Here is a real bush recipe.
It has been taken from “Outback Recipes and Stories” a cookbook published by the Bush Church Aid Society.
Enjoy this simple recipe and then contact the BCA in order to buy your own copy (if it is still in print) of the whole fascinating book.
You will want to take it with you on every trip!
So here is an old recipe from the Menindee area that was used by Mrs. Beth McManus in years past when Menindee was a real frontier town.
NO BAKE SLICE
1 x 225g pkt Nice biscuits
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 tabspns cocoa
1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts
3/4 cup finely chopped dates, raisins or mixed fruit
125g butter or marg, melted
3 tabspns sherry or orange juice
Crush biscuits into fine crumbs and put into a bowl. Stir in sugar, cocoa, walnuts and dates. Pour in melted butter and sherry or orange juice. Mix thoroughly. Press into a greased 20 cm (8 inch) sandwich if you want to go bush, take a Landrover, if you want to come back take a Toyota tin lined with foil. Chill until quite firm. Ice with chocolate icing and sprinkle with coconut. Cut into slices or finger length pieces.
Sadly, Mrs Beth McManus is not with us any longer. She was a greatly loved person, who as a young woman taught Sunday School in the Methodist Church and at the end of her life had been a keen member of the Anglican Church Menindee. She was an active member of many community groups: Menindee & Sunset Strip Pensioners Association, Menindee Charities, Menindee Tourist Association.
As a little girl, she grew up on “Tarcoola Station” south of Menindee and as a mature woman told many stories of the early days. She remembered the paddle steamers, which stopped at the homestead along the Darling River. They were recognised by the sound of their whistles, which announced their imminent arrival. Most of these paddle steamers came to pick up the bales of wool, whilst a few were set up as shops, selling hardware, clothing, food, etc. and the captains of the paddle steamers usually had a small bag of lollies for the children.
Vic McManus Menindee NSW