Okay, I'll start the spin-off thread!
New Zealand has a wealth of marvelous foods and beverages, but we Yanks and Canucks are leaving behind familiar brands and menu items. Here's our opportunity to collect together information on substitutes and recipes.
I've spent most of my life in Maryland, and our local addictions are steamed blue crabs and steamed shrimp. Both are cooked with the same snappy, salty spice mixture. The main brand is Old Bay (McCormick), and that's become the generic term for any crab spice. I'm still researching substitute crab species (any solid info will probably have to wait for our scouting trip next spring), but here's a copycat recipe for Old Bay:
1 tbsp. ground bay leaves
2 1/2 tsp celery salt
1 1/2 tsp ground mustard seed or dry mustard
1 1/2 tsp black pepper
3/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp red pepper
1/4 tsp ground mace
1/4 tsp ground cardamom
Blend together and store in an airtight container. This makes about 1/4 cup of spice mixture. This mix is great on chicken too (especially fried chicken), and I particularly love it on popcorn or grilled asparagus.
So, does anyone have a good recipe (using ingredients available in NZ, please!) for homemade bratwurst, New England clam chowder, Nanaimo bars, poutine, crayfish etouffee, oyster po'boys, or Cincinnati 4-way chili?