Holiday menu sorted: a festive feast from our collections
By Annabelle Tonkin | 21 December 2023
For many, the holiday season revolves around meals shared between friends and family, making the most of seasonal produce, generous menus and often recipes handed down between generations.
Feeling inspired by the culinary adventures in Cake the podcast, we took a tasty trip through our collection to find recipes fit to complete your festive feast!
Diving in - holiday entrées from the sea
Amidst our hot and humid climate, and with a fair portion of our population living near a coast, seafood dishes have long been staples of Australian holiday menus. Start your festive feast with these seafood-based entrées to complement the summer holiday season.
Cold Cucumber and Prawn Soup, page 7 in A generous helping : treasured recipes from the people of Queensland (available to purchase here)
Oyster Cocktails, page 181 in The Q.C.W.A. Lady Lavarack cookery book
Delicious Toasted Rolls, page 44 in The Schauer Australian cookery book
Prawns in Surprise, page 110 in The Schauer Australian cookery book
Detail of Oyster Cocktail recipe, on page 181 in The Q.C.W.A. Lady Lavarack cookery book, 1965,
Queensland Country Women’s Association, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland.
Detail of Delicious Toasted Rolls recipe, on page 44 in The Schauer Australian cookery book, 1946,
Amy Schauer (1871-1956), John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland.
Detail of prawn recipes, including Prawns in Surprise, on page 110, in The Schauer Australian cookery book,
1946, Amy Schauer (1871-1956), John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland.
Season’s eatings – the stars of your festive table
Put a Queensland spin on traditional holiday fare by including seasonal sides alongside your main course of choice: you can't go wrong with Sunshine State favourites such as mangoes, cherries, pineapple, plums, green beans, zucchini, ginger, asparagus and avocados!
Sweet Mango Chutney, page 45 in Queensland fruit and how to use it
A Plain Banana Salad, page 78 in Queensland fruit and how to use it
Avacado Salad, page 149 in The Red Cross recipe book / compiled by the Longreach Branch
Pasta Salad of Red Ginger and Crab, from the Glenn R. Cooke Sounvenir Textiles Collection
Special Christmas Salad, page 624 in The Schauer Australian cookery book
Detail of Sweet Mango Chutney recipe, on page 45, in Queensland fruit and how to use it, 1926,
New Settlers League of Australia Queensland Division in conjunction with the
Committee of Direction of Fruit Marketing, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland.
Detail of A Plain Banana Salad Recipe, on page 78, in Queensland fruit and how to use it, 1926,
New Settlers League of Australia Queensland Division in conjunction with the
Committee of Direction of Fruit Marketing, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland.
Detail of Avacado Salad recipe, on page 149, in The Red Cross recipe book / compiled by the Longreach Branch,
1993, The Australian Red Cross Society, Longreach Branch, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland.
Detail of Tea towel: The Ginger Factory: Glenn R. Cooke Souvenir Textiles Collection : item no. 34, 2019,
Souvenirs Australia, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Image number: 28634340-0034
Detail of Special Christmas Salad recipe, on page 624, in The Schauer Australian cookery book,
1946, Amy Schauer (1871-1956), John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland.
Good things come to those who bake – festive desserts
For many of us, desserts are the highlight of an entire festive menu.
Although it proved challenging to cut our favourites down a sweet shortlist, a non-negotiable inclusion was Uncle Gary's Version of Grandma Dean’s Pineapple Pie, featured in Cake the podcast.
We’re sure that even at their most full and sated, your guests will find room for the following holiday desserts.
Pavlova, page 84 in Patricia Shannon recipe books ca. 1880 - ca. 1910 (Recipe book 2)
Christmas Fruit Cake, page 103, The Red Cross recipe book / compiled by the Longreach Branch
Cold Australian Christmas Pudding, page 392 in The Schauer Australian cookery book
Uncle Gary's Version of Grandma Dean’s Pineapple Pie – full recipe listed under (and best made while listening to) ‘Episode 2 - As Queensland as Pineapple Pie’ .
Detail of Pavlova Recipe on page 84 of Recipe book 2, from Patricia Shannon recipe books
ca. 1880 - ca. 1910, Patricia Shannon, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland.
Detail of Christmas Fruit Cake recipe on page 103, in The Red Cross recipe book /
compiled by the Longreach Branch, 1993, The Australian Red Cross Society, Longreach Branch,
John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland.
Detail of Cold Australian Christmas Pudding recipe, on page 392, in The Schauer Australian cookery book,
1946, Amy Schauer (1871-1956), John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland.
Still hungry? Notable mentions go to...
Gingerbread, page 54 in Patricia Shannon recipe books ca. 1880 - ca. 1910 (Recipe book 2)
Egg Nog Pie, page 191 in The Q.C.W.A. Lady Lavarack cookery book
Mango Fruit Cake, page 168 in A generous helping : treasured recipes from the people of Queensland
Pineapple Jelly, page 35 in Queensland fruit and how to use it
Detail of Egg Nog Pie recipe on page 191, in The Q.C.W.A. Lady Lavarack cookery book, 1965,
Queensland Country Women’s Association, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland.
Record number 997089514702061.
Detail of Gingerbread recipes on page 54, in Recipe book 2 from Patricia Shannon recipe books
ca. 1880 - ca. 1910, Patricia Shannon, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland.
Detail of Pineapple Jelly recipe, on page 35, in Queensland fruit and how to use it, 1926,
New Settlers League of Australia Queensland Division in conjunction with the
Committee of Direction of Fruit Marketing, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland.
By sharing one (or all) of these recipes at your table this holiday season, you’re bringing a piece of Queensland history to life – talk about a conversation starter! And if you’re still hungry, take yourself on a delicious journey through our collections to find something to hit the spot.
Delve into our culinary collections
Some of our favourite recipes & cookbooks
- The Q.C.W.A. Lady Lavarack cookery book,1965
- The Red Cross recipe book / compiled by the Longreach Branch, 1993
- Patricia Shannon recipe books ca. 1880 - ca. 1910. Recipe book 1 | Recipe book 2
- A generous helping : treasured recipes from the people of Queensland, 2011
- The Schauer Australian cookery book, 1946
- Phillis Sarah Clark Recipe Book, ca. 1866-74
- Ruby Borrowdale papers, 1925-1987
- Australian enquiry book of household and general information,1894
- Golden Circle tropical recipe book, 1970
- Golden Circle Tropical Recipe Book: Every-day meals with a tropic holiday flavour
- Simpson’s monthly recipe bulletin
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