Happy Australia Day!!

Yes, I know it's Saturday the 25th here, but the Aussies in WR are celebrating today, allowing for the 16 hr time difference!!

Non-spreading Anzacs and slightly sloppy Chocolate Crackles

"Young Dave" helping Isabella make Anzacs for Australia Day morning tea

Baking has been a challenge here, as there's no such thing as caster sugar, so "granulated sugar" is what I've had to use to make Anzac biccies, and Copha - forget it! So choccie crackles have been a hit and miss experiment. I first tried to make them with Crisco Shortening - yuck, don't try it!! They didn't set. But then, thanks to Google, I found an alternative - solid coconut oil, from the health food section of the supermarket ... Et voila!! Not perfect, but a pretty good substitute. I think I'll call them my Cinderella Chocolate Crackles, as they turn to slops when they get to room temperature, so really must be eaten straight from the fridge:

Daniel was more interested in the cocoa substitute - dark hot chocolate mix!

There was a morning tea at Dave's work yesterday, put on by the Aussies. The locals were intrigued by Vegemite, but most seemed to give it a go.

Donna, Mel, Damien, and Aaron

Steve (in a Mokbel-inspired wig) and Tim

Not sure how the KKs got in there, but they were eaten!!

The Australia Day BBQ was fun but cold!! Interestingly, many of the Aussies put up with the cold to kick a footy around or have a hit of cricket ... The Americans in attendance mostly stayed indoors!!

The kids enjoying being in a backyard, on grass - albeit hibernating winter grass

Difficult to get a game of cricket going when one of the fielders is constantly tampering with the equipment!

 

Poor Lauren and Galen's kangas took a bit of a flogging

After about four hours of being outside, it was time to go home, and I can assure you there were plenty of "tears before bedtime". I think a quiet, recovery day is on the cards for today!!