"Soldiers" Biscuits/ANZAC - WWI

By MJH

During World War 1, the wives, mothers and girlfriends of the Australian Soldiers were concerned for the nutritional value of the food being supplied to their men. Any food they sent to the fighting men had to be carried by ships which were rather slow and most had no refrigeration; so food sent had to be able to remain edible after periods in excess of two months. A group of women came up with the idea of a biscuit which had as much nutritional value as possible.

The basis was a Scottish recipe using rolled oats. At first the biscuits were called "Soldiers" Biscuits, but after the landing on Gallipoli, they were renamed ANZAC.

Ingredients

• 1 cup rolled oats
• 1 cup coconut
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup plain flour
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons golden syrup
• 125 g butter
• 1 teaspoon bi-carb./ baking soda
• 1 tablespoon boiling water

Preparation

Step 1

Mix dry ingredients together in a large bowl. Gently melt the butter and golden syrup in a saucepan and heat, stir until combined. Put the baking soda in a cup or small bowl then pour in the boiling water.

Pour this foaming mixture into the warm butter/golden syrup mixture and stir well - it will foam up. Now gradually add the wet mixture to the dry ingredients, mixing everything together well.

Place walnut size pieces of the dough on a buttered or baking paper lined oven tray and then press down with the back of a fork to flatten.

Bake at 175 degrees C for approx 17 mins.