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Lamington

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Lamington

Sit down and eat a nice lamington.

  • A lamington is a sweet snack that is primarily cake-based, and it is generally eaten for morning tea, afternoon tea or at a high tea.
  • Lamingtons are traditionally a vanilla sponge cake, cut into squares, that are coated in a chocolate sauce, and then covered in shredded and dried coconut (known as desiccated coconut).
  • Lamingtons may be halved and layered, with cream or jam in between, and can come in a variety of flavours, such as strawberry or lemon.
  • The shape of lamingtons can vary, and are often a rectangular block in shape, although they are traditionally square.
  • Lamingtons were invented sometime between 1896 to 1901 in Toowoomba, Brisbane or Ipswich in Queensland, Australia, and are said to have been served to the then Queensland Governor, Lord Lamington and/or his wife.
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Lamington
Image courtesy of fugzu/Flickr
  • In mid 2011, the Guinness World Record for the largest lamington was created in Australia’s Toowoomba, in Queensland, and it weighed 2361 kilograms (5205 pounds), and was said to be the size of 45,000 standard size ones.
  • The exact story of the invention of the lamington is disputed, as it may have been accidental, by dropping a cake in a chocolate mixture, or purposeful.
  • Lamingtons are symbolic food icons of Australia, and as such, are often made for and eaten on Australia Day, the nation’s special day.
  • The first known published lamington recipe appeared in a Sydney newspaper in late 1901, and while the size of the blocks is not specified in the recipe, they are commonly cut into 4 to 5 cm (1.6 to 2 inches) cubes.
  • A national day for Lamingtons in Australia, has been designated as July the 21st, and the cake has often been used as a fundraiser for various clubs, schools and other groups.
Bibliography:
Halmagyi E, A Brief History of Lamingtons, 2015, Fast Ed, http://www.fast-ed.com.au/a-brief-history-of-lamingtons/
History, n.d, Australian Lamington Official Website, http://australianlamingtons.blogspot.com.au/p/history-of-world-famous-australian.html
Lamington, 2015, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamington

 

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Raccoon

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Raccoon

Did you see the sneaky raccoon pass by a few minutes ago?

  • Raccoons, also known as ‘common’, ‘North American’ and ‘north’, are mammals native to forests of North America, although they are found in other areas, as they readily adapt to their environment.
  • The scientific name of a racoon is Procyon lotor, and it is from the family Procyonidae, the family of some New World mammals, and there are up to 22 subspecies of the animal.
  • Raccoons generally grow to be 40 to 71 centimetres (16 to 28 inches) in length and weigh 2 to 10.4 kilograms (4 to 23 pounds).
  • The face of a raccoon features a black mask, so the animal is sometimes called a ‘masked bandit’; and its fur is mostly coloured white and grey, and occasionally brown.
  • Raccoons have uniquely sensitive front paws, and the mammal has sharp hearing and smelling senses.

Raccoon, Animal, Mammal, Family, Captive, Ten Random Facts, Flickr

Raccoon
Image courtesy of Daniel Spiess/Flickr
  • Raccoons typically give birth in spring, to as many as seven kits at a time, with an average of five; and they have an average lifespan of 12 to 16 years.
  • The intelligence of a raccoon can allow the mammal to open somewhat complex locking devices, and have a memory that lasts three years, and it can also untie or unscrew objects.
  • The diet of raccoons typically consists of insects, eggs, fish, berries and nuts, while birds and mammals are sometimes eaten.
  • Raccoons live in trees or rock shelters, sometimes venturing into urbanised habitats where they are often considered a pest; and they have been introduced into Asia’ Japan and some European countries.
  • Historically, raccoons have been hunted for their fur, as well as for food, and some communities still use them for meat.
Bibliography:
Raccoon, 2013, A-Z Animals, http://a-z-animals.com/animals/raccoon/
Raccoon, 2015, National Geographic, http://animals.nationalgeographic.com.au/animals/mammals/raccoon/
Raccoon, 2015, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raccoon

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Leonard Nimoy

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Leonard Nimoy

“Live long and prosper” – Leonard Nimoy as Spock

  • American Leonard Nimoy, was an actor who was most well known for his acting in the Star Trek film and television series, as Spock, while the role received many award nominations.
  • Leonard Nimoy’s full name was ‘Leonard Simon Nimoy’, and he was born in 1931 on 26th March to Jewish parents in Boston, in the United State’s state of Massachusetts.
  • Leonard Nimoy started acting in 1939 as a young boy, performing in plays and high school productions, and later started his acting career in the early 1950s, appearing in Kid Monk Baroni (1952).
  • Leonard Nimoy was casted as Star Trek’s Vulcan (extraterrestrial humanoid species) Spock, and played this role in various Star Trek films and television series over many years between 1966 to 2009; while his performance as Spock is said to have affected Nimoy’s personality and thoughts.
  • Leonard Nimoy did extra studies in drama in 1959; had prominent skills in singing, poetry, and writing; was an accomplished photographer; and directed two box office hits, Star Trek IV (1986) and Three Men and a Baby (1987), among other films.
Leonard Nimoy, Vulcan, Sign, Person, Actor, RIP. Ten Random Facts, Flickr
Leonard Nimoy
Image courtesy of Gage Skidmore/Flickr
  • The symbolic Vulcan salute was created by Leonard Nimoy, performed using a single hand, and it was based on a sign given by priests during a Jewish blessing.
  • Leonard Nimoy performed in numerous films and television shows outside of Star Trek, and though he technically retired in early 2010, he later acted in 2011 and provided voice performances during his remaining years.
  • Leonard Nimoy was fluent is the Jewish language Yiddish, and showed much support for his fellow Jews.
  • Leonard Nimoy was married twice; once from 1954 to 1987, to Sandra Zober, and later, in 1989 until his death, to Susan Bay, both actresses.
  • Leonard Nimoy died at age 83, on 27th February, 2015, due to complications of the lung disease ‘COPD’ (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), at his residential home in Bel Air, in Los Angeles, California, United States.
Bibliography:
Remembering Leonard Nimoy, 1931-2015, 2015, Star Trek, http://www.startrek.com/article/remembering-leonard-nimoy-1931-2015
Leonard Nimoy, 2015, Biography.com, http://www.biography.com/people/leonard-nimoy-9423757
Leonard Nimoy, 2015, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonard_Nimoy

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Ground Morning Glory

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Ground Morning Glory

Wake up to the ‘ground morning glory’ early in the morning.

  • Ground morning glories are plants that are native to North Africa and Europe’s Italy and Spain.
  • A ground morning glory has the scientific name Convolvulus sabatius, and it is from the family Convolvulaceae, the family of morning glories.
  • ‘Ground morning glory’ plants are also called ‘Blue rock bindweeds’ and ‘Mauritian bindweeds, and they are also known by the scientific name ‘Convolvulus mauritanicus’.
  • Typically, ground morning glory plants grow to heights of around 15 to 20 centimetres (6 to 8 inches) and spread to a diameter of up to 100 cm (40 inches).
  • Ground morning glories are hardy perennial plants that have received the Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society.

Blue Rock Bindweed, Flowers, Purple, Ten Random Facts, Vegetation, Plant, Bee, Australia

  • The flowers of ground morning glory plants are blue or purple in colour, that are like a saucer in shape, and are approximately 2.5 cm (1 inch) in diameter.
  • The blooming season of ground morning glory flowers ranges from summer to autumn, and they sometimes flower in spring.
  • The best position for growing ground morning glory plants is full sun and they usually thrive in free-draining soils.
  • Ground morning glories are typically used for ornamental purposes in pots, hanging baskets or gardens, as a ground cover or trailing plant.
  • Ground morning glory plants have small green leaves, and the plants can be grown from seeds or cuttings.
Bibliography:
Convolvulus sabatius, 2013, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convolvulus_sabatius
Convolvulus sabatius, 2015, Perennials.com, http://www.perennials.com/plants/convolvulus-sabatius.html
Convolvulus sabatius, 2015, Renaissance Herbs, http://www.renaissanceherbs.com.au/romantic-cottage/convolvulus-sabatius

 

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Broom

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Broom

Sweep the broom here and there.

  • Brooms are inventions typically used on a floor to sweep messes, dust and dirt into a pile for disposal.
  • Brooms usually consist of a brush, used to sweep; and a stick handle, that is generally long and cylindrical.
  • The bristles in the brush of a broom are typically made of plastic, straw, animal hair or other plant fibres.
  • In the early 1900s, the number of factories in the United States that manufactured brooms reached over 1000, although later, this number dropped by at least two thirds.
  • Brooms created before the 1800s were generally made by people at home, and were often impractical bundles of branches, grass and other fragile objects that collapsed under a few uses; however they became more sturdy during the 19th century due to improvements in construction, and machinery built for the purpose.

Broom, Many, Brush, Sweep, Ten Random Facts, Black, Blue, Pan, Invention

  • Witches are commonly associated with ‘besom’ style brooms, that have a long handle protruding from the centre of a bundle of bristles, as they are said to ride on them for transport purposes.
  • Levi Dickenson, a Massachusetts’ farmer in the United States, is credited with inventing a broom in 1797, that used fibres that functioned significantly better than others, and it quickly became a popular fibre for the tool.
  • The material that Levi Dickenson used in his broom was a species of sorghum, Sorghum vulgare, that became known as ‘broom corn’, and it became one of the most common fibres used for making the tool in the 1800s, and the plant is still used for this purpose today.
  • A broom is generally used by holding the handle and using a sweeping or dusting motion, while those with a handle at a slight angle to the broader, but shorter, bristled brush, allows the tool to pull or push dirt along the floor.
  • Brooms are commonly used in a metaphorical sense in poetic literature, and are often used symbolically for other purposes.
Bibliography:
Broom, 2015, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broom
Early American Brooms, n.d, Broom Shop, http://broomshop.com/history/

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Cadbury Heroes and Cadbury Favourites

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Cadbury Heroes and Cadbury Favourites

Which chocolate in the Cadbury Heroes or Favourites box is your favourite?

  • The confectionery, Cadbury ‘Heroes’ and Cadbury ‘Favourites’ are an assortment of chocolates that are usually packaged in a purple box or tin.
  • ‘Cadbury Heroes’ were originally known as ‘Cadbury Miniature Heroes’, and the chocolates are made by the Cadbury confectionery company.
  • ‘Cadbury Heroes’ is the British version of the confectionery product, while the Australian and New Zealand version is known as ‘Cadbury Favourites’.
  • Cadbury Heroes and Cadbury Favourites contain smaller versions of popular Cadbury chocolate bars, while boxes of these are available in small and large sizes.
  • The production of Cadbury Heroes is said to have been prompted by a similar confectionery assortment created by the Mars company, known as ‘Celebrations’.

Cadbury Favourites

  • Cadbury Favourites contain a different assortment of chocolates to the Cadbury Heroes chocolates; and the former has a wider selection.
  • Popular chocolates that have been featured in the assortments of Cadbury Heroes and/or Cadbury Favourites include Crunchies, Twirls, Dairy Milks, Dreams, Picnics, Time Outs, Boosts, Eclairs and Cherry Ripes.
  • Cadbury Favourites and Cadbury Heroes were released in 1998 and 1999 respectively, and quickly became a hit among chocolate fans.
  • Cadbury Heroes and Cadbury Favourites range from 7 to 12 varieties of chocolate per box, and they are available in packages that contain generally between 300 and 800 grams (10.5 and 28 ounces) of mini chocolate bars.
  • In 2008, the British Cadbury Heroes swapped their popular Crunchie chocolates, as well as Dreams, for other less popular chocolates, causing much outrage by the public.
Bibliography:
Cadbury Heroes, n.d, Cadbury, https://www.cadbury.co.uk/products/Heroes-2410?p=2410
Heroes (Confectionary), 2015, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heroes_(confectionery)
Smillie S, Heroes to Zeroes, 2008, The Guardian, http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2008/dec/19/cadbury-heroes-picnic-dream-bournville

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