My Nanna's a world traveller. As a girl I had a collection of dolls she'd bought on her travels, displayed safely out of reach and admired from a distance. The doll from China had a carefully painted face and a blue silk dress. The doll from Scotland wore a kilt and a furry hat. Nanna's still travelling and when she visited Turkey a few years back she bought the Big Sister a Turkish dancer's outfit. It got it's first official outing this week for Kindy's circus day.
I think Australia misses out a bit in the costume department. If little Australian dolls' feet were nailed to display boxes, what would they wear? If we did decide an Australian national dress, souvenir retailers would not be the only winners. Our Miss Universe contestants could breathe a collective sigh of relief - they'd no longer be stuck wearing artists’ impressions of the Great Barrier Reef and could don a nice Jenny Kee jumper.
We’re not much better off in the tucker stakes either. What’s our national dish? The pav? I'm unconvinced. The questionable lineage of the pavlova is best left to New Zealand- a bit like Russell Crowe methinks. So where does that leave us? The lamington?
A few weeks ago Mum and I spent a morning on Sydney Harbour – the weather was fabulous, the views spectacular and the lady providing the commentary was wry, sarcastic and frankly the best tour guide I have ever heard. The lamingtons however, were not great. Their un-greatness may have been magnified by the Australian icons surrounding them, but regardless of the surroundings, it occurred to me - I don’t think I've ever eaten a good lamington. It’s a sad state of affairs really. I came home, bubbling with patriotism and decided to adapt an old CWA lamington recipe. It turns out lamingtons weren't always dried-up bits of old sponge they sell in school tuck shops. These are beaut!
not your average tuck shop lamingtons
Ingredients:
140g butter + a further 85g for the 1icing
⅔ cup sugar
80ml milk
2 eggs
270g plain flour
vanilla extract
1 ¾ cups icing sugar
1 tbs cocoa powder
3 cups desiccated coconut, toasted
2 tbs boiling water
Method:
Preheat oven to 180°C.
Cream 140g butter and sugar together in a bowl. Add the beaten eggs, milk and a few drops of vanilla extract and beat. Finally, stir in the flour.
Pour the mixture into a greased rectangular cake tin and bake for 30 minutes.
Turn the cake out onto a wire rack. Once cooled, cut the cake into squares.
To make the icing, cream 85g of butter and the icing sugar together. Add about two tablespoons of boiling water to the cocoa powder and add to the butter mixture. Stir in a few drops of vanilla extract.
Ice the cake square, the roll them in the toasted coconut.
Over to you Aussies:
what is Australia’s national dish?
how were the lamingtons at your school tuck shop?
should we shout our next Miss Universe contestant a nice Ken Done tracksuit?
Jay @ Moodie Foodie (@moodiefoodiejay) says
First of all, I LOVE it that you call it a Tuck Shop. I do and get loads of stick from my girls:) You're right about lamingtons. I hadn't realised that I'd never had a good one until you mentioned it. As for Aussie Fare? I'm married to a New Zealander so I can't claim the Pav which I would think about (but not Russell Crowe). The meat pie? Good God, is that the best we can do? Perhaps it should be Amanda's Lamingtons xo
p.s. I can't tick the boxes below that notify me of follow-up comments - it may be my computer but just thought I should mention it.
Anne @ Domesblissity says
I used to love the Lamington drive lammos that were made at school or church fundraisers years ago. Sponge made from scratch and the liquid chocolate drenching that soft sponge. Those were the days. I can't say I've had a good lammo for ages either. Our local Asian bakery does a good one. Its the size of a small house and you get 6 for $5 or something ridiculous. I did see an "Aussie" Barbie (the doll not the cooking apparatus) in the toy shop the other day and she was wearing Steve Irwin khaki. What is our national identify anymore? LOL
eliz a buf says
hilarious! i've only had one, at a bakery in tassie 20 yrs ago or so, and i wasn't impressed. couldn't for the life of me figure out what all the fuss was about. i can only assume my husband grew up on something homemade and wonderful............ ya reckon my doyle's cookbook will have aything??!
xoxo, buf
Annaleis from Teapots and Tractors says
I love a good lamington! Miss Universe should head out in workboots and a Flanno I think - couldn't be worse than what they dress them in these days.
mamagrace71 says
Oh, how I love lamingtons! We didn't have any in our tuck shop but I remember helping out on a lamington drive and I found it so incredibly hard not to eat them. And that combination of coconut and chocolate...yum!
Emily @ Have a laugh on me says
My mum used to make lamingtons when we were kids, strawberry ones - and we used to have them with whipped cream! And we SO own the pav and Russ!;) AND Phar Lap and Crowded House! x
MrsD says
You know we have been living here for two and a half year now and I have still not EVER tired lamination. Terrible right?? The idea of them just doesn't appeal for some reason and whenever I've got a choice of cakes to choose from in a nice cafe, I always go for something else. I have a 'sort-of' quiet day today, so I am determined to make your recipe!! xxxxx
Amanda, Cooker and a Looker says
Your thermo should make short work of this Mrs D. Let me know what you think! x
MrsD says
I remember how well these went down last year!! Yum!!!
Bek Mugridge says
They look great! Never been a fan myself but might be turned with yours! I have to agree with Annaleise's thinking there, I think the jackie howie, steel capped boots akubra and the flanno would be about right! Maybe chuck in Irwin style shorts? Those miss universe could totally rock that! Either that or a bikini and thongs! 😉
Annaleis from Teapots and Tractors says
lol Bek you are so right! You should try this recipe I did and they turned out great!
Amanda, Cooker and a Looker says
I love hearing when people make my recipes Annaleis. So glad they turned turned out great.
Amanda, Cooker and a Looker says
I've been giving this some more thought today Bek, based on current fashion perhaps Miss Australia will be wearing denim undies and uggs - classy!
Lydia C. Lee says
I do love lamingtons, tuckshop or otherwise...national dish tho, the humble snag.