Wednesday, April 25, 2018

Anzac Pear and Ginger Loaf


At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
Laurence Binyon, For the Fallen

Today is Anzac Day in Australia, when we pay our respects to Australian soldiers from all the wars in which Australia has been involved.  You can read more about Anzac Day here.

As I have previously mentioned, my state primary school did an excellent job of teaching us about the significance of Anzac Day and ensuring that the students commemorated it.  Funds were raised for the returned service people through sales of little navy and silver lapel ribbons, the Last Post was played at a special assembly, and the choir sang songs about Australian soldiers. 


Anzac Day in Australia is also traditionally marked by the Anzac biscuit, which has become the official food of Anzac Day.  I understand that the version of Anzac biscuits eaten by the troops was  rather less tasty than the one we enjoy today, but they have become an important symbol of Anzac Day nonetheless.

This year, instead of Anzac biscuits, I decided to make Lorraine's Anzac Pear and Ginger Loaf.
 


This loaf really is like a sweet Anzac biscuit in loaf form.  The batter presses rather than pours into the tin, and the resulting loaf has a dense quality.  Be careful with the cake while it is warm, as it can be a little fragile where the pears are dotted into the mixture.

The cake tastes best served warm, when it is still a little crumbly and doesn't necessarily cut into neat slices yet.  The ginger adds a touch of zing and the pears add moistness and sweetness to the loaf.  I think I might like it best without the icing, as I don't handle a lot of sweetness very well anymore.

To all my fellow Australians, wishing you a blessed Anzac Day. 



6 comments:

Johanna GGG said...

That loaf sounds really good - I saw it on NQN and liked the sound of it so am pleased you really like it too. I mainly remember the returned soldiers coming to talk to us at primary school for anzac day but I now I wish I could remember more of what they said

Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella said...

So exciting to see that you made this. I think I preferred it without the icing too but others preferred it with. It probably depends on how sweet a tooth one has :D

Abbe@This is How I Cook said...

This sounds good. Always nice to honor the veterans.

2paw said...

ANZAC Day is is the school holidays now, typical of TPTB, they never listen to the teachers. Still, my friends took the primary choir and marched and did all those things. They are very dedicated. I am waiting for pears from my friend’s mum’s tree, I love pear and ginger it makes a lovely jam too. All over the internet people were ANZAC-ing food,

Kari said...

This sounds fantastic. What a nice variation on Anzac biscuits. I hope you were able to commemorate the day.

Kayte said...

I love learning about Anzac Day and did research about it from other years and things you have posted...so I will go back and read this link when I finish filling up your inbox with all my comments from posts I have been missing for the past few months. This pear and ginger cake looks delicious...you find the most interesting things to bake!