Butterfingers and Anzac Biscuits

And a BAD morning to you if you're a Pakistan fan like me.  Old Mr. Butterfingers, aka Kamran Dropmal Akmal, dropped a couple of regulation catches last night in Pakistan's ODI against New Zealand at the ICC World Cup.  Those drops enabled NZ's Ross Taylor to bash out an astonishing 131 runs.  Ugh!  Furthermore, the drops and lazy wicket-keeping demoralized and flustered the rest of my lovely lads. 

Pakistan Wicket-Keeper Kamran Akmal.

But let's give credit where credit is due.  New Zealand played well, and took advantage of Pakistan's flustered bowlers and fielders.  In the last six overs, the Kiwis scored a gigantic 114 runs, with Taylor leading the way.  Oh yeah, and it was also Ross Taylor's birthday.  I sure bet he was happy!  In the end, New Zealand scored 302/7 and beat Pakistan by a whopping 110 runs.  Ugh!  And I was so sure Pakistan was going to win, so I guess I'm going to be eating crow.

But have no fear, just because I'm going to be eating crow today, doesn't mean that you have to.

Good on ya Ross!  A good lad deserves a good Anzac biscuit!

 In honour of Ross Taylor's big bash, I'm going to show you how to make a delicious New Zealand / Australian treat, the traditional Anzac biscuit.

Anzac Biscuits

These old-school cookies were originally made by Australian and New Zealand women in WWI and sent to the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps soldiers on the fronts in Europe.  These biscuits were originally very simple and were meant to survive the long ocean voyage.  These cookies keep for a long time, however they're so tasty you'll gobble them up almost as soon as they are out of the oven.  They are also so full of goodness that you'll be bashing out sixes like they're going out of style, just like Ross Taylor!  Get ready chaps, and go get your bowls, aprons and wooden spoons!  The recipe is courtesy of http://taste.com.au/ .


Ingredients
1 1/4 cups plain flour, sifted
1 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup caster sugar
3/4 cup desiccated coconut
2 tablespoons golden syrup or treacle
2/3 cup unsalted butter
1/2 teaspoon bicarb soda (baking soda)

Preheat oven to 170°C or 338 F.

Stir the flour, oats, sugar and coconut  together in a large bowl.
In a separate pan, melt the butter and golden syrup or treacle over low heat.
Mix the bicarb soda with 1 1/2 tablespoons water.
Remove the golden syrup mixture from the heat.
Add the baking soda and water to the golden syrup mixture, it will bubble up a bit when you stir it in.

Pour the syrup mix into the dry ingredients and mix together until fully combined.
Roll tablespoonfuls of mixture into balls and place on baking trays lined with non stick baking paper, pressing down on the tops to flatten slightly.

Bake for 12 minutes or until golden brown.

So congrats again to Ross Taylor and the Kiwis for a match well-played, and to Kamran Akmal, I say...for cryin' out loud pull the finger out and do your job!!!

Happy Cricket!  Happy Biscuit!  and Bad Wicketkeeper phooey!!!