Happy Australia Day with Macca's

Australia Day is nearing (Saturday, 26 Jan) and I am gearing up for a big picnic, as you do on this highest national day. Speaking of said day, last year I was working on a commercial for McDonald's and I think they really nailed it with this ad choc full of Australian-isms.
Australians are very nice people but sometimes hard to understand. I am not just talking about the Aussie twang. They just love to shorten everything as much as possible. Sometimes they even use completely different words no one else uses.
So, if you happen to be from somewhere else (like me) you might not understand a single word they saying in this ad. But don't despair, I have compiled a list of a few words and sayings that will prove to be helpful. I am sure there are heaps more and if you happen to be Australian, let me know what is missing.
And of course McDonald's has a nickname in Australia - locals like to call it Macca's.

Key Australian Slang – Make it short! 
The first thing you can do to get into the lingo is to abbreviate as many words as you possibly can. Here are some examples:
Arvo - Afternoon
Barbie - BBQ and not a Barbie Doll!
Bikkie - Biscuit
Brizzie - Brisbane
Breckie - Breakfast
Chrissie - Christmas
Cozzie - Swimming Costume
Exy - Expensive
Kindie - Kindergarten
Maccas - Macdonalds
Mozzie - Mosquito
Oldies - Parents
Pokies - Poker machines
Trackies - Tracksuit pants
Yewy - Do a U-turn
Reno - Renovation
Sunnies - Sun glasses
Rellies - Relatives
Ute - Utility van
Skandi - Skandinavian

Australian Sayings 
Chuck a sickie - To pretend to be ill so as not to go work (you'll get away with one or two a year)
Fair dinkum - That's absolutely correct
No worries - No problem, will do
G'day mate - Hello
Good on ya! - Good for you
She'll be right - Everything will be OK
Strewth! - Wow! Gosh!

Happy Australia Day

Today is Australia Day and usually we would be doing a picnic or BBQ or both. Unfortunately the weather has been rather wet and so we only had a small more improvised picnic (not very German I know :-). We went for a walk in the afternoon when the rain finally stopped and started with a late lunch at a Thai place on King St in Newtown. Then off to the park for a walk and munching on the  Lamingtons along the way.

Australia Day  is the official national anniversary celebrated annually on 26 January. The date commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet at Sydney Cove in 1788 and the proclamation at that time of British sovereignty over the Eastern seaboard of New Holland.
There are a lot of activities around the city but I think most families prefer to gather in parks and on the beach for a barbie or picnic with friends.


I found a very funny drawing for colouring in about what people do on Australia Day.

Okay, I admit it, we didn't do any of those activities above but instead I made the traditional and
very Australian Lamingtons to show my patriotism for Australia as a good baking immigrant.

Lamingtons for the Australia Day picnic.

So Australian!

Recipe for Lamingtons:

6 free-range eggs
150 g caster sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
150 g plain flour, sifted
1 teaspoon baking powder
70 g cornflour
2 tablespoons boiling water

Icing:
250 g desiccated coconut
500 g icing sugar mixture
50 g Dutch cocoa powder, sifted
250 ml boiling water
20 g butter

1. Preheat oven to 180degrees Celsius. Grease a 3cm deep, 20 x 30 cm (base) lamington pan.
Line with baking paper.
2. Using an electric mixer, beat eggs, sugar and vanilla extract in a bowl on high speed for 8-10 min or until thick and pale and sugar has dissolved.
3. Using a large spoon, fold in sifted flours. Fold in boiling water. Pour mixture into prepared pan.
Bake for 20-25 min or until centre springs back when lightly touched.
4. Line a baking rack with baking paper. Cool sponge in pan for 5 min then tip over onto prepared rack. Cover with a clean tea towel and set aside overnight.
5. For the icing, combine icing sugar mixture, cocoa powder, boiling water and butter in a small saucepan over medium heat and, stirring, bring to the boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 2 min or until sauce thickens slightly. Set aside to cool for 2 min.
6. Meanwhile cut cake into 12 pieces and put coconut a bowl or shallow dish.
7. Using two forks, dip 1 piece of cake in icing, let excess drip off, then toss in coconut. Place on a wire rack to dry. Repeat with remaining cake, icing and coconut.