Today, I'm Waltzing Matilda.
Don't worry if you don't know what that means. It's a line from a song. The un-official National Anthem of Australia. My home country. But I'm not in my home country, not this year, not this Australia Day. Still, that doesn't mean it can't be acknowledged.
Yesterday, I did started baking. Today, I finished.
I have have made traditional Aussie food to commerate today. Well, desserts and treats more so than food, but the point is, I made them. I haven't made ANY of these desserts/treats before in my life, but a little bit of help from google, and I managed to follow a recipe!
First up, was the easiest of the recipes - Chocolate Crackles.
I haven't had these since I was about 10 years old and have they gone down a treat with my little Canadian cousins.
They are quick and easy and take about 5 minutes to make. Your hands don't get dirty as you can use a spoon to mix the ingredients together in a bowl. And the washing up takes about 2 minutes. Not bad, for 7 minutes effort. And my, are they tasty!
For those of you after the recipe, enjoy - http://allrecipes.com.au/recipe/8407/chocolate-crackles.aspx
Next on the list was Lamingtons. A personal favourite of mine, I've DEFINITELY had these after the age of 10. This is like a sponge/pound/butter cake covered in chocolate and then rolled in coconut.
Don't know what I'm talking about? Here, take a looksy...
These are popular in Australia, a great afternoon treat for the kids after school or having with that cuppa as you sit and watch the clouds go by.
For those interested, here's the recipe - http://www.joyofbaking.com/Lamingtons.html
Finally, there was the last dessert to make. My biggest mission yet. Something I had never made before in my life (namely, because I don't like cream), so never had the urge to google the recipe. But I thought, just because I don't like it, it doesn't mean my cousins won't. So I went and ahead an made it today.
The Pavlova...
This would be my biggest feat.
The pavola is a merringue base filled with cream and topped with fruit. I have never in my life attempted it. Not even the merringue part. Infact, the merringue is what scared me into thinking I couldn't do it. Thankfully, I didn't listen to the voices in my head. Not this time at least.
I began by beating the egg whites and sugar and gradually saw, over time, how the thickness of the ingredients came about. It took a little while longer than expected to cook in the oven, but it ended up looking just like what my Mum used to make - cracking merringue on the outside, smooth marshmallow centre on the inside.
Unfortunately, they don't have passionfruit in Canada, infact, they don't even know what it is, so I wasn't able to top the Pavlova with this, as my Mum used to do (along with strawberries and kiwi fruit). So instead, I ommited the passionfruit and settled for kiwi fruit, strawberries and blueberries. It looked a treat.
Again, for those of you interested - and daring - here's the recipe - http://www.joyofbaking.com/Pavlova.html
Though you may not be Australian, and especially if you are, I wish you a VERY Happy Australia Day for 2011!
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