Just Desserts

While all my family and friends are chowing down on tasty turkey, home-cooked ham, and pleasing pumpkin pie... I am eating a salad and bread. It's not your average Thanksgiving in New Zealand simply because New Zealanders have no clue today (well, today for you yesterday for me) is supposed to be spent with the family giving thanks. Interestingly enough I had a conversation with a woman who was trying to get into contact with some Americans and she was frustrated because they weren't getting back to her. I had to explain that all of America is on halt for the day, or two, and it's not that they are trying to ignore the people located on the bottom right of the world atlas.


Anyway. This blog is about Desserts. And the Kiwis love there sweet desserts. The are known for relishing in sweet jelly roles, sticky date and ginger pudding, and most famously, their prized Lolly Cake.

We should take moment together and understand what Lolly cake is:  An infusion of Fruit Puffs (yes don't we all know what that is?), slightly chewy marshmallows that are fruity tasting (probably not with natural flavors), malt biscuit and coconut. If you want to read more about it, or make your own go here.

It looks like this:

....and it tastes like this

as in...not good. Those big yellow things are the fruit flavored marshmallows and the look on my face is saying "this..this cake here in my hand is a favorite among the Kiwis? Oy."

Now. While you are sipping cranberry cocktails and spiced cider I am over here (or down here) sipping on Ginger Beer. A non-alcoholic drink made from sugar, ginger, lemon and water. It's FANTASTIC! It looks like this (you will have to watch to see)

I also made ginger cookies from this recipe and they are SOOO freaking good. I was surprised and a little disappointed however when I took some to my mates at Trade Aid and they said "Ah, yee, Whut ahh these?...Ginger cookies eh? Don't ya know it's spring? These a bit more winter no? Ah Well, Good On ya, thanks mate" chomp chomp chomp smile. They seemed confused as to why I, their token American, made fall and winter like cookies when it's 25C outside.

I need to adjust my internal clock to think summer: summertime cookies, salad, drinks and desserts.

So. the point of this blog is to let you Merican folks know that no, I am not consuming loads of delicious goodies and Thanksgiving turkey. I'm not even going out of my way to eat dessert in honor of you up there, at this hour, chowing down (this is because, don't forget, the desserts here...are....different). BUT
I am enjoying Ginger Beer and wishing everyone up in the NW, The NOBO, the SOCAL, and the Kentuck-Land a happy happy Thanksgiving.

Hope you are all enjoying families and friends and eating well for Darren and I!