13.01.2020 Make your home more smart by Mary Maidiotis How to Host the Ultimate Australia Day Party Putting your hand up to host the annual Australia Day festivities can be both exciting and stressful at the same time. Stress no more, the team at Somfy have got all the basics covered! Read through our tips to ensure you throw the ultimate party without the worries! Provide Shading from the Sun Although we love our sunburnt country, getting a sunburn is less than ideal. The best way to stay protected is to keep guests cool and shaded under a motorised pergola or awning which can be opened or retracted using your smartphone at the end of the day for a perfect view of the night sky. Providing sunscreen and wide-brimmed hats will also ensure your guests are protected from the harsh Aussie sun throughout the day. Decorations Time to get creative! String Australian flags along your fence, use Australia Day-themed table cloths, napkins and paper plates and provide guests with temporary Aussie tattoos! You can also purchase toy kookaburras, kangaroos and koalas to place around your backyard and home, along with native flowers, to show off some of Australia’s best flora and fauna. Entertainment You can spend the day blasting some of Australia's greatest hits on your voice control device, or hold a karaoke event for everyone to give their best rendition of John Farnham’s You’re the Voice or AC/DC’s Back in Black. A backyard cricket match is also essential, and is sure to keep both adults and children entertained. Food A classic Australian BBQ is hard to look past on Australia Day, accompanied by mini meat pies and sausage rolls, salads, bread and prawns to keep guests satisfied all throughout the day. For dessert, we suggest Nanna Somfy’s classic lamington recipe. It will without doubt be a hit with all your guests! NANNA SOMFY’S LAMINGTONS Ingredients Lamington Cake 6 eggs 2/3 cup caster sugar 1/3 cup cornflour 1/2 cup plain flour 1/3 cup self raising flour 2 cups coconut Icing 4 cups (500g) icing sugar 1/2 cup cocoa 15g butter (melted) 2/3 cup of milk Steps 1. Grease 23cm square pan. Beat eggs in a medium bowl with electric mixer for about 10 minutes or until thick and creamy. 2. Gradually beat in sugar until dissolved. In between additions, fold in triple-sifted flour. 3. Spread mixture in the prepared pan and bake in a moderate oven for about 30 minutes. Place on wire rack to cool. 4. Meanwhile, sift icing sugar and cocoa into a heatproof bowl to make the icing. Stir in butter and milk over a pan of simmering water until icing is of a coating consistency. 5. Cut cake into 16 squares and dip in to the icing, draining off any excess icing. 6. Toss squares in coconut and enjoy! Find out more Categories Make your home more smart Tags Smart home Please accept cookies to leave a comment Accept cookies Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus.