Banana ANZAC muffins – sugar free

Name: Banana ANZAC muffins - sugar free
Yield: 12 muffins
Ingredients: 2 cups of wholemeal flour; 1 tsp of ground cinnamon; 1/4 tsp of ground nutmeg; 1/2 tsp of ground ginger; 1 egg (beaten); 2/3 cup of brown rice syrup; 2 teaspoons of baking powder; 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda; 100 ml of vegetable oil; 1 cup of buttermilk; 3 bananas (mashed); ANZAC CRUMBLE TOPPING; 1/3 cup of plain flour; 2 tbs of brown rice syrup; 1/3 cup of rolled oats; 1/4 desiccated coconut; 30 g of butter (melted)

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My fiance is a member of the Australian Army, and not long after we met he was deployed overseas for 6 months. As a partner of any member of the serving military knows, and in fact the members themselves, being apart for that period of time is difficult. Communication is sporadic at best, and whenever you read about something happening in the news where they are deployed you worry until you hear from your loved one again. As a result you make the most of what little communication you have.

So while Troy was deployed I decided to send him care parcels of baking. I loved putting together those parcels. I’d spend hours researching recipes that could survive the journey, which could be anywhere up to a couple of weeks before they arrived at their destination depending on what was going on in the area at the time. I would also go shopping and buy magazines, dvd’s, snack foods and other bits and pieces to add to the parcels. Little did I know that each parcel I sent over would not only become a hit with him but with others too who were serving over there with him at the time. In fact, whenever he received a parcel news would spread quickly and people would come to see what delicious treats I’d baked to send over. Troy would gladly share my baking, in fact I think he got a kick out of it, and would gladly ration out biscuits or pieces of fruit cake.

While I sent parcels of baking Troy sent me a bunch of flowers each fortnight, and each bunch would include a note counting down how many weeks or days we had to go until we could be together again. Each flower delivery was huge, in fact so big that when I picked them up from my office reception to carry them back to my desk they would tower over me! And much like the baking I sent to Troy news of my latest flower deliveries spread through the office like wildfire with all the women coming to my office to see.

As hard as it was to be apart I think about how much harder it would have been for previous generations to cope when their loved ones were at war. What must it have been like back in 1915 when Australians were conscripted and sent off to war? There were no telephones that enabled you to call your loved ones back home and let them know you were ok. There were no emails either. The only method of communication was handwritten letters, which could take months or even years to eventually reach home.

And so tomorrow we commemorate ANZAC Day, which marks the anniversary of the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand forces during World War I and the landing at Gallipoli on April 25 1915. It is an important national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand for all of those who have given their lives in military service. While we now commemorate ANZAC day on April 25 the first ANZAC day was actually on 30 April 1915, when the first news of the landing reached New Zealand, where an impromptue half-day holiday was declared and services were held. It wasn’t until 1916 that April 25 was officially recognised as ANZAC day. And while the early ANZAC day services focused on the landing at Gallipoli today’s services serve as a time to remember and honour all service men and women who have served in the military.

Much like I did while Troy was deployed, fiances and wives of troops serving in World War I baked batches of the now infamous ANZAC biscuits. ANZAC biscuits became popular because they travelled well and did not spoil easily, but I don’t think they would have become half as popular as they are if not for the fact that they are delicious too.

While I’ve baked a couple of batches of ANZAC biscuits to take to the dawn service at Troy’s army unit tomorrow I also wanted to try an ANZAC cake because according to history the first published ANZAC recipe was in fact a cake and not a biscuit. Without access to the original recipe, this is what I came up with – Banana ANZAC muffins. I also wanted to make it a bit healthier than the sugar laden biscuit, so this version is sugar free too!

So, on April 25, it’s appropriate we remember those who have served and given their lives, but also those who continue to serve and their partners and families back home.

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