The only reason it didn't take first place is because my 5th child/my only daughter Paige was born on Valentines day! This box of love arrived, in a gaily wrapped package, towards the end of the day yesterday. Now I know some of you will immediately recognize this stuff, but for those who don't, this is candy, (lollies) Australian candy. I'm an Aussie by birth, but transplanted to the states many, many years ago, and some of this stuff I haven't even seen, let alone tasted, for 40 years! OMG!!! My oldest granddaughter Katey (10) lives in California, and several weeks back she did a project for school about her heritage, so she called me to pick my brains about my history and gather info. We talked for 45 minutes or so, and part of that conversation included typical Australian food, so of course candy came up. I thought nothing further about that whole episode, beyond getting together a bunch of old family photos (thankfully I'd previously scanned them in to the computer!) and sending them on to her. A couple of weeks later her Dad posted this on my Facebook page and also thanked me profusely for all my help. Apparently Katey's project was the most popular! I guess Katey or her Dad (my oldest son Corey ) must have taken some very specific notes, because in that lovely box of treats were samples of my most favorite candy that I'd told Katey I'd missed the most!! Tim Tams. Without question the best bikky (cookie) on the planet! Delicious chewy bits of cherry encased in Australian dark chocolate. A bite of heaven! Like M&M's, only better …. in part because they have no artificial coloUrs or flavoUrs (took me forever to get used to the American spelling of those words!) and of course, because they come from Oz! Delicious flakey, airy, crumbly layers of milk chocolate. Mmmmm. And of course, no Australian care package would be complete without an offering of Vegemite! Best bread spread since butter. I was completely and utterly blown away! I actually danced around my living room, screaming about each thing I pulled out of the box that was the best yummy-deliciousness ever!! I don't think I've been that excited since the birth of my children lol! It was a very sweet, wonderful thing for my son to do, and when I called him to thank him, he was just tickled! Said he was glad to do it and was thrilled that it created the desired effect! The family's coming over tonight to celebrate Paige's birthday. I'm so excited to give them little tastes of all this stuff, and to share this little bit of their heritage with them.
My bosses daughter married an Australian and I've been privvy to sample a couple of the treats. Great present!
What a wonderful and thoughtful gift Ronni. Enjoy every mouthful and the memories they bring to mind. :-D
Many of those treats I have found at stores in the Dallas area, Kroger and World Market. If you have either of those in your area you won't have to wait for special packages. World Market is also named Cost Plus World Market in some parts of the U.S. Congrats on the new grandchild...I would love to have a granddaughter but I don't see one in my foreseeable future
Thank you everyone! I am very lucky. Toni, I have both Kroger AND World Market in my neighborhood. I've found some Cadbury's chocoates and various other Australian foods in both (gravies, sodas etc.,) but not Tim Tams, nor any of my favorite chocolates. You're not the only one who's suggested looking at Kroger and World Market. I was chatting with a friend of mine just this morning who routinely gets Tim Tams at her World Market…..now if I just lived in Atlanta! The kids will be here in an hour, to celibrate Paige's 25th birthday. And how can it possibly be that my YOUNGEST child is 25 years old???? I can't POSSIBLY be that old….can I? Anyway they'll be here soon, and then the taste fest will begin!!
I love getting gifts like that - your daughter obviously put much thought and love into that package. We have all of those things here in Canada except for the Tim Tam, but I'll be looking for that now. What a great gift!
What a lucky girl you are. I know those goodies from my time in Oz. I wasn't half drooling. Did you scarf them down all at once ;-), or will you spread them out?
Thank you all. Not that it makes much difference at all, but it was my son, (not my daughter) who was behind the gift. The reference to my daughter was that Paige was born on Valentine's Day 25 years ago, which continues to be the best Valentine's Day present ever! Speaking of whom, we had a fun time celebrating her birthday last night! My granddaughter Lucy, and Jazz. Kinfolk. Paige and William, and their two children River and Lucy Two of my sons, Cameron and Devin My housemate Lee ("Boppy" to the grandkids) and River enjoying a moment. River watching a video with Uncle Devin Blowing out the candles These sweet faces just melt my heart!
