The capital of Australia is Canberra.Australia is the sixth largest country.Australia is known as the smallest continent in the world.Australia is three times larger than the largest island (Greenland) in the world.The Prime Minister of Australia is now Julia Gillard. The Great Barrier Reef is the longest reef in the world at over 2010 kilometres. Australia is the only country that is a continent.Sydney is the largest city with over 4 million people, while the capital Canberra has around 300,000.Australia has no official language but most of the people speak English. The average Australian will consume 165,000 eggs in his or her lifetime. The population of sheep in Australia is more than the human population.The Great Barrier Reef has a mailbox.

Australia is a continent between the Indian Ocean and the South Pacific Ocean. Australia is the 6th largest country in the world. It’s an island surrounded by water, and it’s located on the smallest content in the world. The population is 17.5 million people and it is 7.7 million square miles. The capital of Australia is Canberra and not Sydney like most people think. 40% of Australia’s landmass is covered by sand dunes. This makes a large part of Australia is a dessert. Australia has a congenital climate so this means that it is usually very hot during the day with very little rain and it gets cold at night. There are rainforests and vast plains in the north, snowfields in the south east, desert in the centre and fertile croplands in the east, south and south west. This makes Australia very complex with its climate and it is not always hot and dry during the days. Australia is the lowest, flattest and, apart from Antarctica, the driest of the all of the continents.

Australia has a very complex and interesting history. The first people to arrive in Australia were the aborigines. They came from Southeast Asia 40,000 years ago. Only about 350,000 aborigines still live in Australia today. After the aborigines arrived it was the British turn next. They arrived in 1688 but it wasn’t until 1770 that Great Britain decided that they would claim possession of the island. Once they had claimed possession of the island they changed its name and called it New South Wales.

  The English used New South Wales as it use to be called to transport convicts to Port Jackson which is now

Sydney where they settled. The convicts were transported here and realised so that they could settle. This system was however suspended in 1839 because it was unethical.

  It was in 1901 when Australia became known as the commonwealth of Australia and it still is today.

Australia also became known for its liberal legislation. The creation of the Commonwealth of Australia was a federation of the States of New South Wales, Victoria Tasmania Queensland Western Australia and South Australia.

 

Religion in Australia remains dominated by Christianity 64 % of people in Australia are Christain.18.7% of Australians have no-religion.the remaining number of the population is a diverse group that includes fast-growing Islamic and Buddhist communities.

One of the most popular religions in Australia is Christianity. It has been said that Christianity had been a positive influence on Australia. It was the church that began first schools for the poor, it was the church that began first hospitals for the poor, it was the church that began first refuges for the poor and these great traditions continue for the future. Christian charitable organizations, hospitals and schools have played a prominent role in welfare and education in Australia.

Other common religion that are in Australia are Hinduism Judaism and Buddhism.

 

Australia has a lot of different types of animals. Here are a few of them.

The platypus They are a mammal from eastern Australia. It is about 61cm long and weight about

1.5kg. It has dark brown or yellow fur and they also have webbed feet and a tail to help them swim. Males have poison spurs on their hind feet that kill small animals and wound larger ones.

 Tasmanian Devils They are found in Tasmania off the southeast coast of australia. they are 3 to 4

feet long and have almost all black fur with a little bit of white on their chests. They look almost like small bears and they are very strong for their size and they have big teeth.

 Kangroos They are the larges marsupials that live in australia. They have large hind legs a

stong tail small forelegs and long ears.they usuall get arond by hopping along. Femlaes have pouches to carry thier young. The largest of all kangroos is the grey kangroo.

Koalas They are know as the australian bear and they are found in the wild woods of

australia. They are about 2 and a half feet long. They have no tails and have thick soft grayish fur. They have large furry ears a curved black nose and little eyes.

A platupus.

Tasmanian Devils.

Kangroo.

Koala.

Sydney

Sydney is Australia’s number one travel destination. The Sydney Opera House was completed in the 1960's. The unique design for the facility, coupled with the excellent acoustics, make this cultural icon a must see stop that even persons who are not interested in opera will enjoy.In Sydney there is both culture and lots of fun activities as well. The beaches provide some of the most beautiful ocean side playgrounds. Visitors can spend endless hours enjoying the sun and golden sands, then enjoy tours into some of the surrounding bush areas. Later, a night out on the town is easy to manage, with many night spots that will accommodate just about every interest.

 Cairns & the Great Barrier Reef

Far North Queensland is a wonderful tropical paradise. Cairns is the main entry point and from there you can travel north or south and out to beautiful island resorts. Luxury holiday homes are a great accommodation option in this part of Australia.The Great Barrier Reef is known as the world's largest coral reef, the Great Barrier Reef stretches along the Queensland coast for a distance of approximately 35 million hectares. Many varieties of fish and other forms of sea life make the Reef home, and there are plenty of opportunities to learn about and observe. As a family opportunity, the Great Barrier Reef is an activity that will fascinate even the most jaded of travelers.

Brisbane

While visiting along the Great Barrier Reef, Brisbane is the place to go when you need a taste of the big city. Located in Queensland, the city is known for spectacular night spots that Found in the Northern Territory, the Red Centre is considered to be the physical center spot of Australia. Tourists will enjoy viewing the Ayers Rock, which is also known as Uluru. Viewing Uluru is considered to be an ideal activity at sunrise and sunset, when the range of colors across the red rock seem to waver and change in fascinating patterns. Uluru-Tjuta National Park is an area that functions as both a wildlife preserve and a national park. Along with the Ayers Rock, the part also encompasses such sites as Alice Springs and the Olgas.

The Great Ocean Road

Running for over two hundred miles along the coastline in the area of Victoria, the view is breathtaking any time of the year. There are plenty of interesting local restaurants to try along the way, as well as several great places to stop and enjoy a beer. The Great Ocean Road is a wonderful drive over a weekend or stay a little longer at a holiday rental property.

  Australia  has more than 120 national sporting organisations and thousands of State, regional and club bodies. It is estimated that about one third of the population are registered sports participants.

Many more are involved in activities such as fishing, bushwalking, recreational boating, horse riding and fitness programs. Water sports have a huge following and the high interest in sailing is reflected in Australia's entry in every America's Cup challenge since 1967.

 Canoeing and Kayaking A great sport and recreational pastime - It's diverse, challenging, relaxing, rewarding and enjoyable. It's a way to exercise and become

physically fit. Through canoeing, a new world opens up and once on the water the stresses of every day life fades away. Rugby Union This game has a huge following within Australia, with many boys playing it from a young age. The national team, The Wallabies, are among Australia's most successful and celebrated sportsmen.Closely related to Rugby Union the rugby

league, although more rough and tumble. There are fewer players on the field in a league match with thirteen men making the same fearless dash to the scoring line.

 Australian Rules I i nvented in 1859 to keep cricketers at the peak of their physical powers during the winter months, it is the oldest code of the football world

and in Australia is under the auspices of the AFL (theAustralian Football League).Victorians are absolutely mad for it and the climax of the Aussie Rules calendar, the Grand Final in September, sees 100,000 people pour into the Melbourne Cricket Ground

 Soccer About the sixth most popular sport in the country, Australian soccer suffered in the early days because of the physical distance between it

and the rest of the soccer-playing world. International matches were a logistical nightmare and the big guns of Europe, with their full-time Australian based scouts, picked up talent and whisked them off to the other side of the world.However, this changed dramatically under the tutelage of internationally renowned Dutch coach Gus Hiddink, who took Australia to the World Cup finals in Germany in 2006. This was only the second time that Australia had made the finals (the other, also in Germany, was in 1974). With this boost to the country's soccer profile, combined with the re-organisation of the national soccer league, it brought the game into a new era. Today, the large number of international Australian players such as Harry Kewell and Mark Viduka demonstrate thegreat talent of the Aussies.

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Here is some useful words and phrases you might use in Australia: Aussie-australia.Arvo-afternoon.Barbie-barbecue grill.Billabong-pond.Billy tea-tea made over a camp fire in a tin can.Brekkie-breakfast.Chewie-chewing gum.Clobber-clothes.Fairy floss-cotton.Give it a burl-try it.Lollies-candy.Lolly water-sodaSunnies-sunglasses.See you in soup-see you around.           

Australian culture, like the America culture is of many different traditions brought along by the early settlers and that of the indigenous AboriginesNative Australians and the settlers readily accepted the best of Irish, English, Asian, Italian and Greek culture to ripen in a belief system that is not only intriguing, but also fascinating.

  Language:

Australia is monolingual. The English language is most widely spoken and the accent of the people has added a distinctive flavor and vocabulary to the original language. The other languages that co-exist in Australia are Greek, Italian and the Chinese language The Australian Aboriginal languages have survived, but in time they have also joined the 'melting pot of differences' and the outcome is one single indigenous language, with unique dialects and accents. 

Art: 

Australia flaunts universal recognition in film making, music, painting and theater. The traditional culture has been readily and successfully replaced by popular art culture from around the world. There are a number of art galleries, ballet theaters and symphony orchestras and operas in the capital cities. The ancient culture of the natives continues to thrive and co-exist in regional towns. Australia has a history in film production. It is home to the world's first feature film - The Story of the Kelly Gang and continues to attract film makers from across the globe even today. The beautiful locales and warm people are incentives enough for production houses from around the world to invest in Australia.

Architecture: 

Australian architecture is best flaunted in the iconic Sydney Opera House and the Parliament House in Canberra. Most of the architecture highlights the European style buildings. The traditional wattle and daub huts are still seen in certain areas. There are also a number of tributes to Georgian style and Victorian architecture. 

Music: 

Aboriginal culture has spotlighted the didgeridoo. This wooden instrument makes a very distinct droning sound. Aboriginal and non-aboriginal performers are now adopting popular Western musical forms like Yothu Yindi and Archie Roach. The earliest musical influences were brought inland by the free settlers and deported or exiled convicts and sailors. Australian classical music has been influenced by south-east Asian music and musical instruments and American and European music. 

  

Australian cuisine has the most diverse range and quality than many others in the world. It took Australia some time to develop foods such as meat pies, Vegemite sandwiches, and sausage rolls. Australia is well known for its fresh ingredients such as seafood, local fruits, beef and lamb, as well as its world class cheeses. Like in Italy and France, Australia can be divided into regions that are known for particular produce.

With such fabulous weather most meals are eaten outside and thanks to the varied landscapes, you will find everything from mangoes, avocados and macadamia nuts grown in the tropical heat of the north to Asian herbs, mussels, tuna and Chardonnay grapes flourishing in the cooler climes of the south.

Australian food is an interesting mix of different cultures with influences from Japanese, Thai, Greek, Lebanese, Vietnamese, Chinese and French cuisine. Today, Australian food is a smorgas board of Asian-fusion, Nouveau and bush tucker. The cities are packed with restaurants serving cuisine from every corner of the world, and modern Australian food is served to a high standard. On the menu you can find everything from enormous steaks - the Australians are one of the world’s largest meat producers - to hot chilli mud crab, kangaroo, crocodile sausage and a massive variety of seafood.

Here is a typica breakfast and dinner in Austraila.

Breakfastbreakfast commonly consists of breakfast cereal, toast, fruit. Beverages taken at breakfast include tea, coffee, flavoured milk, or juice.A popular breakfast food in Australia is Vegemite a spread that is simlar to Marmite.

 Dinner

Common choices would be roast meat and vegetables, pasta, pizza, casseroles, barbecued meat, vegetables, salad, soup and stir-fries.A standard cafe or restaurant in Australia not adhering to any particular ethnic cuisine might offer sandwiches and focaccias, a range of pasta, risotto, salad or curry dishes, steak, chicken or other meat-based dishes, cakes or other desserts, and juices, red and white wine, soft drink, beer, and coffee.

Iconic Australian foodOther unique or iconic national foods include Macadamia nuts; Violet Crumble, a honeycomb chocolate bar; Cherry Ripe; Jaffas,chocolate with an orange-flavoured confectionery shell; the Chiko Roll, a deep-fried savoury roll similar to a spring roll; and the Dim sim, a Chinese-inspired dumpling. Other popular Australian foods include Tim Tams, a chocolate biscuit; Musk sticks; Fairy bread; Lamingtons; the Boston bun the Vanilla slice; and the commercial breakfast cereal Weet-Bix.

  

Bill Granger is a self-taught cook, restaurateur and food writer, based in his native Australia, but also working internationally. Granger wrote Bill's Sydney Food which included information about the food in his restaurants. That book was followed by Bill's Food, Bill's Open Kitchen and Simply Bill (2005) and Bill Granger Every Day.

 Stephanie Alexander

is an Australian cook, restaurateur and food writer. After studying to become a librarian and traveling the world at the age of 21, Alexander's first restaurant, Jamaican House, opened in 1964. In 1976, Alexander's next venture was Stephanie's Restaurant located in the Melbourne suburb of Fitzroy. In 2001 Stephanie piloted the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program at Collingwood College in Melbourne. The Program grew out of Stephanie's passion for the need for children to learn about food early in life through example and positive experiences and the effect of those lessons on their food choices through life.

The first thing that we cooked was our dessert. For this we made a simple but tasty dessert. We made lamagtion squares. They are a simple sponge cake that is cut into squares and then covered in chocolate icing.

Here is the recipie for the sponge cake:

Ingredients.

3 eggs1/2 cup castor sugar3/4 cup self-raising flour1/4 cup cornflour15g (1/2oz) butter3 tablespoons hot water

Method. Beat eggs until thick and creamy. Gradually add sugar. Continue beating until sugar completely dissolved.

Fold in sifted SR flour and cornflour, then combined water and butter.Pour mixture into prepared lamington tins 18cm x 28cm (7in x 11in).Bake in moderate oven approximately 30 mins.

Ingredients. 3 cups desiccated coconut

500g (1lb) icing sugar1/3 cup cocoa(extra cocoa can be added, according to taste)15g (1/2oz) butter1/2 cup milk

 Method.

Sift icing sugar and cocoa into heatproof bowl.Stir in butter and milk.Stir over a pan of hot water until icing is smooth and glossy.

Trim brown top and sides from cake.Cut into 16 even pieces.Holding each piece on a fork, dip each cake into icing.Hold over bowl a few minutes to drain off excess chocolate.Toss in coconut or sprinkle to coat.Place on oven tray to set.

 

For our second cooking classe we made Chicken and vegetable pie. Here is the recepie:

Ingredients:

350 grams of skinless, boneless chicken thighs1 leek, sliced3 cloves of garlic, crushed1 medium carrot, diced1 medium potato, diced1 cup of fresh or frozen corn kernals1/2 cups of milk2 tsp of freshly chopped parsley1 Tbsp of cornstarch dissolved in 1/2 cup of cold water1 tsp of sea salt1-2 sheets of pie pastry, cut into rounds slightly bigger than ramekins/baking dish1 1/2 Tbsp of olive oil4 medium ramekins

Preparation:Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces. Set aside.Pre-heat the oven to 350F.Heat the oil in a heavy saucepan over a medium heat. Fry the leeks for 1 minute. Add the garlic and fry for 30 seconds.Add the chicken and fry for 2 minutes. Add the carrot, potatoes and corn and stir-fry for about 2 minutes.Add the salt and milk. Stir well. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 8 minutes.Now add the dissolved cornstarch and stir well. Continue to simmer for another 5 minutes while the liquid thickens. Taste and add more salt if necessary.Spoon the mixture into small ramekins or a baking dish. Let them sit for about 5 minutes to cool slightly.Place the pastry rounds over the ramekins and press the dough down the sides. Brush the tops with a little milk and then place in the oven. Bake for 20 minutes or until tops are golden.Serve with tomato sauce on the side.

     

For our final cooking class we decided that we would make sausgae rolls and potatoe wedges. Here is the

recepie for the sausage rolls:Ingredients:

500g sausage meat.1 .1/2 tbsp parsley.1 tbsp salt.½ tbsp black pepper.1 tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce. 1 egg (beaten) .3 sheets puff pastry .Milk for glazing .

Method:Preheat oven to 200C and lightly grease a baking or biscuit tray.

  Mix mince, parsley, salt and pepper in a bowl. Add lightly beaten egg and Worcestershire sauce and mix in well.

  Cut each pastry sheet into three equal-sized pieces. Make a roll of the mince lengthways on each piece. Brush the edges of the pastry on each side of the mince strip with milk. Roll each strip firmly then brush the top with milk. Trim the edges if required, then cut each long roll into small or average sized sausage rolls- whichever you wish.  Place on a greased oven tray. Bake for 30 minutes or until golden brown.

Ingredients:6 potatoes1 tablespoon oil25 g dry breadcrumbs (1/4 cup)2 teaspoons chives chopped1 teaspoon celery salt1/4 teaspoon garlic powder1/2 teaspoon rosemary, chopped

Method:Preheat oven to 200 degrees Celsius or 400 degrees Fahrenheit.Cut the potatoes into 8 wedges each.Toss wedges in the oil.Combine the breadcrumbs, chives, celery salt, garlic powder, and rosemary in a bowl.Add the wedges and coat well.Place on a greased baking tray.Bake for 40 minutes or until crisp and golden.

http://australianfood.about.com/od/meats/r/PotPie.htm

http://australianfood.about.com/od/bakingdesserts/r/Lamingtons_lamington.htm

http://allrecipes.com.au/recipe/8285/sausage-rolls.aspx