ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

My first poem was an old one, so I have written a new one as promised.

Coober Pedy Stew

When you’re down upon your uppers and your rear drags near the ground
and your strength has drained to nothing, and reserves cannot be found.
For you’ve walked for twenty flamen miles, in rotten desert heat
and you wonder why you do it, cos you’re well and truly beat.

As you stagger into camp there’s only one thing left to do,
find a shady place, and then, thank God for Coober Pedy Stew.
This a tried and proven recipe for bachelors like you,
the ingredients are simple - any opener will do.

Get a can of Kraft Braised Steak and Onions, tip it in a pot,
then a can of top baked beans, with Heinz, the best one of the lot.
Finally, a can of fresh green peas are added to the bowl,
stirred and gently heated to a tee, that’s tucker for the soul.

Careful not to burn it now and spoil this simple bushman’s dish,
when it’s heated to perfection it will fill your every wish.
Serve on Toast, and savoir then a feast that’s worthy of a king,
the aroma of this dish will make a bushman’s heart soon sing.
---------------
© T.E. Piggott

*** This recipe is now obsolete because the main ingredient,
(Kraft Braised Steak and Onions – old recipe) is no longer available.
And sadly, modern substitutes, just don’t cut the mustard. ***

G'day Terry,
Loved the Coober Pedy Stew, it brought back a lot of memories!
Not that I ever had that exact dish, but many similar ones in my old long gone single days. With a can of this and a can of that and suddenly you had a meal! Always tasted good when the worms were biting, though probably now would be rather ordinary.
Enjoyed the read mate,
Ron

Good one, Terry - hmm, it sounds quite tasty too, and I've learned something new! I enjoyed this read also xx

Thanks Catherine and Ron

Despite its name, this was a dish born out of desperation in my gold prospecting days.

Terry

Good one Terry and maybe this will help you out ... available at Woolies and made in New Zealand ... Tom Piper Braised Steak & Onions Canned Meal 400g ... $ 3.60 .

We always used the old Braised Steak and Onions in our Jaffle irons along with a good handful of cheese - nothing like them on a cold night along with a warming mug of tomato soup.

Thanks Maureen

Sadly, the Tom Piper Braised Steak and onions are a very poor substitute for the real thing.
Even the kraft mob changed their recipe towards the end and that was a poorer substitute as well,
perhaps it also lent to its eventual demise.

Yes, we also used The Kraft one for Jaffals - the kids loved them, and so did we.

Terry

Ah, Terry - you could start a cooking show on YouTube with talent like that!! "Tasty Treats with Terry" - I can see it now, going viral!

As a caravanner (and before that, camper) from way back, I have quite a few recipes of this sort! One book I find very useful is "Food for the Road" by Laraine Leyland - wife of Mel, one of the famous Leyland Brothers. Lots of great recipes using very simple ingredients.

Loved the poem!

Cheers
Shelley

Thanks Shelley

There are quite a few other bush recipes that spring to mind,
but perhaps I'd better quit while I'm in front.
Mind you there was another very helpful bit of equipment that we used out there.
This was a battered old pressure cooker, that we had to put a rock on to hold relief valve in place -
it really speeded up an evening meal. Chuck a couple of spuds wrapped in foil on the coals at smoko,
and what more could you ask for.

Cheers

Terry