:: Oaty ANZAC Day ::

ANZAC Biscuits

:: Megann’s Kitchen ::

:: delicious ANZAC biscuits ::

I first made ANZAC biscuits for my husband while he was deployed in Iraq. I was spending a lot of time being scared out of my wits, so when I was home alone I would bake for my friends to keep my imagination from running away from me. For a biscuit that I had adored my whole life, I couldn’t believe that this was my first attempt at making them! Watching the golden buttery mixture bubble as I added the bicarbonate of soda for the first time was incredible & I realised there was more science to kitchen cooking than I realised.

I have since sent quite a few batches of these cookies to friends overseas & they have stood the test of the wartime mail system, as they would have many years ago. Every time I have an ANZAC biscuit, I reflect on fond memories of ANZAC day in the past. Remembering my Grandfather travelling from QLD to Melbourne every year & watching the parade on TV to see if I could see him or his battalion. In recent years it has been spending ANZAC day at the Harbourview Hotel overlooking the Sydney Harbour Bridge while the boys marched & having quite a few beverages from a very early hour… then continuing throughout the day!

:: a bite of goodness ::

This post of ANZAC biscuits is in remembrance of the Australian & New Zealand war heroes of the past, the fallen, & also to support the amazing men & woman who have fought/are fighting for their country at the present. There are many Australian Defence Force members who have served their country & been wounded, unable to return to normal duties. It is their silent fight that I am supporting today. There is an amazing fundraising group called Soldier On. Follow this link as they deserve your encouragement & ongoing support. This incredible organisation helps wounded warriors of our amazing country. You can easily like them on their Facebook page as well!

“Soldier On supports servicemen and women of the Australian Defence Force who have been physically or mentally wounded in the service of their country. Our vision is to have the world's best care for Australia's wounded soldiers, to help them to achieve the same hopes and dreams they had prior to their wounds.”

There are many Defence members not home with their families today or effected by war in some way, think of them this ANZAC day & show your appreciation by making a quick batch of ANZAC biscuits.

1¼ cups plain flour, sifted

1 cup rolled oats

¼ cup brown sugar

¼ cup white sugar

¾ cup desiccated coconut

2 tablespoons golden syrup or treacle

150g unsalted butter, chopped

½ tsp bicarbonate of soda

1 Tbs hot water

Preheat oven to 160°C (325°F). Line 2 cookie trays with parchment paper. Place the flour, oats, sugars & coconut in a large bowl and stir to combine. In a small saucepan, place the golden syrup & butter, stirring over low heat until the butter has melted. Remove from heat. Mix the bicarbonate of soda with the water & add to the golden syrup mixture. It will form incredible bubbles whilst stirring, like molten lava. Pour into the dry ingredients & mix until fully combined. Roll 2-3 Tbs of mixture into balls or use a 3 Tbs spring handled ice cream scoop & place on the lined baking trays, leaving plenty of space between each one. Bake for 8 minutes. Remove from the oven & press firmly down with a flat-bottomed glass in order to produce a uniform cookie shape. Place back into the over for another 4 minutes, or until golden brown. Leave to cool on the baking tray for 10 minutes then transfer to a cooling rack using a spatula.

Makes 12+ large 7cm cookies

:: pressing into a cookie shape 

:: a baked cookie round ::

Kitchen Notes

:: If making with toddlers, be careful with the hot ingredients.

:: I could have easily used a smaller measurement & yielded more, yet smaller, biscuits. What can I say, I like big ANZACs!

:: a glass of milk & some ANZAC's ::

Health Benefits of Oats

:: Oatmeal and oat bran are significant sources of dietary fibre. One component of the soluble fibre found in oats is beta-glucans, a soluble fibre that has proven effective in lowering blood cholesterol. Oats and grains are also one of the best sources of compounds called tocotrienols. These are antioxidants, which together with tocopherols form vitamin E. The tocotrienols inhibit cholesterol synthesis and have been found to lower blood cholesterol. New research has also discovered that the antioxidants found in oats reduce cholesterol by reducing the ability of blood cells to stick to the inside of artery walls.

:: Control of blood glucose and insulin levels is essential in preventing many of the complications associated with diabetes. Oat beta-glucan slows the rise in blood glucose levels following a meal and delays its decline to pre-meal levels. This means dramatic changes in blood sugar levels are avoided.

:: Oats, contain hundreds of phytochemicals (plant chemicals). Many phytochemicals are thought to reduce a person's risk of getting cancer. Phytoestrogen compounds, called lignans, in oats have been linked to decreased risk of hormone-related diseases such as breast cancer, prostate, endometrium and ovarian cancer.

:: Oats, rich in soluble fibre, can reduce hypertension, or high blood pressure, and so reduce the need for anti-hypertensive medication.

:: Oats have a high fibre content. Fibre is necessary in keeping bowel movements regular. Oats are high in both soluble and insoluble fibre.

:: Oats have a higher concentration of well-balanced protein than other cereals. They contain a good balance of essential fatty acids, which have been linked with longevity and general good health, and also have one of the best amino acid profiles of any grain. Oats are a good source of essential vitamins such as thiamin, folic acid, biotin, pantothenic acid and vitamin E. They also contain zinc, selenium, copper, iron, manganese and magnesium. Oat beta glucan also appears to help speed up response to infection, which may result in faster healing. According to a new study, it was discovered that beta glucan can enhance the ability of certain human immune cells to navigate to the site of a bacterial infection, resulting in faster healing.

Sources

:: To find out more information on delicious oats, go to the "eat more oats" website. 
:: get your very own OXO cookie scoop from Amazon... I bought all three sizes & use them all! I used the large 3Tbs scoop for these cookies, but tend to use the medium for other cookies, meatballs, etc. The small one is great for mini ice-creams as well! Choices, choices!

:: the best ANZAC biscuit recipe from Megann's Kitchen ::

Thanks for stopping by this ANZAC day

:: The Forgotten Party Favourite ::

Chicken & Vegetable Sausage Rolls

:: Megann's Kitchen ::

:: golden brown sausage rolls - ready to eat ::

500g chicken or turkey breast mince

1 egg, plus 1 extra beaten egg for glazing

1 large zucchini, grated

1 large carrot, grated

½ brown onion, quartered

¼ cup finely grated parmesan

1 cup fresh wholemeal breadcrumbs

¼ cup coriander, chopped

¼ cup italian parsley, chopped

4-5 sheets puff pastry

1 tbs white sesame seeds

:: Preheat oven to 200°C. Line two baking trays with baking paper. Process onion on pulse in food processor until it is just minced. Change to grater implement & feed in the carrot + zucchini. Place into a bowl and add mince, parmesan, breadcrumbs, egg, coriander and parsley. Bind ingredients together, I like to do this by hand.

:: Leaving the pastry plastic on, place your sheets of puff pastry & cut them in half. Spoon the mixture along the centre of the pastry lengthways making a nice, long, skinless sausage. Pick up one edge of the pastry, roll it round and tuck it on the underside of the filling, roll it around to seal it with egg wash or water. Repeat it with the remaining sheets.

:: for a Megann’s Kitchen sausage roll secret, see kitchen notes below.

Cut the rolls into 3cm pieces with a sharp floured knife, take the pastry plastic off, then place onto your prepared baking trays.

Brush with a beaten egg on the tray & sprinkle with the sesame seeds. Bake for 25-30 minutes until golden brown & cooked right through.

:: sausage rolls that are semi-frozen, ready to cut into portions ::

Kitchen Notes

:: I find that chilling the sausage rolls before cutting them helps enormously. Once rolled, leave the blue plastic on (to prevent drying & freezer burn) & simply assemble on a tray & place in the freezer for 20-25  minutes, or until firm. Cut into desired portion sizes.

:: When coming to an end of a bread loaf that is becoming a bit stale, I simply blitz it in a food processor/blender & then place it in 2 cup portions in zip lock bags in the freezer for future recipes.

Quick Kitchen

:: Freeze option; leave the blue pastry plastic on when cutting them into portions & assemble into a freezer safe container. Simply pull off the plastic, brush with egg wash or milk & place straight in the oven on a baking tray for 30-35 minutes. I pull them out when needed- perfect for an unplanned guest, quick dinner with vegetables or football game snacks.

Allergy Alteration

:: One of Will’s friends is allergic to eggs, so I have made these sausage rolls egg free! I left out the egg in the meat mixture & added a little more cheese to help bind it when cooking. I also replaced the egg when brushing the tops with milk.