miahenryandrosa

weekend baking

Inspired by some rolled oats I came accross when cleaning out my "baking station" I decided to make some Anzacs this Sunday. Anzacs are classic Australian and New Zealand cookies and are incredibly good - give them a go! They are also super easy to make. The only trick is to get that perfect balance of crispy outside and chewy inside. I make mine quite thick, about 1.5cm and bake them for 15 minutes at 170c/325f (I have a hot oven). Okay...put these dry ingredients in a bowl 125g (4oz) Flour 150g (6oz) Sugar 1 Cup coconut 1 Cup rolled oats Mix them together... Then melt these ingredients in a saucepan 50g (2oz) butter 1 T Golden Syrup When melted add 2 T boiling water with half teaspoon of bicarb soda dissolved in it. It will froth up... Make a well in the centre of flour, stir in the liquid... Place 1.5cm high spoonfuls on cookie tray (I really smoosh mine together with my hands so they are nice and dense - this helps them stay soft in the middle) and bake 15-20 minutes at 170c/325f. This is what you get... Great with a strong hot cup of whatever you like. You could double the recipe, I will next time as I only got about 12 cookies this size. I had to pull these three aside quickly for a photo before they were gobbled up. In my next post I will be showing you my aprons, cushions and baby blankets...just need to get some photos together and the shop is also nearly ready to open! It's so exciting!

oldy worldy

These little cupcakes I made aren't really oldy worldy but the recipe is based on one I found in a great book, Country Classics: 500 Classic Recipes from the Country Womens Association of Australia (that's long). Anyway they are extremely yummy and I've put the recipe below, with my twist added (see if you can spot it). I had never heard of egg yolk in the icing - it's good believe me - and it adds a chickeny yellow glow to the icing, mmmmm. These are the "relatively" pretty ones (feel free to disagree but hold your judgment until you see the rejected cupcakes below). Here's the rejected cupcakes... You'll need to make one of these handmade piping bags... And now for the star, "Loveliest Cupcake"... The Recipe 1/2 cup butter 1 cup sugar 2 eggs beaten 1/2 cup milk zest of 1/2 orange 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 3/4 cup self-raising flour Preheat the oven to 180 c (350 f). Cream butter and gradually add sugar, then eggs, milk and finally, vanilla. Fold in flour, mix well. I did all this in a mixer. Put huge messy teaspoons full into patty pans, bake for around 10 minutes or until the cupcake springs back when lightly pressed in the middle. Icing 60g butter 1 egg yolk 1 cup icing sugar 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract milk if required Cream butter, add egg yolk and vanilla extract and gradually add icing sugar. If the icing is too stiff add a little milk to loosen it. Ice and decorate as you wish. PostQuote: "Who throws a cupcake? Honestly... " Dr. Evil from Austin Powers