Have You Ever Been To Australia? Lamingtons

G'day Mates!!

After completing my presentation on the economic side of Australia, I think I am going to buy a passport and move there. The Australians' know how to operate a sound economy.

It's no wonder Americans choose Australia to go on vacation.

As part of my presentation, and I don't know about you, but I get very nervous when it comes to talking in front of people.

Man, do I need to get over that....my major is leadership. Who will want a nervous leader?

But anyway, as part of my presentation I decided to offer the class an Australian treat.

These Australian goodies are called Lamingtons. They are served at children's birthday parties.

AND.....If I had to serve these at my children's birthday parties every year, they would only have one birthday. I'm serious!! These were a pain to make.

As I am preparing to present in class, I start off by announcing the treat, telling a little bit about it, and everyone starts chanting, "Automatic A, automatic A!"

Why is it food brings out the best in people?

When it comes to presentations, I like to make them fun, visual, and non-boring.

If you are anything like me, I hate to sit through a presentation filled with words and number figures. Mine are filled with pictures, graphs, and fun.

For my very last (questions) slide I hid a music real that started automatically on click demand.

The music was: Go figure, the famous Men At Work, "Living in a Land Down Under".

Everyone loved it....now I just need to get over my nervousness.....UGH!!

The cake for this treat reminded me of a really thick, buttery sugar cookie. As you can see, it literally had to spread like a dough would. I even had to fight with it to stay in the corners.

It baked up very nice though. Nice and golden....

After the cake is completely cooled, it is cut in squares, dipped in chocolate, and then rolled in sweet coconut.

Okay, why are these called Lamingtons? The only thing I could come up with, and this is my own opinion, they represent little lambs. With wool being one of Australia's most popular exports, I think the name would be fitting. The coconut represents wool.

This is what a Lamington looks like when it is complete. And just so you know, everyone in my Macroeconomic class loved them.

I found this recipe in The World Cookbook For Students.

Lamingtons

1/2 c. butter, soft

2/3 c. sugar

2 eggs, beaten

2 c. self-rising flour

1/3 c. milk

1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

Chocolate Syrup

2 TBS butter

1/4 c. boiling water

3 c. confectioners sugar

1/3 c. cocoa powder

1 tsp. vanilla extract

2 c. grated coconut

Cream butter with sugar until light and fluffy.

Gradually add eggs, mixing well.

Add flour and milk alternately, mixing after each addition.

Stir in 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract.

Spread batter in a buttered 9 x 12 inch baking pan.

Bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees F. for 25 minutes.

Remove from baking pan and cool on wire rack.

Meanwhile, melt butter in boiling water.

Sift confectioners sugar with cocoa powder.

Stir the sugar/cocoa mixture and 1 tsp. vanilla into the water/butter mixture to make a thin icing.

Cut cooled cake into squares. Dip each square in icing, roll in coconut, and leave to dry on wire rack.

*Note* I had to keep thinning my icing with a little water. As the icing thickened it made it hard to dip the cake squares. If the icing was too thick, the cake would fall apart.

"A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity."

Proverbs 17:17

Lesson: What kind of friend are you? There is a vast difference between knowing someone well and being a true friend. The greatest evidence of genuine friendship is loyalty, being available to help in time of distress or personal struggles.