As we that are left grow old.
Age shall not weary them,
Nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun,
And in the morning,
We will remember them.
We will remember them.
- The ANZAC Dedication:For the Fallen by Laurence Binyon
Not a book quote today but instead a poem that is read at every ANZAC service across the country each year. Tomorrow, April 25, is ANZAC day, the day we, as New Zealanders (and Australians) recognise and remember those soldiers from the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps who fought at Gallipoli during World War I. It is not only a time to remember these soldiers, but all soldiers who have fought in many of the wars across the world since then. Every year there will be dawn services across the country and on our shirts we will pin our red paper poppies. My grandfathers, both long gone, fought in World War II. They never told us stories of the war as was the case with many soldiers who kept their horrific experiences buried deep inside once they returned.
I won't be at any dawn services this year as I'll be travelling down country for more madness and mayhem but I did make some ANZAC biscuits for the day. These are fairly crisp biscuits characterised by rolled oats, coconut and golden syrup. The original recipe (probably quite different from the kinds of recipes we use today) was apparently created so that the biscuits would keep well during naval transportation to those soldiers fighting overseas.
ANZAC Biscuits
Not the greatest of ANZAC biscuit recipes and could probably be improved both taste and texture-wise with a mashed banana thrown in the mix but we didn't have any ripe enough.
1/2 cup rolled oats
1/4 cup wholemeal flour
1/4 cup plain flour
1/2 cup desiccated coconut
1/3 cup brown sugar
3/4 tsp baking soda
2 Tbsp golden syrup
1/3 cup canola oil
Preheat the oven to 160°C. Line a baking tray with baking paper.
Place the oats, wholemeal and plain flour, coconut and sugar in a large bowl. Mix and set aside.
Place the baking soda, golden syrup, oil and egg in a small jug and whisk to combine. Add to the dry ingredients and stir well.
Roll teaspoonfuls of the mixture into 3cm balls. Place balls 4cm apart on the baking trays and flatten with a fork.
Bake for 15 minutes, until golden. Allow to cool on the trays then store the biscuits in an airtight container.
Mm, I love Anzac biscuits. And many original recipes are vegan, so that's good. I've never been to a dawn service, but the thought of rum and milk makes my stomach do flips.
ReplyDeleteHappy Anzac day (for tomorrow!) I forgot all about Anzac biscuits until your post! They wre always a regular offering when I went round for tea at other people's houses!
ReplyDeleteI will have to try the recipe- I'll try it with a ripe banana and although they look fabulous without!
Also that macaroni cheese recipe is definitely one I will have a go at making! I can never find nutritional yeast in the shops over here but I will keep looking and then that recipe will be first on my list!
Hmmm, never encountered rum and milk at a dawn service before!
ReplyDeleteThe rum and milk must be Australian-only!
ReplyDeleteI’m in agreement with your boyfriend—bring on the cashews! Sounds great for a mac-n-cheeze topping.
ReplyDeleteHahaa, those look delicious... they look kinda like the cookies I just posted about too!