Happy Australia Day

Today is Australia Day and usually we would be doing a picnic or BBQ or both. Unfortunately the weather has been rather wet and so we only had a small more improvised picnic (not very German I know :-). We went for a walk in the afternoon when the rain finally stopped and started with a late lunch at a Thai place on King St in Newtown. Then off to the park for a walk and munching on the  Lamingtons along the way.

Australia Day  is the official national anniversary celebrated annually on 26 January. The date commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet at Sydney Cove in 1788 and the proclamation at that time of British sovereignty over the Eastern seaboard of New Holland.
There are a lot of activities around the city but I think most families prefer to gather in parks and on the beach for a barbie or picnic with friends.


I found a very funny drawing for colouring in about what people do on Australia Day.

Okay, I admit it, we didn't do any of those activities above but instead I made the traditional and
very Australian Lamingtons to show my patriotism for Australia as a good baking immigrant.

Lamingtons for the Australia Day picnic.

So Australian!

Recipe for Lamingtons:

6 free-range eggs
150 g caster sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
150 g plain flour, sifted
1 teaspoon baking powder
70 g cornflour
2 tablespoons boiling water

Icing:
250 g desiccated coconut
500 g icing sugar mixture
50 g Dutch cocoa powder, sifted
250 ml boiling water
20 g butter

1. Preheat oven to 180degrees Celsius. Grease a 3cm deep, 20 x 30 cm (base) lamington pan.
Line with baking paper.
2. Using an electric mixer, beat eggs, sugar and vanilla extract in a bowl on high speed for 8-10 min or until thick and pale and sugar has dissolved.
3. Using a large spoon, fold in sifted flours. Fold in boiling water. Pour mixture into prepared pan.
Bake for 20-25 min or until centre springs back when lightly touched.
4. Line a baking rack with baking paper. Cool sponge in pan for 5 min then tip over onto prepared rack. Cover with a clean tea towel and set aside overnight.
5. For the icing, combine icing sugar mixture, cocoa powder, boiling water and butter in a small saucepan over medium heat and, stirring, bring to the boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 2 min or until sauce thickens slightly. Set aside to cool for 2 min.
6. Meanwhile cut cake into 12 pieces and put coconut a bowl or shallow dish.
7. Using two forks, dip 1 piece of cake in icing, let excess drip off, then toss in coconut. Place on a wire rack to dry. Repeat with remaining cake, icing and coconut.