Affordable Ideas for Australia Day

More than one million Australians are currently living abroad, and believe it or not, Shoestring has hundreds of ties to the land Down Under — including one resident Aussie on staff.

Australia Day, held annually on January 26th since 1788, is a day of national pride and "mateship," a chance for Australians living around the world to "come together to celebrate what's great about Australia and being Australian." We're psyched to share our favorite tips with you for having an authentic, affordable Australia Day staycation — much more than watching Crocodile Dundee while eating some "shrimp on the barbie." (First lesson: true Aussies call them "prawns.")

AUSTRALIA DAY ACTIVITIES

Since our winter is Australia's summer, Australia Day would generally be an outdoor event: a day at the beach or the pool; a barbecue with your "mates"; or a jaunt to the city center for local parades and fireworks. (Think Fourth of July, Australian-style.) But, since much of the US is typically covered in rain, snow, or a wintry mix in January, we suggest checking out Australia Day specials and happy hours, like the $3 burgers or steak sandwiches at The Sunburnt Cow in NYC or the Aussie food and drink specials and signature Aussie cocktails — all served by an Aussie bartender — at Room 11 in DC. Check your local food and nightlife blogs to find Australia Day specials near you, or check out our full Australia Day Menu below to make your own wallet-friendly Australia Day dinner at home.

For more family-friendly activity ideas, check out the Student Resources section on AustraliaDay.com.au to learn the full history of Australia Day, or have fun reviewing the names of Aussie animals and their habitats, like kangaroos and koalas and dingoes. (Kid trivia: The Wiggles are originally from Australia, too.)

AUSTRALIA DAY PLAYLIST

Sure, you might be able to sing along at the top of your lungs to Men at Work or Midnight Oil, but do you know which current music sensations secretly come from the "land down under"? Here's an Oz-friendly soundtrack you can play to impress your friends or blast at the gym, dreaming of the day you'll hike to Ayers Rock or surf Bondi Beach.

• "The Joker and The Thief," Wolfmother
• "Hearts on Fire," Cut Copy
• "According to You," Orianthi Panagaris
• "My Happiness," Powderfinger
• "Academia," Sia Furler
• "Dig, Lazarus, Dig!," Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds
• "Can't Get You Out Of My Head," Kylie Minogue

Plenty of MP3 download sites, including iTunes and Amazon, also offer a wide selection of indigenous and Aboriginal music, as well, if you want some cultural appreciation or to test your skills at spelling "didgeridoo."

AUSTRALIA DAY MENU

We learned firsthand at our Australia Day Observed dinner party last weekend, hosted by Sydney native and Shoestring stylist/editor Kara Butterfield, Australia Day is really all about food and getting together with friends. Generally eaten al fresco at a fireworks picnic or barbecue with your "mates," a great Australia Day meal has three simple tickets to success: savory pies (eaten with your hands); sweets; and lots of cold Aussie beer.

Check out our list of purveyors and recipes to create your own affordable, authentic Australia Day menu for family or friends here in the US, and watch our Australia Day Observed slideshow on Flickr for inspiration.

Savory Pies & Sausage Rolls
Sort of like a chicken pot pie you eat with your hands, Australian meat pies are surrounded in yummy, flaky pastry crust (less mess) and are also widely available in vegetarian options. In Oz, you'd likely find a traditional selection of minced meat (with or without cheese), curried chicken, curried vegetable, or chicken and vegetable savory pies. We found a great selection of Australian savory pie recipes on AllRecipes.com, or check out these three authentic Australian bakeries to place an order or find out more information: KO Catering & Pies in South Boston, MA; Australian Pie Company in Seattle, WA; and Down Under Bakery in Brooklyn, NY. Another favorite? Sausage rolls, which are a bit like pigs in a blanket but with savory sausage and a thicker blanket of pastry crust. The key is unfussy, egalitarian comfort food you can eat anywhere.

Lamb Chops with Mint
Americans love steak and potatoes, Aussies love lamb chops. It's that simple. Whether for dinner or a barbecue, a lamp chop with some sort of mint sauce or jelly would be found on any Aussie party menu. We love this mint-crusted lamb chop recipe, but if you're averse to eating lamb or find it too expensive, any sort of barbecued steak, chicken, or "prawns" on the "barbie" will do the trick to get that authentic Australia Day feel.

"Beetroot" & "Rocket" Salad
Roasted beets (aka "beetroot") and arugula (aka "rocket") are a classic Australian salad base. Our resident Aussie served a simple salad of arugula, roasted beets (canned will do!), goat cheese, shaved celery, and walnuts with a little balsamic vinaigrette as a starter.

Vegemite Sandwiches
Who could celebrate Australia without at least trying a little vegemite? Our Aussie expert suggests a classic combo of two pieces of soft, untoasted white bread (like Wonder Bread) each spread with a thin layer of butter and a layer of vegemite and then eaten as a sandwich. (Trust us, you'll be pleasantly surprised — it's actually quite good.)

DESSERTS

Tim Tam and Mint Slice
These classic Aussie cookies come in packets like Chips Ahoy! but are far, far superior. Tim Tams are chocolate-covered wafer biscuits with a vanilla/caramel chocolate creme in the center. Apparently, the trick is to bite off two opposite corners of the rectangular cookie and then use it as a straw over your coffee for an authentic treat. Mint Slice are very similar to Girl Scout cookies, like the flavor of a Thin Mint crossed with the texture of a Tagalong. Check the international foods aisle of your local grocery store or check out the biscuit section of the About Australia shop.

Pavlovas with Fresh Cream, Strawberries and Kiwi
Much like a meringue but softer, Pavlovas are a light and classic dessert in both Australia and New Zealand. The ingredients are simple (mostly egg whites and sugar) and when topped with fresh whipped cream, sliced strawberries and kiwis, they're absolutely decadent. We love this Best Ever Pavlova recipe — ready in just under an hour!

Lamingtons
Another favorite Aussie dessert, Lamingtons are little sponge cakes about the size of a homemade marshmallow that are covered in chocolate and shaved, unsweetened coconut. Nothing evokes a quick mental trip to the tropics like coconut, we say! Check out this Lamington recipe for cooking tips and ingredients.

Sticky Date Pudding
If you've spent time in the UK or have family of English descent, you've probably had sticky toffee pudding before. Well, in Australia, they call this sticky date pudding, but it's basically the same idea: dates pureed with cocoa and spices; cream; toffee or caramel sauce. We love this sticky date pudding recipe from British chef Jamie Oliver.

AUSTRALIAN BEER & WINE

Australian Beer
Fosters may be "Australian for beer" in the US, but you're more likely to see Aussie mates saddled up to the bar with one of these cold brews. Call your local liquor store or supermarket to find out which, if any, of these authentic Aussie ales they carry — and if all else fails, there's always Fosters.

Cascade
Crown Lager
Hahn Ice
Tooheys
James Boag
Coopers

Australian Wine
Savvy marketers have made household names of Little Penguin and Yellowtail, which are fine table wines, but for the same price, switch to one of these better value bottles of Australian wine and host a tasting. (Cheat sheet: if it's a sauvignon blanc and it's from Australia and it's under $15? Grab it, it's most likely going to be good.) Two Shoestring favorites are Jacob's Creek (all varietals) and Paringa sparkling shiraz.

AUSTRALIA DAY FARE SPECIALS

Rather profess your love for Australian culture in person by trekking to Sydney, Brisbane, or Melbourne? In celebration of Australia Day, Qantas just launched its annual, 4-week-long G'Day USA fare specials, and flights from the West Coast are as low as they've been since the early '80s — some under $800 round trip per person. Check out Australia-Week.com for more information.

Story Copyright 2010 Shoestring, LLC. Photo: iStock