Woolly Mammoth Lamingtons

So. A week after the first Cake Challenge, I am finally ready to post about it. I had intended to BLOG about it that night (which will be the aim for Cake Challenges in the future) however, Miss Boo came down with a temperature and so the rest of that day was spent cuddling on the couch.
However, we are here now. Better late than never, right?

The Cake Challenge:

LAMINGTONS

Just to recap from my last post: each week I'm choosing a cake from this book to create at home. And where else to start, but from the beginning? The first cake of the chapter: Lamingtons. A real 'Aussie' thing. Also plain and easy and yawn - in my opinion at the time.

I was wrong.

For those unaware of what lamingtons are, essentially they are a sponge cake dipped in chocolate icing and covered in coconut. They are fiddly. They are time consuming. They are something I would usually snort "stuff that" at and bake cookies instead. However, the book said I must make these little coconutty jerks, and so I did. 

For starters, you need half a dozen eggs. That made me a tiny bit concerned that I would wind up creating chocolate coated quiche, but still I continued. They are beaten for what feels like a bazillion years (10 minutes) and then beaten some more while sugar that is gradually added dissolves. Luckily, we have the mixer these days - prior to my wedding (which was catered for by friends and family) I didn't have any form of electric beaters. I would have been incredibly cranky trying to do this by hand.

Then there was the sifting of the flours (cornflour, self raising flour and plain flour). Now, this apparently is a big deal. The flours wanted sifting three times. THREE TIMES. Who has the time or patience for this wankery? However, I continued. 

And then there was the folding. But not too much folding, because a sponge is a precious creature that needs to be light and fluffy. Well. Light and delicate is not my way, and there were lumps and boy did those lumps need to come out.

...which may have been my downfall. 

But hey - my cake mix was so bubbly. LOOK AT ALL THE BUBBLES. I had never made a sponge before so this was super odd to me, but I was impressed. BUBBLES. 

And into the oven it went.

Oh yeah - this was supposed to be my helper. 

And this is me drinking peppermint tea while waiting, and ignoring the massive pile of washing beside me.

The cake seemed to take forever. And I got quite impatient and began to poke it with things to see if it was ready yet. After forty-five minutes or so we had this:

A SPONGE.

Then there was the waiting for it to cool, and the slicing of it into around sixteen pieces. The chocolate icing consisted of three cups of icing sugar (the recipe said four. I said "recipe, ease up. You're a little excessive"), cocoa powder, butter and milk. The pieces of sponge are dipped in the icing mix, and then tossed in desiccated coconut. 

 This I found infuriating. The chocolate icing went everywhere, the coconut went everywhere, the sponge fell off into the icing, the icing mixed in with the coconut and then some of it just ran off the sponge anyway. FIDDLY.

BAM. LAMINGTONS.

I also didn't have desiccated coconut. I had shredded. Which I was like "hey, it'll look more rustic". My husband, however stated that they looked like "woolly mammoth lamingtons" and so the name has stuck. BEHOLD. MY WOOLLY MAMMOTH LAMINGTONS.

For my first attempt, despite my fury, they didn't turn out too bad at all. The sponge was a little dense - I put this down to a) over enthusiastic mixing and b) the wrong size cake tin, therefore thicker sponge and different cooking time to recipe. The shredded coconut didn't hold on as well as desiccated coconut would, however, I kind of liked it. 

Best part of lamingtons - they got even better after a day or two in the cupboard, believe it or not.

So there we have it. My first Cake Challenge was a ragey success. 

NEXT TIME: APPLE CUSTARD TEA CAKE

After May

Time for an Operation Nanna update!

On Saturday, a bunch of lovely ladies braved the pouring rain to meet at the Wodonga Plant Farm Cafe. Honestly, I was expecting just my mother and grandmother to rock up - but I was overjoyed to have the table I booked require more chairs!

We spent a little while catching up - introductions were made and discussions were had about potential future venues, how Operation Nanna works and how it may look in the future.

Then the yarn came out. 

I was delighted to watch people being taught how to crochet and check out some of the creations people were working on. I absolutely love seeing people connecting - especially a group who otherwise wouldn't have reason to meet.

So, here is where we are after May:

40 items to donate - including scarves, beanies, blankets and gloves.
+ a much appreciated cash donation.
All going to The Carevan Foundation.

I am seriously impressed!! Thank you to those who have contributed, and those that are a part of the group who are working on warm creations. Thank you to the ladies who attended on Saturday - it was a pleasure to see you there.

Stay tuned for the date of our next meet up - happening late June.

In the meantime - take care of yourselves, stay in touch on our Facebook page, and happy yarn-ing!

(one last thing: it's never too late to join! If you can knit or crochet, or want to learn, get in touch! We have people who can teach and a stash of yarn to share. It's a fantastic opportunity to meet new people, get involved in a community and really contribute to something.)

Operation Nanna: Donation Time!

Hey there Nanna-Enthusiasts!

Finally, I've found some organisational skills, given them a good dusting and set a date for the first donation gathering!

We're going to be at the Wodonga Plant Farm  on Saturday 1st June 2013 from 3:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M.

Bring along your latest projects, grab a latte and say hello! I can't wait to see how much we have put together to donate to those who need it this cold winter through the Carevan Foundation.

I will also have some yarn with me that was generously donated for those whose stash is looking a little sad.

Until then, happy crafting!

Operation Nanna

[ EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST. ]

North-East Victoria, how chilly is it lately?! This time of year always makes me a little sad. Not because the days are shorter or it's gloomy out. I find myself shivering on the couch, thinking about those who are out on the streets this time of year. I have blankets and a gas heater I can flick on whenever I want, and yet I still complain about the cold. How silly is that?

A little while ago, when I was trying to give up smoking, my mother taught me to crochet. Lately it's become a bit of an obsession. I'm on something like my fourth blanket. I have no need for any crochet goods right now, and I'm not talented enough to do anything more than create blankets for the time being. So I thought I'd make them purely for the sake of donating to organisations who help those in need. 

Then, I got thinking. I can only crochet so many warm creations myself. How fantastic would it be if more people got together, and we were able to make a decent donation? If ten people gave a blanket, that's ten blankets (or hats. or anything else for that matter). People are funny with giving money away (which is their right), but this is a practical way to give a little. I was thinking to an organisation like Albury Wodonga's Carevan, but I'd be open to suggestions of other local charities.

We could even make a social occasion out of this. I am always up for a latte and a chat. 

I know of a few who are talented with yarn, so let me know if you're interested. I'll still be spending my evenings going 'round in squares making blankets regardless.

Have a splendid evening x