Old Fashioned Lamingtons

Thanks to James & Georgie for the cool flag

Sheila walked into the kitchen to find Bruce stalking around with a fly swatter
"What are you doing?" she asks
"Hunting flies" is the response
"Catch any yet?" asks Sheila
"Yep" says Bruce " three males and two females"
Intrigued, she asks "How can you tell them apart?"
Bruce replies: "Three were on a beer can and two were on the phone."

Apart from the Australian rugby and cricket teams whom we really don't like, some of our best friends are from Australia and lots of our family live there too.We really enjoy Australian food and our boys particularly love Lamingtons, so we thought we'd make them for the bakery tomorrow as it's Australia Day on the 26 January.

Quite a few Ozzies live here on the island, but as most of them play for the BVI Rugby Team, they are all off to St Lucia (with their Lamingtons) for the weekend to play an international game. Can't see them being eaten with tea, somehow.

Our recipe comes from a real Australian institution namely the Australian Woman's Weekly Magazine who have been publishing great recipes for generations of home cooks. I can remember my mother using them when I was a child and Tyler (like many chefs) loves them for their well-tested consistency.  This recipe comes from "Sweet Old Fashioned Favourites".

                                                                    
                                                     Old Fashioned Lamingtons

6 eggs
2/3 cup (150g) caster sugar
1 cup self raising flour
1/4 cup cornflower
25g soft butter, chopped
1/3 cup boiling water

Icing
4 cups icing sugar
1/2 cup cocoa powder
20g soft butter
3/4 (180ml) cup

2 cups of dessicated coconut (you really need lots)

Method

1. Preheat oven to 180C/350F 
2. Beat eggs in a mixer for about 10 minutes until really creamy
3. Add the sugar slowly
4. Mix in melted butter/water mixture
5. Sift the flours three times and fold into egg sugar mixture
6. Pour into a 23cm heavily greased square tin
7. Bake for about 25 minutes. A skewer should come out clean
8. Turn out onto a wire rack
9. When cool, cut up into 16 squares

For the icing:

1. Sift all the icing sugar and cocoa powder into a bowl
2. Add the butter together with the milk
3. Stir over a double boiler on the stove top until smooth and glossy

For the messy part:

1. Quickly dunk the sponge squares into the chocolate mixture
2. Shake off excess chocolate and roll into coconut, which you've put into a shallow bowl
3. Put back on rack and let them dry off

Although the Lamingtons appear simple to make and are totally delicious, they are actually quite fiddly.  Best thing really is buy them in and set out on your prettiest cake plate, remaining vague about  their provenance.

Hot Tip: Leave your apron on.

The 7 year old tucks in

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