Essentials for Aussie Gourmet Sausage Sizzle - for backyard BBQ or cosy kitchen snack

As the weather turns cooler Down Under, a refreshing outdoor dining experience becomes a preferred option. Sausage sizzle is suitable for backyard barbie, pan-fried, or oven grilled in the kitchen. Serve as mains (double sized portion) or as a snack.

Essential ingredients

Hot :

Gourmet sausages - preferably beef with spices for more intense flavour.
Onions
Carrots (optional)

Cold :
Lettuce
Cucumber
Tomato
Sweet Gerkins

Seasoning and Sauces :
Tomato ketchup (naturally flavoured without additives preferable) Dijon mustard
BBQ sauce
Pepper

Avoid adding salt if possible because sausages are quite tasty as it is)

Hot dog bread (sesame seeds - optional) : slit the centre slightly just sufficient for inserting meat and vegetables but do not cut through.

Method

It is easy if you follow a few golden rules of the thumb :

- Sizzle sausages at medium heat to ensure it is thoroughly cooked. Then adjust the heat accordingly for golden or brown outer. Turn over and cook well especially for chicken and pork.

- Put in onions later or at the sides where the fire is lower because they tend to caramelise and burn easily.

- Assemble the hot dog sandwich, add vegetables and condiments, squeeze and spread sauces.

- Plate and it's ready to be served.

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Canadian Buckwheat Pancake

This is no ordinary pancake. It is more nutritious and tastier because of the addition of buckwheat flour. I learnt about the existence of many exotic dishes pancake from different ethnic and expatriate communities who attended the school. It can be adjusted to suit many breakfast, dessert and savoury recipes. Though this Canadian family has returned to to their homeland, the recipe remains in our hearts, always.

Gradually add to 1 litre of milk and 1 egg : 1/4 cups each of plain and self raising flour; baking powder, 1/4 cup buckwheat flour; a pinch of salt and sugar. Whisk and ensure that the ingredients are mixed well. Leave it to rest for at least 5 minutes. Meanwhile, heat up the frying pan. Can be prepared a few hours ahead, covered and left in the fridge.

Ladle mixture gently onto a heated frying pan. Cook till both sides are golden brown.

Tip : Adding a table spoon of buttermilk in the batter and a little oil on the frying pan will enhance the crispiness of the pancake if that's your preference.

Serve with whipped cream or butter or ice cream, maple syrup or agave nectar, strawberries, peach slices or blueberries.

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Banana bread - simple and delicious

Having tried and gone away disappointed with many recipes of banana bread from magazines and online cookbooks, I was surprised that a simple banana loaf recipe provided by the manufacturer of a loaf pan worked marvellously.

1/2 block butter

1 cup brown sugar

2 medium sized eggs, beaten

2 cups plain flour

1 tsp baking powder

1 cup mashed ripe bananas

2 TBS walnuts choppped.

Directions :
Preheat oven to 180 C.
Lightly grease loaf pan.
Combine butter & sugar until creamy.
Add mashed banana and eggs. Mix well.
Sift flour & baking soda into a bowl and combine with banana mixture.
Pour mixture into loaf pan. Top with chopped walnuts.
Bake in oven for 45 minutes or till skewer comes out clean.
Invert the loaf onto a wire rack and allow to cook before serving.

* Tip : from hindsight, I should have lowered the heat when it's almost done to reduce the tendency of split.




You may also like to try the Aussie country bread using beer as raising agent :
http://homecooksecrets.blogspot.com/2009/01/beer-damper-bread.html