Australian Treats

I decided that it was about time we explored the sweet side of Australia- the sweets side that is. We have tasted a few traditional treats over the months- Lamingtons and Friands were the big ones, but it was time to get down to business. So I began researching (here comes the teacher) the time-honored traditional desserts and treats, gathered them up and we started tasting.

Fairy Bread

Fairy Bread is white bread cut into triangles, spread with butter or margarine and sprinkled 100s and 1000s (aka sprinkles). Notice in my picture that I did not cut the bread into triangles as I had two little ones practically drooling while waiting to try them.  Fairy Bread is a popular treat at birthday parties here and in New Zealand.  The origin of Fairy Bread is not known, but it may come from the poem, 'Fairy Bread' by Robert Louis Stevenson. The boys loved it. I thought it was fine, but nothing to write home about. Hmm, but apparently it is something to blog about. Ha. Ha

ANZAC Biscuits

Honestly, when I first arrived here and saw these biscuits (here they are biscuits at home they are cookies) I had no desire what-so-ever to try them. I remember Corey asking me if I had tried them yet and told her no and really had no intention to try them.  I thought they looked too much like a dried-out, healthy, oatmeal cookie (which I am not such a fan of).  Oh boy, I was WRONG. I tasted these babies tonight and they were GOOOOOOOD! I ate several of them. The boys liked them, but preferred the Fairy Bread.

An ANZAC biscuit is really an oatmeal cookie with coconut and golden syrup (corn syrup?) in them.  In the past they were sent by wives to soldiers working abroad because the ingredients did not spoil easily and they traveled well.  For those of you who are wondering what ANZAC is, it stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps.

Tim Tams

We tried these the first week we were here. They are quite yummy and come in all different flavours and even different shapes. I prefer the dark chocolate mint ones. Ooo, the white chocolates ones are good too. Coop likes them, but Tucker does not. Interesting, huh?

The Tim Tam is a chocolate biscuit made of two layers of chocolate malted biscuits separated by a light cream filling and then coated in chocolate.  They were named after the winning horse, Tim Tam, at the 1964 Kentucky Derby.  Pepperidge Farm brought Tim Tams to the US and they could originally only be  sold at Target. How about that?

A funny bit (bit, hmm, where did that word come from??)-- Tim Tams was running a contest where you buy two packages, send in your UPC codes and have a chance at winning a Mini-Cooper. Well, Coop took one look at the advertisements and we had to enter. So now he keeps asking, "When will our car be here?" and telling others that we have ordered a car and it will be here soon.  It would be great to win, but chances are slimmer than slim. Poor kid.

Cherry Ripe

I saw this at stores for the first three months we were here and had no idea what it was. Finally one day I took the plunge and bought one. I snuck it into the house and tasted it. It is basically coconut and cherries covered in dark chocolate.  Not the best thing I have eaten and not the worst, but I think I have to say no to the Cherry Ripe.  

Violet Crumble

This seriously reminds me of something from Willy Wonka.  I have seen Violet Crumble Ice Cream and the candy bars themselves, but again had no idea what it was.  Well, it is a crumbly, honeycomb-like substance that is coated in chocolate. What it really is like is a Butterfinger gone seriously, seriously wrong. Coop and I both took a bite, looked at each other and spit it out.  Need I say more? 

I don't think so.

Jaffas

These were pretty good! They are chocolate balls covered in an orange-flavoured shell. Now, I am not a big fan of orange-flavoured foods or candies, but these we liked. It may have been that we tasted them right after the Violet Crumble and most anything would have been good in comparison, but maybe not.  Both boys loved these. They are called Jaffas because the orange flavour comes from the Jaffa Orange.  This is fascinating stuff, I know. 

Wagon Wheels

I have seen versions of this cookie everywhere.  I saw a single cookies being sold at 7/11 (yes, they are all over here) and bought one to try. It is a cookie sandwich with jam and marshmallows inside and then coated with chocolate. Seems Aussies really like to cover things in chocolate.  It was good, not fantastic. Would I eat them again. Sure.

So that is what we have tried so far.  There are a few others out there that we have yet to taste, but will, don't you worry.  And when we do, you will hear all about it!