spread with lemon cheese, then cover with second piece, sprinkle top with blanched almonds and bake in moderate oven 20 to 30 minutes.
Date Loaf
Ingredients
1 tablespoon butter
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1 cup dates
1 small cup boiling water
1 small teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
2 cups self-raising flour
Method
Cream butter and sugar, slowly add well beaten egg and beat till thick. Soak dates in boiling water for a few minutes, then add bicarbonate of soda. Add this to the mixture, sift flour and then mix lightly together, put in a greased tin and bake in a moderate oven 30 minutes.
Pumpkin Scones
Ingredients
2oz butter
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1 cup of cold mashed pumpkin
2 cups self raising flour.
Method
Cream butter and sugar then add egg. Mix in pumpkin. Add sifted flour and mix well. Put heaped tablespoons on a greased tin. Bake in a hot oven (500°F) for 10-15 minutes. Lay out on wire tray.
Soups -A lettuce leaf in a pot of soup will help absorb excess grease from the top. Remove when it has served its purpose before serving. (From old pages)
Nut and Fruit Loaf
Ingredients
1/2 cup fruit
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 cup sugar
1 tablespoon butter
1 cup water
2 cups flour
pinch salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
1 teaspoon spice or cinnamon
Method
Put fruit, nuts, sugar, butter, and water into saucepan, boil 1 minute, and allow to cool overnight. Sift flour, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda, salt, and spice. Pour cold mixture into the flour mixture and mix well. Put into greased long tins, bake 45 minutes in a moderate oven.
Access Hundreds of Extra old Aussie recipes
Nut Loaf
Ingredients
1 tablespoon butter
1/2 cup honey
1 egg
1/4 cup milk
1 cup flour
pinch salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 cup sultanas
Method
Cream butter and honey, add egg and beat. Add milk, flour sifted with salt and baking powder, walnuts, and sultanas. Pour into a greased loaf tin, bake in a moderate oven for 30 minutes.
Ginger Bread
Ingredients
1/2 cup butter
3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tablespoon golden syrup
2 cups self-raising flour
1 level teaspoon cinnamon
1 level teaspoon ginger
1/2 cup coconut
1/2 cup warm water
2 oz. preserved ginger
Method
Cream butter and sugar, add eggs and syrup, then flour, cinnamon, teaspoon of ginger, and coconut. Add warm water and pour mixture into greased tin. Chop the 2 oz. of ginger finely and press in with a knife. Bake 30 to 45 minutes in a moderate oven.
Cooking Veges -Most vegetable flavours are improved by adding a small amount of sugar along with the normal seasonings.
Wheatmeal Loaf
Ingredients
1 cup wheatmeal self-raising flour
1/2 cup white self-raising flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 tablespoon treacle
3/4 cup milk
Method
Mix all dry ingredients together. Warm treacle and milk together and add to dry ingredients. Mix to a moist dough, bake in a loaf tin in a fairly hot oven, 375 degrees F. 30 to 45 minutes.
Wheatmeal Nut Loaf
Ingredients
2 large breakfast cups wheatmeal self-raising flour
pinch salt
1 tablespoon butter
1 cup walnuts
1 cup dates
1 egg
2 cups milk
2 tablespoons golden syrup
Method
Sift flour and salt, rub in butter, add chopped walnuts and dates, add well beaten egg, milk, and syrup. Mix into a soft dough, bake in loaf tins in a moderate oven 45 minutes.
Wholemeal Flake Scones
Ingredients
2 cups plain flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 good pinch salt
1 dessertspoon butter
1 cup wholemeal flakes
2 gills of milk
Method
Sift plain flour, baking powder, and salt, rub butter in lightly, add wholemeal flakes and mix well. Add milk nearly all at once, and mix quickly into a soft dough. Turn on a floured board and press out 1 inch thick, cut into shapes, place on a greased tin, and bake in a hot oven 10 to 15 minutes. Place on a wire tray to cool.
Handy Hint -Half of a whole apple placed in the cake tin will help keep the cake fresh longer. (From old pages. Interest piece only)
Donuts
Ingredients
1/2 lb plain flour
1/2 oz yeast
1 tablespoon castor sugar
2 oz margarine
1 egg.
Method
Warm flour (sifted). Rub in margarine, add sugar. Cream the yeast. Add beaten egg and milk into flour mixture and stir in creamed yeast. Stand 1 hr. Heat fat, roll dough with flour into balls. Put in hot oil. Cook for 7 minutes. Roll in sugar.
Fluffy Pikelets
Ingredients
1 cup self raising flour
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon melted butter
1/2 cup milk
1/2 tsp carb soda
1 tsp lemon juice
1 egg
pinch salt
Method
Sift flour, salt and soda into a small bowl. Add sugar, egg and milk. Beat on low speed until mixed. Beat on high speed for about 1 minute, then fold in melted butter. Place spoonfuls onto a hot griddle or frypan, turning over when bubbles appear. Cook the other side until golden brown.
Due to the popularity of Gem Scones a few varieties are offered, some from outside sources
Thank you to the Queensland Country Woman's Association (Australia). Added by request.
Gem Scones
Ingredients
1 tablespoon butter
1 dessertspoon sugar
pinch salt
2 small cups flour
2 level teaspoons baking powder
1 egg
1/2 cup milk.
Method
Cream butter and sugar, add egg, beat well. Add flour and baking powder, sifted well, and then add milk. Drop mixture in dessertspoonfuls into very hot buttered gem scone irons and cook in hot oven till brown. Place on wire tray.
Handy Hint -When forming good old Aussie rissoles keep your hands wet with cold water and the mixture will not stick to hands.
Recipe from Bundaberg Cookbook printed in 1965.
Gem Scones
Ingredients
1 tablespoon butter
2 tablespoons sugar
1 egg
3/4 cup milk
2 cups self-raising flour
teaspoon of salt
Method
Beat together 1 tablespoon butter and 2 tablespoons sugar, add 1 egg and beat well; gradually add 3/4 cup milk, beating all the time. Lastly, 2 cups self-raising flour with level teaspoon of salt. Put mixture into very hot gem irons or patty tins which have been buttered. Bake quickly.
Thank you to the Nambour Branch of the Queensland Country Woman's Association
Gem Scones
Ingredients
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon butter
2 cups flour
1 egg
2 heaped teaspoons baking powder
1 cup or a little more milk
Method
Beat butter and sugar, add beaten egg, then milk, and lastly flour with baking powder. Put in very hot greased gem irons and bake in a quick oven.
Johnny Cakes
Ingredients
1 cup self-raising flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
warm water to make a workable dough.
Method
Mix well, roll out to 1/2 inch thickness and cut into quarters. Put a few tablespoons of beef fat into the warm camp-oven or frypan and when it is boiling drop in the mixture in spoonfuls and cook 8 to10 minutes.
Billy Loaf (Made in a Billy Can)
Ingredients
1 cup flour
1 cup wheatmeal flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon malt or treacle.
Method
Mix all ingredients with enough water to make an even dough, place in a billy can with lid on, bake in moderate oven 3/4 hour.
Headaches -Cure for headaches is to take half a lime and rub it on your forehead. The throbbing will go away. (From old pages. Interest piece only)
Billy Can Bun
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups of raisins
1/2 cup of sultanas and raisins
1 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon of mixed spice and cinnamon
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon of bicarbonate soda
16 fluid oz of boiling tea
Method
Combine all ingredients. Mix well with approx. 16 fluid oz of boiling tea. Empty into a greased and floured billy can. Cover, let stand overnight. Steam for 3 1/2 hours.
A partner drink to those special recipes above.
Billy Can Tea
The Bushman's Drink
Ingredients
One pint of rain water or clean crisp creek water.
Handful of "billy" tea leaves (good tablespoon)
One Australian Gum tree leaf.
Method
Boil water in Billy Can over open wood fire. Add tea leaves and simmer for 10 minutes (add extra water if required) then add gum leaves and simmer for another 2 minutes. Bushmen would now place the lid on the Billy Can and carefully swing around and around. This process will perfectly mix the tea forcing the tea leaves to the bottom. Let settle for two minutes then pour into metal drinking mug adding milk or sugar if required. Do not strain.
Cleaning Windows -The best thing for window cleaning is ammonia and water. Use 2 tablespoons ammonia to 1 pint of water. Use as you would commercial spray bottle.
Cream Scones
Ingredients
1 cup flour sifted with 3 teaspoons baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon of salt
2 tablespoons sugar
1/4 cup butter
1/2 cup cream
2 beaten eggs.
Method
Cut butter into sifted dry ingredients. Combine eggs and cream and add. Pat to 3/4-inch thick. Cut in squares or triangles, sprinkle with sugar and bake at 375° until lightly brown, about 20 minutes. Serve hot with any jams or preserves. Makes around one dozen scones.
Access Hundreds of Extra old Aussie recipes
Collectable Cookbooks For Sale
The poems "Dampers" and "Corned Meat Days" by Keith Garvey are just two of the many great Australian verses from the authors' book, Rhymes of a Ratbag, published by HUTCHINSON of AUSTRALIA. Available at all leading book stores in Australia. I thoroughly enjoyed, as you will, the entire collection of verses by Keith Garvey. Look for his writings.
Images Acknowledgement
The Glorious Australiana images on this site are from a cd-rom called Images-Australia by ©GUM TREE GRAPHICS. Artwork created by Australians Barry Gardner & Jason Jover. I recommend when looking for excellent computer graphics you request ©GUM TREE GRAPHICS from your retailer.