Sunday 26 January 2014

Happy Australia Day!!

It is January 26th here in Australia, which makes it Australia Day!

On this day, in 1788 the First Fleet sailed into Sydney Cove. The First Fleet were the 11 ships which sailed all the way from Great Britain containing the Convicts who would later become the first white Australians.

Most Aussie's are pretty proud to find a convict in their family tree, even better if they came over in the First Fleet. She has two... but neither came over on the First Fleet.

To celebrate today we thought that, together with our pawsome guest, Ranger, we'd throw a bit of an Australia Day Pawty!


You're all invited! So grab a plate we're gonna have some truly iconic Aussie foods up for grabs... Might have to be game to try some of them!

We'll start off with the Aussie BBQ staple... And no, it's not "shrimp" (we actually call them prawns here) and you're far more likely to find SNAG on an Aussie BBQ than a prawn. Yup, sausages, sausages you can turn into a "sausage sizzle". That's were you take a nice BBQed sausage wrap it in a slice of bread and squirt some "dead horse" on top... (You remember for yesterday, "dead horse" means tomato sauce!)


Yummo! Wrap your laughing gear around one of those before they're all gone mate, they're pretty tasty!

Now, while you've got the dead horse out, do you remember what Floyd ate it with yesterday? Yup, that's right, a "dog's eye"... A piping hot meat pie!


Before we put the bread away from the sausage sizzle, you have all got to try Vegemite! Don't be put off by its colour, you're not a true Aussie if you don't like this stuff!

Now, my peep always says that when people try Vegemite for the first time, they tend to over apply. It's strong stuff it's not like jam (jelly) or peanut butter, so as beginners, follow the guide below... We recommend you avoid the last method of application... You might actually die!


What does it taste like you say? Well, it's... Salty... (Dogs tend to love the stuff... So tuck in!) 

Hope you're still hungry, 'cos we thought we might try some Bush Tucker next. Bush Tucker is was we call native foods, some of them sound pretty out there but they are all super healthy! (and, even pretty tasty!)

Now you can't go past Bush Tucker without trying a witchetty grub...


They are eaten raw and taste sort of nutty... If you're not game enough to try the real thing, there is always the lolly (candy) version...


If you have a sweet tooth, you might like to give the honey ant a try...


Look at all that sweet, sticky honey stored in him! Yum?

Okay, okay... That's enough Bush Tucker... Time for some... Less "buggy" desserts...

How about a lamington.



No, that cake doesn't have dandruff! It's sponge cake covered in chocolate icing and coconut! 

What about some Pavlova next...


Now, this tasty treats is one of my peep's favourites, you better grab some before she drools all over it! It's a giant meringue, covered in whipped cream and sliced fruit. The perfect Pav is crunchy on the outside with a soft chewie middle... Mmmm.... Yum...

Now... I don't know about you... But we're all pretty full! Time to wash all that food down with a drink. And, being Australia day, the drink of choice is... Of course...


Beer!!

A true Aussie drop mind you, none of that Fosters stuff... I don't think me, or my peep have EVER seen an Aussie drink that stuff!!

We hope you all had a great time at our Australia Day pawty! There is still plenty of food left (go on... Try a witchetty grub, tuck in!) You can take a doggy bag home if you like!

Floyd and I have had a great time hanging out with our good mate Ranger for the last couple of days. We hope he's enjoyed his time with us. The three of us are gonna have a quick afternoon nap and then we'll say good bye to Ranger...




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Now, Australia Day can be a tricky day, especially for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people... For them it marks the day when their lands were invaded...

So before we go we would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of the little bit of Australia that we live on, the Wiradjuri People, to acknowledge Elders, past and present, to remember our shared past (even the shameful chapters) and to look forward to Australia's future, to a fairer, more inclusive Australia, where we all learn from and help each other.


This map shows all the different Aboriginal Nations and their lands. Each on of those groups has their own language and laws, that have existed for thousands of years. Aboriginal culture is the oldest continuing culture in the whole world. We live in Wiradjuri Country... Can you find it?

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Remember, you have until midnight tonight to submit your Barkday Competition photos... If you haven't done so yet, you really need to HOP TO IT!!!

23 comments:

  1. We live in the northern most part of Wiradjuri Country!

    Sounds like you have had a bang up celebration!

    XXXOOO Daisy, Bella& Roxy

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  2. Well, we are trying everything, even a little heavy on the vegemite, living dangerously, some witchetty grubs, and or them deserts, Whew, sure hope they let us back on the plane , we might be overweight. Dad want some Duke and redback beers please. Guys that was fun and we may have learned some new words.

    The FAT Mad Scots
    Pees; Dad says the sausage sizzle with the "dead horse' He has had a lot of

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  3. Happy Australia Day!!! I would try all the delicious foods except the grubs. I'd use the grub for fish bait so we could have a fish fry.

    Aroo to you,
    Sully

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  4. Oh yes, a food tour. I'll have everything. To wash it down, I'll have 28 of the 28s.

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  5. Happy Australia Day from Dip Elliot and Lynne x

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  6. I've had vegemite before! I describe it as very salty beef bouillon on toast! Aunt Denise and Uncle Bryan brought it to us on their visit one year. That was sure a fun visit! Happy Australia Day, Dougall and Floyd!

    Love ya lots♥
    Mitch and Molly

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  7. Happy Australia Day to you dudes. Enjoy your celebrations. Have a serene Sunday and let us all partake of some big easy today.
    Best wishes Molly

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  8. This is a FABULOUS Trip through your History and your KITCHENS and We are LOVING IT.

    HAPPY HAPPY AUSTRALIA DAY to ALL of you.
    WE had tried a nibble or two of EVERYTHINGY you have prepared fur us. It is a True TREAT. THANK YOU THANK YOU!!

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  9. Meat pies and Snags are the thing Mom misses the most. The meat here in the USA tastes different (took Mom years of trying to make good meat pies to figure out it wasn't the recipes but the meat) and the sausages they have here in the USA are nothing like a snag - they are full of weird spices and way too much pepper. Mom doesn't have any convicts in her past but she is the great great neice of Captain Cook

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  10. LOL.....Too funny. I am swiping your how to eat vegemite picture for a friend who's married to an Aussie.

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  11. Happy Australia Day!!!! Now Ma says anything tomato on sausage is just wrong...I however thinks it looks DELISH!!! I'll take 87 of them please!
    Ma really, really, really wants some of that Pavlova!! OMD, I thinks she's droolin'....
    Kisses,
    Ruby ♥

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  12. This was the BEST Vacation ever. I learned so much and had a grrrrrrrrrreat time.
    Thank you sooooooooooo much for letting me visit wiff you guys.
    Wags,
    Ranger

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  13. Wow, Miro was born on Australia Day and I didn't know until now! So tell us, which of you ate the grubs?

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  14. Happy Australia Day, Mates! Thanks for the pawty, everything was sooo tastey!

    Edgar and his mum

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  15. Oooooooo....those lamingtons sure look tasty! You know what my peep loves - the Violet Crumble. Every once and awhile she can find them. I want to try a grub - that's more my taste. I hope you had a tasty and fun Australia Day!
    oxox
    Daisy

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  16. OMD, where to begin!! Ok, firstly Happy (belated) Australia Day!!! Now onto the foodables - just LOVE the Vegemite picture, we had no idea Lamingtons were an Aussie thing (mom loves them), we've never said "no thanks" to a Pavlova *BOL*. What a pawsome and interesting post - we hope you all had a grrrreat day!
    Wally & Sammy
    PeeS: did you get our competition entry e-mail?

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  17. Happy Australia Day for yesterday guys! we all live in Djadjawurrung land and enjoyed our day in the park..we are so glad you are showing Ranger a good time down under...and Aussie or not...just can't do the Vegemite ;) have fun entertaining and enjoy your Monday Fozziemum and gang :)

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  18. Happy Australia day guys - a brilliant pawty!

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  19. Happy Australia Day, I'll pass on the bush tucker but the rest looks nommy xxoxxx

    Mollie and Alfie

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  20. How wonderful, Happy Australia Day! Enjoy, we'd stick to the candy grubs :-) (Or at least the non piggy of us will!)

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  21. Happy Australia Day!!! And farewell, Ranger! Til the next time, I guess.

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