HostelsCentral.com HostelsCentral.com No booking fee

online booking for hostels and budget hotels

Fun Stuff

 

Appetisers: Minted Raita

Minted Raita Can be served with Lebanese bread for an appertiser or an accompaniment with a main meal. Ingredients:- 1 lebanese cucumber (or close to) - 1/2 cup greek style natural yogurt - 2 tabs chopped fresh mint - Pinch of saltInstructions:- Cut cucumber in quarters lengthways. Remove and disard seeds, finely chop cucumber. - Place cucumber in a bowl and sprinkle salt over the top, leave ...

read more »

Dessert: A Kiwi Treat - Afghans

AfghansMy all time Kiwi childhood favourite - and it's great to eat the mixture raw, but make sure you have rolled out the balls and they're in the oven before you are tempted to eat the whole mixture! - 7oz butter - 3oz sugar - 2 c flour - 1 c wheatbix - 2 tbsp cocoaCream the butter & sugar. add (sifted) 2 cups flour, 2 teaspoons baking powder, 2 tablespoons cocoa and 1 cup cornflakes OR 1 ...

read more »

Dessert: Chocolate Brazilian Balls

BRIGADEIROIngredients: - 1 can condensed milk - 1 tablespoon butter - 3 tablespoons cocoa powder Instructions: Mix the condensed milk, butter and cocoa in a pan. Cook in medium heat, mixing vigorously, until the mixture thickens. Let the mixture cool and form small balls (grease your hands with butter in order to form the balls). Roll the balls on granulated chocolate. Easy Chocolatey fun!

read more »

Dessert: Dynamite Dan's Traditional Aussie Christmas fruitcake

Dynamite Dan's Traditional Aussie Christmas fruitcakeIngredients:- 1 gallon whiskey - 1 cup water - 1 cup sugar - 4 large eggs - 2 cup dried fruit - 1 teaspoon baking soda - 1 teaspoon salt - 1 cup brown sugar - lemon juice - nutsInstructions:- Sample the whiskey to check for quality. Take a large bowl. Check the whiskey again to be sure that it is of the highest quality. Pour 1 level ...

read more »

Dessert or Breakfast: Blueberry Pancakes

Blueberry PancakesA sure way to win any stranger over in a hostel!Ingredients:- 125g plain flour - 1/4 teas salt - 2 eggs - 2 tabs oil - 150ml milk - 6 tabs water - Tub of blueberriesInstructions:- Sift flour and salt into a bowl - Make a well in the centre and slowly add eggs, oil and milk - Beat the mixture until smooth and stir in water - Cover and chill for 1/2 hour - Heat a ...

read more »

Dessert: The Kiwi & Australian Pavalova

PavlovaOrigins of the Pavlova. Australia or New Zealand? Whether it is Australian or New Zealand made, the Pavlova is a sweet and sickly delight to devour once and awhile! - 4 egg whites - 1 tspn vanilla essence (5 ml) - 2 tspns vinegar - 1 cup sugarInstructions- Preheat oven to 150 oC (300 oF) - Grease oven tray - Beat the egg whites until very stiff - Fold in vinegar and vanilla - ...

read more »

Drink: Black Russian cocktail

The cocktail known as Black Russian is both strong and very smooth. Its coffee flavour make it the ideal post-dinner drink, even if fans will be able to drink it at any time of day. It's a sweet cocktail, even if the fact that the main ingredient is vodka means that it tastes very different from 100% sugar syrup. So it's not a "ladies' drink", or better, it's ideal for ladies who can drink "guys" ...

read more »

Drink: Car Bomb

Car BombIn the States, this drink is often called an "Irish Car Bomb." I realize how terrible, highly derogatory, and politically incorrect the name is, so I removed the national association from the title. But if you walk in to any Irish Bar in the states (actually almost any bar) they will serve you this tasty beverage. Ingredients: - 1/2 - 1 pint Guiness Beer - 1/2 oz Irish Cream - 1/2 ...

read more »

Drink: Flaming Dr. Pepper

Flaming Dr. PepperTastes just like Dr. Pepper, with no caffine, more calories, and a hell of alot more of a kick.Ingredients: - 1 pint Beer - 1 oz Amaretto - 1 dash of grain alcohol (ex. Bacardi 151 Proof Rum) Instructions: - Fill a pint glass of beer. - Fill shot glass with amaretto. - Top with the grain alcohol and flame. - Prepare to chug. - Drop the shot glass in the beer ...

read more »

Drink: Lani's Xmas

Being left with random alcoholic ingredients and forced to be inventive is a typical situation during the silly season. Here is how to make a fantastic southern hemisphere summer xmas drink with the simplest things. Bubbly, Sweet and Fun...not to mention nice and alcoholic! - 1 oz peach schnapps- 1 oz vodka- fill with champagneEnjoy!

read more »

Drink: Mint Julep

Mint JulepThe Mint Julep is a yummy drink that takes you back to the Old South. Sipping on this sweet substitute for iced tea while languishing in the humid air of summer will make you understand why these were created for the leisure class in places like Savannah, Fredricksburg, and Charlotte. The Mint Julep is made for you to slow down, sip, and enjoy life as it creeps past ...

read more »

Drink: Mulled Cider

Mulled Cider(*the kind your get at apple orchards, not the beer like substance you get at a pub*) Hmmm... a special Autumn treat. Ingredients: - 1/2 gallon of Apple Cider (see note under title) - 1/4 cup brown sugar - 3 Cinnamon Sticks - 1/2 Teaspoon of Whole Cloves - 1/4 cup Maple Syrup - Optional: Spiced RumInstructions: Combine all ingredients. Simmer and serve hot.

read more »

Drink: Plastered Possum

A nice Australian cocktail that promises to make the consumer, not only drunk, but cute and furry with a great big bum, when drunk in copious quantities! -1 part Midori-1 part Cointreau-1 part Galliano-4 parts pineapple juice-1 part cream (shake)

read more »

Drinking game: Goon of Fortune

What you need:-Several bladders of Goon (cheap, bad cask wine, usually fruity and acidic. Don't pay more than $9.99 Aussie dollars for 4 litres) -A hills-hoist (rotating adjustable clothes line) -Friends that are willing to get very drunk.Instructions:-Peg a Goon bladder to each corner of the clothes line. -Stand everyone in a circle around the clothes line. -Spin the line. Wherever the ...

read more »

Drinking Game: "I've Never"

"I've Never"It's my favourite, 'I don't know you, but lets play this' type of drinking game. I am sure I played this game with Annie and some Irish folk in Bled, Slovenia. I can't remember, so it must have been good!It's a great game to get to know your new found friends, or find out those dirty secrets of your old friends. What you need:- Anyone who wants to play!- Plenty of booze - anything ...

read more »

Drinking Games: beer pong

History:Rumored to have found its humble beginnings at Dartmouth in a year no one had bothered to remember or write down, the academic diversion known as Beer Pong has found its way into the dank rumpus rooms and basements of college homes and fraternities across the nation. The game itself is rather simple to learn, yet takes semesters of experience and practice to master. Objective:The ...

read more »

Information: Things About Bartending I Didn't Know

As I headed to Scotland to work as a bartender, my Uncle Larry got me a book on bartending, as I had no idea what I was doing. Actually, I still have no idea what I am doing when it comes to making drinks, but this book helped me be just a little less than pathetic. So, as I have found some portions of the book, "Mr. Boston: Official Bartender's and Party Guide," exceptionally helpful, I ...

read more »

Information: US to UK Cooking Conversions, Food Names

Being a fabulous Ex-pat from the States, I was lost when I got to the British Isles and attempted cooking. Ingredients had different names, measurements were beyond me, and who the hell knows what the setting “3 1/2” means on a gas oven? I have done some hunting on the web, and I am here to help all you gourmets crossing “the pond.” If you need something to make, check out our “recipes" in the ...

read more »

Information: US to UK Cooking Conversions, Temperatures and Measurements

Being a fabulous Ex-pat from the States, I was lost when I got to the British Isles and attempted cooking. Ingredients had different names, measurements were beyond me, and who the hell knows what the setting “3 1/2” means on a gas oven? I have done some hunting on the web, and I am here to help all you gourmets crossing “the pond.” If you need something to make, check out our “recipes" in "fun st ...

read more »

Kiwi Backpackers Tucker

Kiwi Backpackers TuckerIf you are a Kiwi and your feeling a little homesick, why not create your own Kiwiana in your hostel's kitchen! Great Kiwi Backpacker Tucker to share around. Hokey Pokey- 5 Tbspns sugar - 2 Tbspns golden syrup - 1 tspn baking soda (bicarbonate of soda) Instructions:Use a large heavy based saucepan (cooking pot) as it foams up - and watch carefully while cooking as it ...

read more »

Main Meal: Harvest Apple Meat Loaf

This is a delicious twist on the traditional American Meat Loaf (the type you bake, not the type that is a "bat out of hell" ). I found this recipe years ago in "The Everything One-Pot Cookbook" by Lisa Rojak. I promise you it is amazing. Even if you hated your mom's crumbly, crappy excuse for a delicious meaty dinner, give this a try. Also remember to check out our article about measurements ...

read more »

Main Meal: Lemon and Rosemary Spaghetti

So you want to cook Italian. So you are from Australia and believe that Italian pasta sauces consist of rich, rich tomato flavours, as many veggies as will fit into your pan, and a big slab of minced meat. Turns out this is wrong. (Of course we could now launch into a long discussion about the myth of authenticity, and that in such a globalised world to say that a way of eating and cooking is ...

read more »

Main Meal: Pasta and Vegie Mornay

Pasta and Vegie MornayI was fed this as a kid, and it was a great way to make me eat vegies. You can also add a can of tuna to the mixture or if you’d prefer chicken pieces. Very simple to make, but take care with the white sauce, it can be tricky and cause frustration at times (I learnt this through my own personal experiences, just be careful where you throw the pan).Ingredients:- 30g b ...

read more »

Main Meal: Pizza without the D'OH

Potato Pizza, without the D'OHLove fresh pizza, but couldn't be bothered with the dough. Dont have patience? Then this is your answer. Ingredients:- 5 big potatoes - 1 tab butter - 1 cup parmesan cheese - 1 egg - tomato paste - your choice of toppings! - a little bit of patienceInstructions:- cook potatoes till soft and mash with butter, 1/2 cup parmesan cheese and 1 egg. - spread over ...

read more »

Main Meal: The Great Kiwi Burger

The Great Kiwi BurgerEven thinking about writing this recipe makes me drool. It's the great Kiwi Burger that reminds us Kiwis of beach days, bbqs, and summertimes in New Zealand that seem to last forever.Ingredients:- 400g lean beef (vege options: lentils, beans...) - 2 eggs - 1 cup bread crumbs - 1 tablespoon tomato paste - 1 onion - Garlic (optional) - 2 teaspoons of mixed herbs ...

read more »

Salad: Warm Chicken Salad

Warm Chicken SaladFor those hot summer nights, your all in one tasty and simple salad. If you dont have all the ingredients go wild and make up your own, also great and nutritious for vegetarians, just leave out the chicken.Ingredients:- 2 thinly sliced chicken breasts - Packet of pine nuts - 2 carrots sliced length way - Lettuce (cos I find is the best) - 1/2 red capsicum sliced length ...

read more »

Soups: Creamy Pumpkin Soup

Creamy Pumpkin SoupThe extremely versatile pumpkin is not often eaten in other countries as a soup. History shows it was eaten by Native Americans as long, thin baked strips. Colonists of America utilised this food for pumpkin pie and even made pumpkin beer for their Thanksgiving feasts. I have met quite a few travellers who have never had pumpkin before like this, but easily became addicted ...

read more »

Spaceballs The Drinking Game

To play the Spaceballs Drinking Game you will need: A copy of the film and lots of beveragesRules1.The game begins when the word SPACEBALLS is first legible at the start of the movie and ends when MAY THE SCHWARTZ BE WITH YOU appears at the end. 2.Once the game has begun, watch the movie for the listed events. Each time an event occurs everyone drinks. 3.No need to worry about people ...

read more »

Treats for Homesick Aussies

Tim Tam Orgasm Ingredients: - One packet of tim tams (can be found at some specialised stores) - cup of tea, coffee or hot chocolateInstructions:- take one tim tam and bite off two corners on either end of the biscuit - put one end into the drink and the other to your mouth - begin to suck the drink as though the biscuit was a straw - when you taste the drink quickly shove (otherwise it will ...

read more »