Wednesday, January 26, 2011

HAPPY AUSTRALIA DAY




Happy Australia day to each and all especially everyone "down under".  To celebrate the day I decided to take Mr. P. over at delicious delicious delicious  up on his challenge to recreate the Lamington - that essentially Australian sweet treat.

Mr. P.  often decorates his (wonderful) Lamington photos with cute little Kewpies, so I have called Homer in to help me with my offering - I had to take the photos quickly in case he started drooling all over them!!!!! mmmmmmmm......cake............mmmmmmmmmmmm!

I used this recipe for the cake (replacing 2 tbsp of flour with 2 tbsp of cocoa, reducing the coffee to 1/2 tsp and adding 75g of chocolate chunks).  Then I made a chestnut icing and finally sprinkled them with dessicated coconut.  These little treats were really tasty*, the icing had a subtle nutty flavour with combined well with both the chocolate and coconut. I have to say that the icing was really good and wasn't too sweet - result!!  Here is the recipe, I made quite a small quantity - enough to spread between two flan type cakes, but it is easily doubled or trebled.





Chestnut Icing

50g             butter - softened
30g             unsweetened chestnut puree
50g             icing sugar

Beat the butter until light and fluffy.
Add the chestnut and combine well.
Add the icing sugar - beat on slow to begin - then up the speed and beat for 5 minutes.

Enjoy!



* I only tasted a morsel and just for blogging purposes!!!!

35 comments:

Unknown said...

Mmmmmmmmmm chestnut purée. Cheeky! Look fabulous and I live your homage to Me P and his kewpies! Xx

Anonymous said...

i have never lamingtons with chestnut puree before and i am sure it taste fabulous! thank you for sharing this. have a great day.

Gloria Baker said...

Browniegirl this look amazing!Happy day to Australia!!

La Bella Cooks said...

Happy Australia Day! Love the Homer in the last pic, that cracked me up. Looks like a fabulous cake.

From Beyond My Kitchen Window said...

The cake looks delicious. I have never seen chestnut puree in any of the markets I frequent. I imagine its a specialty order in the States. Love the Homer Simpson.

laurie said...

What a great way to celebrate Australia Day!

chow and chatter said...

oh this is so cute and love his blog I had no idea what a lamington was until then !

Ocean Breezes and Country Sneezes said...

Mmmm, this sounds delicious! The chestnut paste is unique, I've never seen it! Love the nice touch with Homer! LOL!!!

cocoa and coconut said...

Your lamington looks delicious! Thanks for wishing us a good Australia Day..
We ended up having perfect weather - we baked, swam in the pool and went for a bike ride. If only we had a lamington or two..then it would be perfect :)

Unknown said...

I nearly did this too!!! So glad you did. I love this recipe and I've got half a tin of chestnut puree in the fridge...

Chocolate Here said...

Sounds like a pretty good way to celebrate! I love th photo with Homer ... looks like he is in heaven :-)

Anonymous said...

Ooh they look good, I am dribbling with Homer.

Mr. P said...

I love them! LOVE.

As soon as I saw Homer in the top photo, I was like, 'Now here's somebody who has truly entered into the spirit of things!'

I have no idea how I am going to judge these things. None.

Beth said...

I've heard of lamingtons before, but haven't seen a recipe or a photo. Yours looks great! Happy Australia Day!

teresa said...

how cool, i love learning new things on blogs. this looks amazing, i love the homer doll!

Anonymous said...

This looks absolutely fabulous! I've never heard of chestnut puree either but I can only imagine ow amazing it would be. And that Homer toy is too cute :)

Maxine said...

Aweeee - that is so nice to see and read from across the Oceans.
It was a good Austalia Day here in Western Australia...thank you BVG.
Not only a great snap - but very delish at that.

M

Chele said...

Happy [belated!] Australia Day!!!! I really wanted to makle lamingtons this year but never got the chance so instead I was on the balcony in 1 degree temp with short sleeves to cook the barbie. Its just not Australia Day without a barbie or a lamington ;0)

Unknown said...

Great nog!

Zoe said...

Chestnut Lamington is such an innovative creation. Never heard about Lamington before until I lived in Aus and it indeed a true Aussie food.

Annie said...

This is one luxurious lamington! Delicious.

aipi said...

Simply divine! I am salivating!
Happy Australia day to you too :)

US Masala

Elsa said...

I don't think I've ever heard of chestnut icing. I always see chestnuts in the store and I stare at them for a while, trying to figure out what I could do with them. This is perfect --- next time I go shopping, I will buy some chestnuts. :)

Victor said...

There is an Australian pie place in MTL, each time I got I order a lamington pie. I should really make one myself. Happy Australia Day!

Johanna GGG said...

lovely lamington! seems very British with the chestnut icing but delicious - if only chestnuts were easier to buy here - now you just need an Australian icon for the pic - all I can think right now is ginger meggs, blinky bill or the magic pudding but there is probably a more recent one that is more obvious

Unknown said...

Brilliant! Love Homer, but next year you should get him a hat with corks hanging from it for a really authentic touch!

mr. pineapple man said...

OMG homer's expression is PERFECT! you should do this all more often!! I love it!

Jacqueline Meldrum said...

I agree with Homer. Mmmmmmmmmmm :P

astheroshe said...

Super cute Homer..:) and I love chestnuts!

Anonymous said...

That looks delicious! Never heard of this recipe but I would love to try it.

Susan Lindquist said...

Living in the States, I had no idea what lamingtons were until recent posts started popping up with these wonderful little mini-cakes! I love your take on them! And no one can go wrong with good old Homer Simpson oogling away!

Nessa Robins said...

these look delicious- must try them out!

Kitchen Belleicious said...

Looks delicious. A cake I am sure to love. I need to make it soon. thanks for stopping by today! Love your blog. I'm now following!
XO
Jessica

The Caked Crusader said...

Love that last photo where it looks like Homer's planning where to tuck in!
Like the idea of the chestnut icing - I love chestnut!

My Little Space said...

Oh wow, loving your special icing. Must be so delicious. Thanks again for sharing. Hope you're having a great day.
Blessings, Kristy