Recipes as requested....

....by one of our other avid readers Kim and her sis-in-law Sam who was very hospitable the last 2 weekends in hosting quite the Camp-meeting crowd!

The first is known in NZ as "Afghan Biscuits" (here is a link to the interesting history of the name) but everyone last weekend at our picnic called them "Little Bits of Heaven". I did Americanize them a little - adding Splenda-sugar mix (cup-for-cup not halved) to increase the sweetness a little (you will note the from web-link that they do tend to be not very sweet and in my experience Americans don't like most of our NZ/Australian 'cookies' so much because of that) and I also substituted chunky-chopped pecans for the walnut halves on top. I also see when searching online for 'afghan biscuits'' online that some people add desiccated coconut in there too.

200g butter (about 8oz)
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/4 cups plain flour
1/4 cup cocoa (I added a little more - about 1/3 cup probably)
2 cups cornflakes

chocolate icing (icing sugar aka powdered or confectioners sugar here in the US), butter, hot water and cocoa)
nuts on top.

Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy (definitely one for the kitchenaid electric mixer)
Sift flour and cocoa and then stir into creamed mixture
Fold in cornflakes
Spoon mounds of mixture onto a greased oven tray (aka cookie sheet!) - note that they do not spread or rise much so make them about the shape that you want to end up with)
Bake at 180 C (355 F) for 13-15 min.
Ice with chocolate icing when cold and deccrate with 1/2 walnut (or pecans!)


The second recipe is called 'Joan's Coleslaw' in our recipe collection as it was given to us by a co-worker of Jamies. I'm told that 'The Metro Crowd' whom we picnicked with has dubbed it 'Victoria's Asian Coleslaw' which is fine with me!

1 package pre-cut coleslaw mix (yes this is America!!!)
1 bunch green onions (we call them spring onions in NZ)
1 package slivered almonds
1 package of Ramen noodles (2-minute noodles)

Toast almonds in for about 5 minutes until turning brown but not burned, turn oven off and sprinkle crushed up noodles on top (throw away seasoning mix) of nuts and let sit in warm oven for 5 minutes longer.

Dressing:
1 cup oil (I used about 3/4 cup as it seems a LOT)
6 tbs rice vinegar (I used 5 tbs to make it similar proportions to the oil
1 tsp Lawry's season salt (I'm not sure what the down-under equivalent it - this was a new one to me here - if anyone wants to make it let me know and I'll send you some!)
1/4 to 1/2 cup sugar (I uses about 1/3)
salt & pepper to taste

Mix coleslaw mix and onions together
Immediately prior to serving (dont do it sooner or it will all go to a soggy goo I imagine) mix in almond/noodle mix and then dressing.

Enjoy!

V. x