Question about an Australian ingredient - Colpha

In article <h00of.41465$4l5.39245@dukeread05>,

Roberta said:

A friend has asked for a "translation" of an Australian Christmas recipe.

The only thing I really didn't know was - what is Colpha? I seem to
remember it being something like what we call shortening (Crisco) A
solid "fat" product.

Am I close? If not, is there anything that might be an acceptable
replacement?

Thank you

Roberta (in VA)

I think it's Copha and it's like Crisco. Have you searched?
--
http://www.jamlady.eboard.com, updated 12-13-05 - RIP, Gerri

Roberta said:

A friend has asked for a "translation" of an Australian Christmas recipe.

The only thing I really didn't know was - what is Colpha? I seem to
remember it being something like what we call shortening (Crisco) A
solid "fat" product.

Am I close? If not, is there anything that might be an acceptable
replacement?

Thank you

Roberta (in VA)

I think you're looking for copra. It's a coconut product. I think I
have seen Crisco given as a substitute for it before. Do a search for
the word with that spelling and see what you turn up. Or maybe an
Australian will be able to answer your question :-)

Pat

(found in www.gourmetsleuth.com )

Only type in ingredient or food terms. Don't use phrases like
substitute for tomatoes only type tomatoes and each item will show
substitutes if they are available. Don't use quotes!
Not finding what you are looking for? Click Here to search our entire
site.

Copha

Copha is vegetable shortening made of solidified coconut oil. The
product is used in cookies and other desserts. While infrequently used
in the US it is quite popular in Australia.

Substitutions
Vegetable shortening
--------------------------
Hope that helps. (I had never heard of copha before)
Cheers,
Nancree

Roberta said:

A friend has asked for a "translation" of an Australian Christmas recipe.

The only thing I really didn't know was - what is Colpha? I seem to
remember it being something like what we call shortening (Crisco) A
solid "fat" product.

Am I close? If not, is there anything that might be an acceptable
replacement?

Thank you

Roberta (in VA)

http://whatscookingamerica.net/Q-A/copha.htm

--
You wanna measure or you wanna cook?

"Roberta" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:h00of.41465$4l5.39245@dukeread05...

Quoted message said:

A friend has asked for a "translation" of an Australian Christmas recipe.

The only thing I really didn't know was - what is Colpha? I seem to
remember it being something like what we call shortening (Crisco) A
solid "fat" product.

Am I close? If not, is there anything that might be an acceptable
replacement?

Thank you

Roberta (in VA)

It's "copha" not "copra" and it is a hydrogenated vegetable oil. It is a
solid white block that melts fairly easily to a clear liquid whcih
re-solidifies when cooled, there may be other products the same by another
name in your area. It is traditionally used to make chocolate crackles
which are rice-bubbles with copha flavoured with cocoa and sugar poured
over.

David

Melba's Jammin said:

In article <h00of.41465$4l5.39245@dukeread05>,

Roberta said:

A friend has asked for a "translation" of an Australian Christmas recipe.

The only thing I really didn't know was - what is Colpha? I seem to
remember it being something like what we call shortening (Crisco) A
solid "fat" product.

Am I close? If not, is there anything that might be an acceptable
replacement?

Thank you

Roberta (in VA)

I think it's Copha and it's like Crisco. Have you searched?

I searched for colpha and only came up with the same recipe she was
asking about ... thank you for pointing out the spelling error that
should make it easier to find lol

Roberta (in VA)

Roberta said:

A friend has asked for a "translation" of an Australian Christmas recipe.

The only thing I really didn't know was - what is Colpha? I seem to
remember it being something like what we call shortening (Crisco) A
solid "fat" product.

Am I close? If not, is there anything that might be an acceptable
replacement?

Thank you

Roberta (in VA)

Replying to my own post since so many of you replied 🙂

Thank you all so much - you helped me tons! The spelling error really
was a huge problem lol

Roberta (in VA)

Roberta <[email hidden]> wrote in news:h00of.41465$4l5.39245
@dukeread05:

Quoted message said:

A friend has asked for a "translation" of an Australian Christmas recipe.

The only thing I really didn't know was - what is Colpha? I seem to
remember it being something like what we call shortening (Crisco) A
solid "fat" product.

I see that you've had plenty of answers on Copha. I'm just curious as to
what the recipe is for. Is it for White Christmas? That's a popular
Christmas recipe and uses Copha.

Rhonda Anderson
Cranebrook, NSW, Australia

Rhonda Anderson said:

Roberta <[email hidden]> wrote in news:h00of.41465$4l5.39245
@dukeread05:

Quoted message said:

A friend has asked for a "translation" of an Australian Christmas recipe.

The only thing I really didn't know was - what is Colpha? I seem to
remember it being something like what we call shortening (Crisco) A
solid "fat" product.

I see that you've had plenty of answers on Copha. I'm just curious as to
what the recipe is for. Is it for White Christmas? That's a popular
Christmas recipe and uses Copha.

Rhonda Anderson
Cranebrook, NSW, Australia

As a matter of fact yes 🙂

This is the recipe she was asking about - complete with typo 🙂

White Christmas from Australia
3 cups rice bubbles
1 cup mixed fruit
1 cup dessicated coconut
1 cup dry powdered milk
3/4 cup of sifted icing
sugar
225 grams colpha
vanilla essence

1. Put 3 cups of rice bubbles, 1 cup of mixed fruit, dessicated coconut,
dry powdered milk and 3/4 sifted icing sugar in a bowl.

2. Melt 225 grams copha in saucepan. Add copha to dry ingredients in
bowl - mix well.

3. Press mixture firmly into a biscuit tray. Set in a refrigerator. Cut
into squares.

Roberta (in VA)

Roberta <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:5vdof.41744$4l5.15537@dukeread05:

Quoted message said:

Rhonda Anderson wrote:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I see that you've had plenty of answers on Copha. I'm just curious as
to what the recipe is for. Is it for White Christmas? That's a
popular Christmas recipe and uses Copha.

Quoted message said:

As a matter of fact yes 🙂

This is the recipe she was asking about - complete with typo 🙂

(I've left the recipe below). Thought it might have been White Christmas
you were "translating".I haven't had it for years - not one of my
favourites - but it's still quite popular AFAIK. I think the supermarket
even sells containers of it at Christmas, but it's very simple to make
yourself, as you can see from the recipe. The "mixed fruit" here would be
a commercial mix sold for fruitcake making etc. usually containing
raisins, sultanas, currants, glace cherries (in the good quality stuff,
those disgusting fake gelatine cherries in the cheap stuff!). It should
have the glace cherries in it for authentic looking White Christmas <g>
Make sure she knows that the desiccated coconut isn't a sweetened
coconut. This is sweet enough as it is, I think!

Hope your friend enjoys it.

Rhonda Anderson
Cranebrook, NSW, Australia

Quoted message said:

White Christmas from Australia
3 cups rice bubbles
1 cup mixed fruit
1 cup dessicated coconut
1 cup dry powdered milk
3/4 cup of sifted icing
sugar
225 grams colpha
vanilla essence

1. Put 3 cups of rice bubbles, 1 cup of mixed fruit, dessicated
coconut, dry powdered milk and 3/4 sifted icing sugar in a bowl.

2. Melt 225 grams copha in saucepan. Add copha to dry ingredients in
bowl - mix well.

3. Press mixture firmly into a biscuit tray. Set in a refrigerator.
Cut into squares.

"Rhonda Anderson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Roberta <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:5vdof.41744$4l5.15537@dukeread05:

Quoted message said:

Rhonda Anderson wrote:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I see that you've had plenty of answers on Copha. I'm just curious as
to what the recipe is for. Is it for White Christmas? That's a
popular Christmas recipe and uses Copha.

Quoted message said:

As a matter of fact yes 🙂

This is the recipe she was asking about - complete with typo 🙂

(I've left the recipe below). Thought it might have been White Christmas
you were "translating".I haven't had it for years - not one of my
favourites - but it's still quite popular AFAIK. I think the supermarket
even sells containers of it at Christmas, but it's very simple to make
yourself, as you can see from the recipe. The "mixed fruit" here would be
a commercial mix sold for fruitcake making etc. usually containing
raisins, sultanas, currants, glace cherries (in the good quality stuff,
those disgusting fake gelatine cherries in the cheap stuff!). It should
have the glace cherries in it for authentic looking White Christmas <g>
Make sure she knows that the desiccated coconut isn't a sweetened
coconut. This is sweet enough as it is, I think!

Hope your friend enjoys it.

Rhonda Anderson
Cranebrook, NSW, Australia

Quoted message said:

White Christmas from Australia
3 cups rice bubbles
1 cup mixed fruit
1 cup dessicated coconut
1 cup dry powdered milk
3/4 cup of sifted icing
sugar
225 grams colpha
vanilla essence

1. Put 3 cups of rice bubbles, 1 cup of mixed fruit, dessicated
coconut, dry powdered milk and 3/4 sifted icing sugar in a bowl.

2. Melt 225 grams copha in saucepan. Add copha to dry ingredients in
bowl - mix well.

3. Press mixture firmly into a biscuit tray. Set in a refrigerator.
Cut into squares.

funny...we have just made a couple of batches last Sunday, for our annual
Christmas get-together.cook up

same basic recipe, the main difference is that we only used glace cherries
(red, green and yellow, chopped) rather than mixed fruit, as several of us
don't like sultanas, or mixed peel or whatever. We also use more fruit. If
anyone wants a slightly different version, let me know and I'll post it

came out great, most of it has gone, and it looks like we'll be making more
before the 25th!

"MG" <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

funny...we have just made a couple of batches last Sunday, for our
annual Christmas get-together.cook up

same basic recipe, the main difference is that we only used glace
cherries (red, green and yellow, chopped) rather than mixed fruit, as
several of us don't like sultanas, or mixed peel or whatever. We also
use more fruit. If anyone wants a slightly different version, let me
know and I'll post it

came out great, most of it has gone, and it looks like we'll be making
more before the 25th!

Most of the ones I've seen have red and green cherries as well as the
mixed fruit - not necessarily peel, though. Your family must enjoy it
<g>. It's not really something I like all that much. I'd just have one
piece. I'm the same with chocolate crackles - one is plenty for me, but
my husband would eat a whole plateful! It's all the copha I think - the
feeling of it in the mouth is not something I want a lot of.

Rhonda Anderson
Cranebrook, NSW, Australia

"Rhonda Anderson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"MG" <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

funny...we have just made a couple of batches last Sunday, for our
annual Christmas get-together.cook up

same basic recipe, the main difference is that we only used glace
cherries (red, green and yellow, chopped) rather than mixed fruit, as
several of us don't like sultanas, or mixed peel or whatever. We also
use more fruit. If anyone wants a slightly different version, let me
know and I'll post it

came out great, most of it has gone, and it looks like we'll be making
more before the 25th!

Most of the ones I've seen have red and green cherries as well as the
mixed fruit - not necessarily peel, though. Your family must enjoy it
<g>. It's not really something I like all that much. I'd just have one
piece. I'm the same with chocolate crackles - one is plenty for me, but
my husband would eat a whole plateful! It's all the copha I think - the
feeling of it in the mouth is not something I want a lot of.

Rhonda Anderson
Cranebrook, NSW, Australia

Rhonda, that copha mouth feeling is exactly the reason I don't indulge in
choc crackles, but for some reason, the white Christmas doesn't have that
same feeling

though I'm not the one who's eating the stuff...too much sweetness for me
<bg>

Maria