Vist in The Buckingham Palace Kitchens With Oz Chef Bill Granger

The Monarchy website on Facebook has just posted this interesting video of a visit to Buckingham Palace kitchens by Australian chef Bill Granger in advance of a State dinner following an announcement of the Queen Elizabeth !!'s forthcoming visit to Australia. 

Interesting to hear the ages of the Buck House chefs and how long some have been working there. The items mentioned are Pavlovas and Lamingtons. 

In 1935, the chef of the Hotel Esplanade in Perth, Western Australia, Herbert Sachse, created the pavlova to celebrate the visit of the great Russian ballerina, Anna Pavlova. Whilst it has been suggested this dessert was created in New Zealand, it has become recognized as a popular Australian dish. Recipe to follow.


Lamingtons are small squares of plain cake, dipped in melted chocolate and sugar and coated in desiccated coconut. Said to have been named after Baron Lamington, a popular governor of Queensland from 1896 to 1901.

TRADITIONAL PAVLOVA
4-6 egg whites
pinch salt
8oz castor sugar/sugar (equal parts)
1 teaspoon white vinegar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla essence
2 level teaspoons cornflour

(Please note the following equivalents:
castor sugar or fine/super fine sugar
corn flour or cornstarch)

Preheat oven to 400F(200C).
Lightly grease oven tray, line with baking paper or use non-stick cooking spray.

Beat the whites of eggs with a pinch of salt until stiff (until peaks form).
Continue beating, gradually adding sugar, vinegar and vanilla, until of thick consistency.
Lightly fold in cornflour.

Pile mixture into circular shape, making hollow in centre for filling.
(Mixture will swell during cooking)

Electric oven: turn oven to 250F (130C) and bake undisturbed for 1 1/2 hours.
Gas oven: bake at 400F (200C) for ten minutes, then turn oven to 250F (130C) and bake a further hour.
(Fan forced oven: temperature and time needs to be adjusted accordingly.) Turn oven off, leave pavlova in oven until cool.

Top with whipped cream and decorate with fruit as desired. 

Lamingtons 

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter
• 3/4 cup white sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 eggs
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 4 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup milk
• 4 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1/2 cup milk
• 2 (8 ounce) packages flaked coconut

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease and flour an 8x12 inch rectangular pan. Sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
2. In a large bowl, cream together the 1/2 cup butter, 3/4 cup sugar and the vanilla until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well with each addition. Add the flour mixture alternately with the milk; beat well.
3. Pour the batter into the 8x12 inch pan. Bake in preheated oven for 30 to 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean. Let stand 5 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack and cool completely. Store overnight to give the cake a chance to firm up before Icing.
4. To make the Icing: In a large bowl, combine confectioners' sugar and cocoa. In a saucepan, heat milk and 2 teaspoons butter until the butter is melted. Add the milk to the sugar mixture and mix well to create a fluid, but not too runny, Icing.
5. Procedure: Cut the cake into 24 squares. Place coconut in a shallow container. Using a fork, dip each square into the icing, then roll it in the coconut. Place onto rack to dry. Continue for each piece. The Icing will drip, so place a sheet of parchment paper under the rack to catch the drips.