Monkey Nuts

The first time I tasted these biscuits was when we visited Mr & Mrs Coe. Ina is a great home baker from w a y back. Biting into the biscuit, to my delight I discovered it had a surprise inside it - a nice chewy date made an everyday, ordinary looking biccy into something quite delicious! The combination of the crunch, the gingery taste and the chewy date is really yum! I asked for the recipe so I could give it a go myself!

This recipe has been around for a while... Mrs Coe told me she got it off the radio, back in the days of Aunt Daisy. Aunt Daisy was'... Queen of the airwaves, with a career that spanned more than forty years.' She was a '...presence on the airwaves... for all those isolated housewives and mothers especially in the rural areas.' Frank and Ina Coe began their married life on a sheep and beef farm in remote, rural Southland. Just out of Milton on Lovell's Flat. Check out 'The Aunt Daisy Cookbook' HERE

Apparently, the biscuits are also known as Date Surprises. I think Monkey Nuts is way more interesting for a name - especially given that the biscuits date so far back to a time when people were much more prim and proper! Whatever the origin of the recipe - they are worth re-instating as a goodie to fill the home baking tins.

Mr Frank Coe passed away late in 2008 at the ripe old age of 92. A lovely couple who have encouraged us and warmed our hearts many a time over a cuppa and tasty home baking!

Monkey Nuts

125 gms butter
Small 1/2 cup sugar
1 dessert spn Golden Syrup
1 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp ground ginger
Dates cut in half longways

Cream butter and sugar, add syrup then dry ingredients. Roll into balls and press a date piece into the centre. press a smaller ball onto the top of each biscuit. Bake at 180 deg C for about 10 - 12 minutes.