Is your refrigerator ready for Christmas?
(For those of you who already saw a similar post on FB, I’m including you again because the recipe didn’t show up well at all.)
My hubby and I had lots of fun yesterday baking our Anzac cookies. Why we only bake them at Christmas I don’t know because they’re not really a traditional Christmas cookie. They’re certainly not a “pretty” cookie but there’s a reason for that.
And I should add, I should’t even say “we” because it’s “him”. All I do is transfer them from the pan and put them on the cooling rack.
But while he is baking his cookies, I’m busy getting a lot of dough ready for other cookies. I always do this way ahead of time, freeze the dough, and then I bake them on another day. I think that’s pretty clever myself!
Here’s the Anzac cookie. As I said, not a pretty cookie.
What are Anzac cookies, you ask?
Well, Anzac is an acronym for Australia New Zealand Army Corp. These cookies were made by the thousands and shipped to the military during WWI. Because they don’t contain eggs, they shipped well and lasted for months.
These cookies would probably last a year-I’m not kidding.
Here’s the recipe.
Anzac Cookies (biscuits)
2 cups rolled oats (We use regular not instant but either works.)
2 cups flour
2 cups brown sugar (we don’t pack.)
1 cup UNSWEETENED coconut
1 cup butter (we use unsalted, don’t know if margarine works or not)
4 tablespoons Lyle’s Golden syrup (If you live near a Meijer store, they carry this in their international section.)
2 Tablespoons boiling water
1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
Directions:
Sift flour in to a bowl. Add the brown sugar coconut. Mix.
Melt butter in a saucepan and the golden syrup and the boiling water.
Stir the bicarbonate of soda (baking soda) into the liquid mixture.
Add liquid ingredients to dry and mix together thoroughly.
Place walnut-sized balls on a greased tray (We use parchment paper and my hubby uses a melon baller to keep them all consistent in size).
Bake at 325 for 15 to 20 minutes. (All ovens are calibrated differently. For example, we put my oven at 330 and bake for 15 minutes. I would suggest you bake a few samples first to check out how fast or slow your oven bakes. I always life up one cookie and look at the bottom. If it’s golden brown and the edges are slightly browned, that’s when they’re done. You can determine how crisp you want them by how long you bake them. Hubby likes them crisp on outside and chewy on inside. I like them crisp all the way through. I’ta a matter of preference.)
Biscuits harden as they cool. (You will not know the consistency until the cookies are completely cooled which is why I suggest experimenting a little.)
Helpful hints: (You can add more coconut if you want. You can also add more syrup for a crunchier cookie. We have done the first but never the second.)
My husband first tried them in Australia and on one trip we brought home a package to compare them to the ones we were going to bake. We searched the internet for the perfect recipe and after a little trial and error, we settled on this one.
But, this blog isn’t about the cookies but the refrigerator. I don’t know about you, but for me an organized refrigerator during holiday baking season is crucial. And this comes from someone who rarely gives their refrigerator a thought much less a thorough cleaning.
But instead of me giving you my ideas, of which I have none anyway, I’m going to suggest this link .
I’m sure there are other good blogs too with lots of good ideas, but this particular link really spoke to me.
I hope you find it helpful.
God bless and I hope you have a good day.
OOPS. Forgot to mention something. Scroll back up to the picture of my husband. How retro is that sweater. Well, let me tell you.
My husband bought up matching sweaters when we were first dating. (It was a “thing” back then-don’t judge me. )
We wear them for every cookie-baking session. Oh, and we play Christmas music.
People often ask me if my hubby is just humoring me by baking cookies. Well, you know what he said when we were done. “OK, when are we making the cut-out cookies?” He loves it.
And, just so you know, he’s more of a “man” than just about any other man I’ve ever met.
AFTER Christmas, that is.
God bless again.
