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This blog post is a part of the Mommy Perks Entrepreneur’s Gift Guide, 2009.
As some of you know, my birth place was Queensland, Australia. I spent the first several years of my life in Oz and therefore, enjoyed numerous dishes and treats, not typically sold or eaten in the USA.
I got to thinking that it might be fun to share with you a few unique recipes; from myself and others. Dishes or treats you may not have thought to make yourself. If you are adventurous, you might like to try these out!
Here we go:
Mailänderli (Milano cookies, Christmas treat)
Image from About.ch
Ingredients for approximately 80 cookies (depending on the size of a single cookie):
- 250 g (9 ounces) butter or margarine
- 225 g (8 ounces) sugar
- 1 pinch of salt
- 3 eggs
- 1 lemon
- 500 g (18 ounces) flour
- 1 yellow of an egg
Preparation:
- Stir butter in a bowl until it is smooth.
- Add sugar, salt and 3 eggs, stir until ingredients are evenly distributed.
- Grind the skin of the lemon and add to the mixture of the previous step.
- Add flour, knead to a soft dough.
- Cover the dough and let rest for about 2 hours in a cool place.
- Cut dough in parts and roll out on a flat, with flour covered surface, approximately 5 mm (0.2 inches) thick. Put out different shapes and put them on a baking sheet covered with baking paper.
- Let cool for about 15 minutes.
- Before baking, sweep with the yellow of an egg.
- Bake for about 10 minutes in the center of the pre-heated oven at 200 °C (400 °F).
- Let cool completely before serving.
Background: (Provided by Suzanne of The Boy’s Store)
This is one of many traditional Christmas cookies in Switzerland. The original recipe was from a baker in Milan Italy.
My paternal grandmother was Italian so this was one of two kinds of cookies that we would bake with my dad just before the Holidays. He then gave them out as gifts to his customers and our neighbors. This was always a special time as my dad usually did not tolerate anyone in the kitchen while he was cooking. He is an accomplished chef just does not cook for a living 
Image from JoyofBaking.com
PAVLOVA (there is ongoing debate about whether this dessert was invented by Australia or New Zealand. Seeing as I am from Australia, I’ll have to side with Oz )
Ingredients:
- 4 large egg whites at room temperature
- 1 cup of Castor sugar, also known as “Berry sugar”
- 1 tsp of white vinegar
- 1/2 Tbsp of cornstarch
- 1/2 tsp of pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 cups of whipping cream
- Fresh fruit such as strawberries, raspberries, kiwi fruit, passionfruit, bananas, blueberries
- 1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
Finish the detailed directions here…
Read about the history of Anna Pavlova, Russian ballerina.
Background: (Provided by Shara, owner of Mommy Perks and PCS)
My mother made Pavlova quite often when I was a kid. After we moved to the USA (from Australia), we had visitors over for dinner every so often. I’d hear my mom ask: “What should I make for dessert? Oh, I know! I’ll do Pavlova. No American has eaten Pavlova and everyone loves it.” I hated it. But who cares? I’m listing it anyway because you may LOVE it and who am I to stop you from experiencing something new? You’re welcome.
LAMINGTONS (Another Aussie treat)
Image from RegionalArtsNSW.com.au
Ingredients:
- 2 cups of all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp of baking powder
- 1/4 tsp of sea salt
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup of room temperature butter
- 3/4 cup of white sugar
- 1 tsp of pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup of milk
- 2 cups of icing sugar
- 1/3 cup of cocoa powder
- 3 tbs of butter
- 1/2 cup of milk
- Whipped cream for serving
Background: (Provided by Shara, owner of Mommy Perks and PCS)
This one is for my dad. This was always his favorite and I’d have to side with him. I LOVE Lamingtons. It’s true that they can be found in shops now but the home-made ones are best. If you know anything about Aussies you know we put coconut on numerous things: Lamingtons, Apricot Balls, Arnott’s Biscuits, Cherry Ripe Bars and more. We’re coconut happy.
Image from About.com
Mexican Yuletide Cookies
Ingredients:
- 1 cup softened butter
- 3/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 cups flour
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 1 cup chopped walnuts
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Beat butter until creamy. Add sugar, continue to beat. Add vanilla and flour. Blend well. Stir in oats and nuts, mix well. Shape into balls and bake for 20 to 25 minutes. Sprinkle with powdered sugar while the cookies are still warm.
Background: (Provided by MariLee of ReallyWorkingFromHome.com)
*From “Christmas at Home: Cookie Lover’s Cookbook” by MariLee Parrish ©2008 Barbour Publishing.
Image from LandOLakes.com
Swedish Coconut Cookies
Ingredients:
- 1 cup shortening
- 1 cup butter
- 2 cups white sugar
- 3 cups flour
- 1 teaspoon soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 cup toasted coconut
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream shortening, butter, and sugar. Add dry ingredients, coconut, and vanilla. Shape into balls. Press cookie with bottom of glass dipped in sugar. Bake for 7-8 minutes.
Background: (Provided by MariLee of ReallyWorkingFromHome.com)
*From “Christmas at Home: Cookie Lover’s Cookbook” by MariLee Parrish ©2008 Barbour Publishing
Image from LandBigFish.com (Flounder)
Fish Stew
Ingredients:
- 1/4 c olive oil
- 1 cloves minced garlic
- 1 c.chopped onion
- 1 c. chopped green peppers
- 1 1 lb 4 oz can chopped tomatoes
- 1 8oz can tomato sauce
- 1 bay leaf
- pinch of oregano
- salt & ground pepper to taste
- 2 c. wine
- 1 lb frozen lobster tails/claws
- 1 lb frozen cod or flounder
- 1 10oz pkg of shrimp
- 1 10.5 oz can minced clams
Heat oil in large saucepan. Add garlic, onion, green peppers and lightly brown. Add tomatoes, tomato sauce, bay leaf, oregano, salt and pepper. Cover and cook on low for 1 hour. Add wine for the last 10 minutes. Add all fish and simmer until cooked (~8 minutes). Serve over linguini and/or with crusty bread.
Background: (Provided by Liz of Baby Blooze)
I have a mixed heritage – 1/2 Japanese and 1/2 Italian – which makes for interesting holiday dinner fare! We will usually have a traditional turkey dinner but except for mashed potatoes, we’ll have the obligatory white steamed rice and a number of crazy Japanese side dishes… sushi, pickled cucumber salad with rice noodles, etc., etc. For Christmas however, we honor the Italian side by having cioppino, a traditional fish stew, every Christmas Eve. Here is a pretty easy recipe from my mom. I usually cheat and even go the EASIER way — Trader Joe’s frozen cioppino mix (hey, I have two young kids — you gotta do what you gotta do!)
Image from HarryandDavid.com
Popcorn Treat Gift Tin
Ingredients:
- Air popped popcorn
- White chocolate (bakers)
- M&M’s
Pop the popcorn. Melt the white chocolate and pour over the popcorn. Quickly stir in the M&M’s. Put into a cute tin and cover. Tie a bow around and give as a gift!
Background: (Provided by Sara Crowe of Events, Etc).
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