Wednesday, April 25, 2007

ANZAC Biscuits

Today, the 25th of April, is ANZAC day which commemorates the ANZAC soldiers who fought in Gallipoli during the first Great War. ANZAC is an acronym for the "Australian and New Zealand Army Corps". One of the earliest rations these soldiers had were hardtack sweet biscuits which were first known as "Soldiers' Biscuits" but since these biscuits were pretty much synonymous with only the ANZAC forces, they soon came to be known as "ANZAC Biscuits". These biscuits are tasty and quite addictive, not to mention really easy to make.

Ingredients:
1. Roasted halved hazelnuts (optional)
2. Dessicated grated coconut
3. 1 cup brown sugar
4. 1.5 cups plain flour
5. 1.5 cups rolled oats (you may use quick oats as well)
6. 3 Tbsp golden syrup (you may subtitute with honey or thick maple syrup)
7. 2 Tsp baking soda
8. 250g butter
9. 3 Tbsp boiling water
10. A pinch of salt

Method:
1. If you're doing it the hardcore way by dessicating your own grated coconut, do so until it turns pale brown

2. Mix all hazelnuts, dessicated coconut, brown sugar, flour and rolled oats in a bowl
3. In a separate bowl, mix the butter, water, baking soda, salt and golden syrup till smooth

4. Fold in the dry mix into the wet mix and knead gently until a doughy consistency is formed, if it's too wet, add more flour, if it's too dry add some olive oil (extra water tends to make the biscuits less crunchy)

5. Using a table-spoon to measure the biscuit volume, roll them into balls like these and place on your baking tray

6. Bake at 180degC for about 15-20 minutes, till medium brown

7. Remove from the oven and place the biscuits on a cooling rack for at least 15 minutes prior to consumption

Hint:
1. Biscuits (Cookies) tend to brown a little more after being removed from the oven due to the residual internal heat
2. Cooling the biscuits is required for them to obtain that crunch

Serve them on their own or even better, with a glass of milk!

-Lest We Forget-

D

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