Saturday, September 19, 2009

Bake N 4 Jake: September Cookie of the Month - ANZAC Biscuits



It is difficult for me to believe that my "baby" just turned 19- where on earth does the time go? Today he is a grown man. Attending Boise State and working prep in a small restaurant there. Simon and I are just beginning to adjust to this whole empty nest thing.


Jake came home for a quick trip last week, We went out to lunch and went shopping for his birthday, picked up a few "staples" (socks, underwear, a couple of sporty shirts...), and I decided to enroll him in the "cookie of the month club" whereby I bake and send him a batch of homemade cookies each month. As far as I know, Jake has never met a cookie he didn't like, and I thought this would be a great way to let him know on a regular basis that I am thinking about him.


This month I threw together one of his favorites : ANZAC Biscuits.
The story of ANZAC biscuits is that they were sent to loved ones in the Austrailian and New Zealand Army Corp during WWI.

This recipe for ANZAC Biscuits is from Martha Stewart's Cookies cookbook. These oatmeal and coconut cookies turned out really nice and they are puported to travel well too.


Ingredients
Makes about 3 dozen.

2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups rolled oats
2 cups sugar
1 cup desiccated coconut
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
2 tablespoons Lyles Golden Syrup
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 cup boiling water

Directions
1.Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment paper, and set aside. In a large bowl, combine flour, oats, sugar, and coconut. Set aside.
2.In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt butter with syrup. Dissolve baking soda in boiling water, and add to butter mixture. Stir to combine. (Be careful; if the butter is hot, it will bubble up considerably.)
3.Add butter mixture to dry ingredients, and stir to combine. Using a 1 1/2-inch ice-cream scoop, drop onto prepared baking sheets, about 2 inches apart (be sure to pack the scoop tightly so the mixture doesn't crumble). Flatten cookies slightly with the heel of your hand.
4.Bake until golden brown and firm but not hard, about 15 minutes. Transfer to wire racks to cool.

(I will put them in the mail on Monday, Jake! Love, Mom)

6 comments:

Kalei's Best Friend said...

Interesting, oatmeal and coconut... btw what is Lyle's syrup?

Nancy Cook said...

Lyle's Golden Syrup is sort of like corn syrup or honey, but it is made from sugar. The flavor is fairly unique- I don't know if you could substitute it with good result. I have seen it in the finer grocery stores. You would most likely find it in a British food store.

Michelle Frances said...

Lucky Jake!!!

Lori said...

How nice that is. I am sure he will love all the cookies.

He is a very handsome young man and you must be very proud of him.

Every time I see your plates I miss the set I used to have. I regret giving them away as I miss them so much. SOunds sill, no?

Carol............. said...

What a cutie turned into a handsome guy!

Unknown said...

Yes, Jake you were a little cutie... and Today you are one good looking grandson... Hope you appreciate the cookies of Love from your mom..Love ya kiddo...