Lamingtons

2/3/2019

Do you know what I love about travelling? The food. OK, so it may not be the ONLY thing that I like about travelling but it's right there at the top of my list of favorites. Before I even book a hotel or rent a car, I spend a ridiculous amount of time researching and investigating where to find the best food before I travel to any new city or town. Admittedly, my priorities are out of whack but I there's no question that I love sampling local food in new places.

Believe it or not, I've even booked vacations based on the food. At the top of my bucket list right now - New Orleans. I want to sample the beignets at Cafe Du Monde, devour a plate of barbecued shrimp at Nola and indulge in a big bowl of seafood gumbo at the Gumbo Shop. Of course there are other things that I want to see and do on my trip to New Orleans but sampling the local fare is at the top of my list.

I also live vicariously through friends who travel. When I hear them describe a new and interesting goody that they discovered on a trip, I like to try and recreate them. My friend from New Zealand has been telling me about these delightful little treats called Lamingtons, for years now. I don't know if it was her description of the coconut covered confection in her lovely New Zealand accent or the idea of a mid afternoon tea cake that was more appealing but I couldn't resist the temptation any longer.

Since a lamington is not something that is readily available in my neck of the woods, I had to do a little research to try and figure out how to make them for myself. And my Kiwi friend's birthday gave me the perfect excuse to whip up a batch of Georgia Lamingtons. With the assistance of the very helpful sister of said friend, I landed on this Lamington recipe from Jamie Oliver. If you've never experienced a Lamington - and you are not travelling to Australia or New Zealand anytime soon - this is your opportunity. These little tea cakes are just as delightful as I imagined them.

Lamingtons
Sponge Cake
4 eggs
1 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
4 Tablespoons butter, melted and cooled

Icing
1 1/2 Tablespoons unsalted butter
1 cup milk
1/2 cup cocoa powder
3 cups powdered sugar

6 cups desiccated coconut

Grease an 8" square baking dish. Line bottom with parchment paper.

Beat eggs, sugar and vanilla until pale and thick. (3 minutes)