For the good of all kiwis (principally those found within the four walls of my office) I put on my, non-existent, baking hat this week and decided to try my best at making my family's all-time favourite desert: Nanaimo Bars. What could be more Canadian than that?
Now please believe me when I say that I am not a cook, much less a baker. I have an uncle who does that professionally (check it out! Fresh N' Fancy Bakery in Cochrane, Ontario) and so really, why bother when I get as many delicious Tourtieres as I can handle?
Since certain ingredients aren't available here - graham crackers, shocker! - I checked the trusty internet for substitution ideas. Now apparently many Canadians before me have tried baking Nanaimo Bars in a foreign land; there was heaps of help!
I did a first batch, only took 3 hours (bashing nuts with a rolling pin isn't all that effective but forget paying $8 per kilo for crushed ones!), and my flatmates loved them. So the day before Canada Day I spent another 3 hours (not any easier the second time around) making the grand finale batch. They turned out amazingly (ahem), though I still have yet to work out how to make the chocolate layer shimmery and smooth like those my grandmother, aunts, mom... the whole family really, makes. I’m pretty sure everyone was delighted as all bars were finished pretty promptly. I printed out a mini Canadian flag and also offered some of my mother's home made maple syrup to make a more complete Canadiana experience.
The most memorable comment of the day: "I can really taste the tree in them!" (in reference to the maple syrup)
I think everyone enjoyed their Canada Day morning tea break and I have now lost my fear of baking... Thank you Canada for giving me the excuse to give it a go!
So so so very jealous. You had Nanaimo Bars. They are my favourite.
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