Eat your way to the Olympics

Get into the spirit of the Olympics Games and show your support by tucking into some of these fantastic themed dishes. Invite your mates around and host a celebration party this weekend!

As the excitement builds and the Olympic torch makes its way around the UK, it’s time to start planning your Olympic Games 2012 celebrations. Kicking off on July 27 and running until August 12, the 2012 London games are set to be spectacular. Get into the spirit of things in the kitchen and whip up this three-course Olympic Games themed meal for your family and friends. Enjoy an Aussie supporter entrée of green-and-gold dips, a traditional English favourite of shepherd’s pie and an Olympic rings-inspired dessert of marbled meringues. Now wave those flags!

Green-and-gold Aussie supporter entrée: Guacamole dip and bread

Ingredients: 

• 2 avocadoes, peeled and pitted
• 2 tomatoes, finely chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, crushed
• Juice of 1/2 lemon
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Directions:

1. Mash the avocadoes in a bowl.
2. Add the tomatoes, garlic, lemon juice and cumin.
3. Season with salt and pepper, and mix well.
4. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and chill in the fridge.
5. Line a serving platter with green and gold serviettes, pour the guacamole in a bowl and serve with toasted Turkish bread.

Traditional English dinner: Shepherd’s pie

Serves 4 

Ingredients:

• Olive oil
• 500 grams beef mince
• 1 large onion, chopped finely
• 2 medium carrots, chopped finely
• 1 cup frozen peas
• Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 2 bay leaves
• 3 sprigs of fresh thyme
• 1 tin of chopped tomatoes
• 250-300 millilitres beef stock
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 kilogram potatoes, peeled and chopped
• 1-2 tablespoons butter
• 100-120 millilitres milk
• Grated cheese

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 190 degrees C.
2. Heat the oil in a large frying pan over medium-low heat, then add the onion and stir.
3. Add the mince, carrot and peas, and cook until the mince is browned, stirring often.
4. Add the Worcestershire sauce, tomato paste, bay leaves and thyme leaves, and stir.
5. Add the tinned tomatoes and beef stock. Cover and let simmer for 30 minutes or so. Add salt and pepper.
6. To make the mashed potato topping, boil the potatoes and mash them with the butter and milk. Add salt and pepper to taste.
7. Grab a large oven-proof casserole dish and fill with the mince mixture, then top with the mashed potato. Sprinkle with grated cheese, more seasoning if required, and bake in the pre-heated oven for 30 minutes or until cooked.

Olympic rings dessert: Five-colour marbled meringues

Makes 12

Ingredients:

• 4 egg whites
• 1 cup caster sugar
• 2 teaspoons cornflour
• 1 teaspoon white vinegar
• Food colouring in the five colours of the Olympic rings (blue, yellow, green, black and red)

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 100 degrees C.
2. Beat the egg whites in a small glass bowl until soft peaks form.
3. Gradually add the sugar a little at a time, beating well between each new addition.
4. Sift the cornflour over the mixture and fold through with the vinegar.
5. Divide the mixture into five small bowls. Assign each bowl to a different Olympic ring colour and pour a few drops of food colouring over the mixture, then fold through lightly to achieve a marbled effect.
6. Line a tray with non-stick baking paper and dollop a few large spoonfuls of the mixture, forming a round, smooth shape.
7. Place the tray in the pre-heated oven and bake for approximately one hour, or until most of the base of the meringues is cooked. Turn the oven off and open the door, allowing the meringues to cool inside the oven.

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