I realised the other day that for most of the last eight or nine years, I’ve lived in countries where I require a visa. The level of hassle involved with applying depends on where I am, and the length of time between renewals varies also but despite the fact that I know I’m privileged to even have a passport and be able to travel more or less freely, it’s something I could really do without.
I didn’t come here to whine though – what I was wondering when I made these biscuits is: if you are part of an invading army, do you need a passport and visa?
ANZAC stands for Australia/New Zealand Army Corps and it’s said that these biscuits were sent to them in Europe during the Second World War. It sounds fairly plausible – the amount of butter contained within would probably preserve them for long enough that they’d taste at least mildly palatable upon arrival.
There are two varieties of ANZAC biscuits: thick, soft and chewy or thin and lacy and defenders of each side hotly maintain that theirs are better. These are of the latter type, and don’t tell anyone, but I actually quite like both. If pressed though, I might choose these.
So, do soldiers need passports?
ANZAC Biscuits
These spread. A lot. So only drop teaspoonsful of mixture onto the baking sheet and even then, far apart; I’d aim for 36 biscuits altogether from the mix. I found the second batch harder to deposit as the butter had hardened a bit so it might be a good idea to leave the pot on the cook top (with the heat turned off) so the residual heat keeps the mixture warm.
150 grams (2/3 cup) butter
1 tablespoon golden syrup
175 grams (4/5 cup) sugar
75 grams (generous half cup) flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
75 grams (3/4 cup) dessicated coconut
100 grams (1 generous cup) fine oats
Preheat the oven to 180 celsius (350 fahrenheit).
Melt the butter in a large pot (the other ingredients will go in here later too) and then add the sugar and golden syrup and stir to dissolve.
Stir in the rest of the ingredients and bake for 10 minutes or until quite a dark golden brown at the edges (otherwise they won’t be crisp) and lacy. Cool on a rack.
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good-u.
austrian army gets hormones in their food.
All that crap on the front pages of passports like “her majesty the queen requests all that it may concern to allow the holder to pass without delay or hindrance”, and using said passports to cross the border of a country you’re invading seem a wee incongruous to me. You never know with all that have-to-actually-declare-war-and-must-take-good-care-of-captured-enemy-combatants etiquette, it could be so.
I needed many visas…now I have the best of two worlds…(of course many more worlds still ask for a visa…), and for the first time will do a Anzac ceremony which is both Italian and Kiwi. Or so I plan :-).
But maybe no biscuits….only bruschetta and chianti!
Ahh true, I never thought that about soldiers. I don’t know any to ask either! I love Anzac biscuits-they’re perfect for tea dunking too! :D
ANZAC biscuits. I want. Now. Do i need a visa if i decide to hop by just for this, a cuppa tea and your glorious company? :)
Tee hee, I think they’ll make an exception for you.
Wait…are you just saying that for biscuits? ;P
I like the thin Anzac bikkie best. My son’s fiance’s Temporary Visa came through yesterday. Great happiness as it means in 2 years she will get her permanent visa Australian residence.
Yay, congratulations!
Wow, I’ve never tried these but they look fantastic. Getting a visa must be a real pain and I admire your perseverance.
Being the nerd that I am, I spent a few minutes trying to google up the answer, but with little success. Maybe wrong keywords, or maybe it’s all hush-hush?
That aside, I am hangry right now, and these look really really good. Why does butter help to preserve them, though? I’d have imagined the higher butter content making them go rancid quicker…
Oh – this is really sucky suckson, but I am off butter until my cholesterol levels(!) come back down :(
Urgh, off butter! Well, you know, fat preserves and all that. Or maybe they were into rancid butter. Nepalese people use rancid yak butter in tea I think.
What is this ‘Golden Syrup’ you used for these cookies??
Is this the NZ version of molasses?
You could probably sub molasses but it’s not exactly the same. Apparently in the US you can get it in a green and gold can branded “Lyle’s.”
And how should one go about asking strangers if they carry Lyle’s ‘Golden Syrup’ whilst maintaining me dignity?
Thanks for the tip though will peruse eventually.
I’ve seen it in some Safeways, as well as Whole Foods. Anyway, it’s in a very old-fashioned looking green/gold can with a picture of a dead lion with a swarm of flies(?) hovering around it.
P.S. Just checked, and amazon sells it – so you may purchase keeping dignity intact ;)
Ha, Sasa. I feel you about the visa…..see, I’m Nigerian! Recently, I celebrated a huge victory – going to a prime destination (in this case, Barbados), where Nigerians don’t need visas as we’re part of the commonwealth. Imagine that. And thanks for the definition of Anzac cookies – I have a pack, sent to me by a friend from Oz….Need to tuck into it soon!
Greek men have to attend a minimum of a year’s training in the Army… don’t really see the reason why.. probably cause we are a relatively small country and unless the army was compulsory , we wouldn’t have one?.. anyway. .I have heard stories from my friends that they are served meat that was frozen in 1960 or sth… but since we have never heard of any food poisonings in the Greek Army then either:
1. Greek men are VERY tolerant against old food
2. Greek men are given super-dooper vaccines once they join the army
3. this is an urban legend of the Army
Yummie cookies…
NZ has a fairly non-existent army too – mainly because we don’t have to do any compulsory time in it. Everyone here in Austria does though. Well, the men – why not women though, that is the question.
I agree.. I wouldn’t have any objection serving for a few months… we cant ask for equal rights but not do the exact same things..
I’m more of the no-one should do it school of thought ;P
Know how you feel, I’m still on a residence visa after 9 years but citizenship is about to come up this year..hurrah. I think I might celebrate with ANZAC and Afgan biscuits!
AFGHANS! I love those and forgot all about them. Must make.
These look like they’d be yummy with coffee! And perfect for a care-package as I guess they were designed to be sent away. One question… is golden syrup the same as corn syrup?
Nope, golden syrup is a by-product of the sugar cane refining process – it’s actually light treacle.
I’ve never made ANZAC biscuits, and in fact haven’t eaten one in a very long time either, but these look so gorgeous you’ve just inspired me to make a batch. Not sure if I might be a thicky and chewy person, but we’ll start with thin and lacy!
They look gorgeous.
hey! thanks for posting this, i knew you would have this tucked away! i cooked ANZACs last weekend and bo cooked afghans and we swapped. hers were kick arse though. i like the spread coefficient of your ANZAC biscuits. Are these the only things we have in common with Australians? I went to the service at Westminster Abbey. our flags look the same. it’s a problem.
Think we should totally switch to the Tino Rangatiratanga flag.
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