4th of July Celebration

Independence Day is the national holiday of the United States of America commemorating the signing of the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

At the time of the signing the US consisted of 13 colonies under the rule of England's King George III. Leading up to the signing, there had been growing unrest in the colonies surrounding the taxes that colonists were required to pay to England. The major objection was "Taxation without Representation" -- the colonists had no say in the decisions of English Parliament.

Rather than negotiating, King George sent extra troops to the colonies to help control any rebellion that might be arising. The following timeline will give you a crash course in the history that lead to the signing of the Declaration of Independence and America's break from British rule.

1774 - The 13 colonies send delegates to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to form the First Continental Congress. While unrest was brewing, the colonies were far from ready to declare war.

April 1775 -- King George's troops advance on Concord, Massachusetts, prompting Paul Revere's midnight ride that sounded the alarm "The British are coming, the British are coming."

The subsequent battle of Concord, famous for being the "shot heard round the world," would mark the unofficial beginning of the American Revolution.

May 1776 -- After nearly a year of trying to work our their differences with England, the colonies again send delegates to the Second Continental Congress.

June 1776 -- Admitting that their efforts were hopeless, a committee was formed to compose the formal Declaration of Iindependence. Headed by Thomas Jefferson, the committee also included John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Philip Livingston and Roger Sherman.

June 28, 1776 -- Jefferson presents the first draft of the declaration to congress.

July 4, 1776 -- After various changes to Jefferson's original draft, a vote was taken late in the afternoon of July 4th. Of the 13 colonies, 9 voted in favor of the Declaration; 2, Pennsylvania and South Carolina voted No; Delaware was undecided and New York abstained.

John Hancock, President of the Continental Congress, was the first to sign the Declaration of Independence. It is said that he signed his name "with a great flourish" so "King George can read that without spectacles!"

July 6, 1776 -- The Pennsylvania Evening Post is the first newspaper to print the Declaration of Independence.

July 8, 1776 -- The first public reading of the declaration takes place in Philadelphia's Independence Square. The bell in Independence Hall, then known as the "Province Bell" would later be renamed the "Liberty Bell" after its inscription - "Proclaim Liberty Throughout All the Land Unto All the Inhabitants Thereof."

August 1776 - The task begun on July 4, the signing of the Declaration of Independence, was not actually completed until August. Nonetheless, the 4th of July has been accepted as the official anniversary of United States independence from Britain.

July 4, 1777 -- The first Independence Day celebration takes place. It's interesting to speculate what those first 4th festivities were like. By the early 1800s the traditions of parades, picnics, and fireworks were firmly established as part of American Independence Day culture.

Sticky Chocolate Toffee Cake

Sticky Chocolate Toffee Cake

Here is a great Aussie dessert to wrap ya laughin gear around mate.

For Pudding

2 tablespoon butter
3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
3/4 cup self-rising flour
3/4 cup chopped dates (pitted)
1 cup boiling water
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Instruction

Combine boiling water, baking soda and dates. Set aside for about 20 minutes, stir occasionally. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar, until smooth. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each. Add in the date, water and baking soda mixture, then vanilla, then flour. Bake in an 8 inch round or square pan for 30 minutes.

For Sauce

3/4 cup dark brown sugar
1/2 cup heavy cream
2 tbsp butter
1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Combine the brown sugar and whipping cream in a sauce pan over low heat. When this mixture is liquefied and warm, add butter, vanilla and cardamom. Mix over low heat.

Pour sauce over pudding, add some vanilla ice cream and chopped and sprinkle pieces of chocolate toffee bits. You beauty!

SWEETER THAN CHOCOLATE!

My life is filled with chocolate every day.

Just when I thought life couldn't get any sweeter I became a father. This Father’s Day I was blessed with being able to enjoy playing with my new daughter Madeline who is four months old today. Happy Father’s Day!

Dark Chocolate Macadamia Toffee

Dark Chocolate Macadamia Toffee is the perfect indulgence.

The macadamia nut had its origins in Australia which is not widely known. Our "Australian Bush Nut" was first discovered by Allan Cunningham in 1828 but it wasn't until the late 1880's that serious cultivation of these evergreen trees began.

The early 1900's marked the beginning of an exciting new industry, when a group of American horticulturists transported some macadamia seeds to Hawaii and began growing and grafting selections of these nuts to develop today's agricultural success story.

It wasn't until the 1960's that Australians realized the potential of this indigenous tree nut and began local cultivation. Trees, grafted from successful Hawaiian varieties, were brought to the rolling hills of north eastern New South Wales and south eastern Queensland where over one third of the world's production is now grown. Australian macadamias have developed a world-wide reputation for the finest quality, flavour and texture.

Look for our "Great White Bites TM "smothered in dark premium chocolate and Macadamia toffee coming soon.

CHOCOLATE LAMINGTONS

Chocolate Lamingtons

To an Aussie or Kiwi chocolate lamingtons are as much a tradition as Pavlova, and much easier to make I might add. If you've never been to the land down under you might want to give this recipe a bit of a go. A piece of advise. If you start to struggle with this recipe I suggest you crack open a cold tinnie (can of beer) which we find make everything work out like a bloody ripa.
Cheers mate!

Cake Ingredients:

1 cup butter
1 cup caster sugar
4 eggs, beaten
2 cups self raising flour

Frosting Ingredients:
2 cups icing sugar
2 Tbsp cocoa
1 Tbsp boiling water
1 Tbsp vanilla

Baking:
Cake

Preheat oven to 180C (350F).
Grease a slab cake pan or line with non-stick cooking paper.
Cream butter and sugar, gradually add eggs and mix well.
Add flour alternately, about 1/3 at a time; stir gently and thoroughly.
Place batter in pan, and bake for 1 - 1 1/4 hours, decreasing temp to 160C (325F) during cooking.
Place on a wire rack to cool

Frosting

Sift icing sugar and into an bowl.
Add boiling water and vanilla to cocoa and stir into icing sugar; beat well.
Cut cooled cake into 24 blocks.
Ice on all sides and roll in 1 1/2 cups coconut.
Allow to dry on wire rack.

By the way. I like to add jam and cream to the center of the sponge cake to give it that little extra.

ICED CHOCOLATE TOFFEE LATTE

Having an iced chocolate toffee latte is one great way to have a refreshing summer drink while indulging your sweet cravings. All you need is a blender; throw in some ice, milk or Soymilk, two pieces of Shaymee's chocolate toffee, some powered cocoa and blend. Pour in a glass and throw on a dollop of whipped cream and a little chocolate syrup, chocolate and toffee bits. It is one of my favorite summer drinks. Koooeee!!!

Chocolate Dipped Frozen Bananas with Toffee Bits

Hmm… chocolate dipped frozen bananas with toffee bits.

In Australia you can find banana plantations in N.S.W, Queensland, Northern Territory, and Western Australia. One such place to visit is known as the Big Banana off the coast of Coffs Harbor in N.S.W. If you love bananas as much as I do it’s a great place to stop in and enjoy the many different treats.

Here is a tasty and refreshing treat that I like to make for the summer. Take a bunch of peeled bananas and stick a paddle pop stick (popcicle stick) up through the bottom. Then dip the little bugger’s into some tempered chocolate and then sprinkle with chopped toffee bits. Throw them in the freezer for about 30-45 minutes and then you’re ready for a lazy day under a palm tree.