Apricot Fudge Slice

I think I'm one of those people who needs routines in my life. The reason I say that is because this week I've started my three week practicum, which means I'm working seven and half hours a day, five days a week in a preschool. Over the past few months, since I started my studies, I have been at uni for one day and one night and in my preschool centre for two days a week, which left me four days off during the week and I loved it! The thing was, eating was annoying! I hardly ate fruit, getting enough water each day was a struggle and at my night classes I had to organise dinner. Now that I'm back to full time "work" I take the same thing for lunch, eat fruit, drink water, exercise daily and although this is only day two, I think this lifestyle is going to stick. Too bad I have three more years of student life, ahh well, having four days off a week has its advantages too!

This week on my Facebook page I asked you what recipe you wanted me to post, I was so surprised that Apricot Fudge Slice whipped Chilli Chocolate Cupcakes' butt with a whopping 10 against 3...unless you count my sneaky vote (did you see me using my real name?) So here it is, you asked for it, ask and you shall receive.

This slice is probably one of my favourites ever. Like ever, ever. I always remember one of my mums friends from Upper Hutt who used to be a baking queen (always had three or four baked goods in the pantry for her family's lunches) used to make this slice for shared morning teas and I always thought it was some secret recipe. I finally stumbled across this recipe on Chelsea's site many years later and I have never looked back. It's easy to make, reasonably cheap and tastes awesome! It's a nice sweet base with some tart dried apricots thrown in there then topped with sweet and tangy lemon icing and tonnes of delicious coconut. Ahh coconut, where would I be without you? Coconut makes everything okay.

Apricot Fudge Slice
Recipe adapted from Chelsea Sugar

Ingredients:
125g Butter
1/2 C Soft Brown Sugar
1/2 tin  (200g) Sweetened Condensed Milk
1 C Dried Apricots, Chopped
1 Packet (250g) Plain Biscuits, crushed
1/4 C Desiccated Coconut, to decorate

• Line a rectangular tin or casserole dish (approx. 20x30 cm) with baking paper and set aside.
• Heat the butter, brown sugar and sweetened condensed milk on a medium heat until the butter has melted (make sure not to boil!)
• Add the chopped apricots and crushed biscuits, I also like to add a bit of coconut in the mix too then mix well.
• Press mixture into the tin and let cool before icing.

Lemon Icing

100g Butter, softened
1 1/2 C Icing Sugar
Rind and Juice of 1 Lemon
1-2 T Hot Water

• Beat butter until light and fluffy.
• Sift in icing sugar and add lemon rind and juice to the butter.
• Mix until combined, adding water until consistency is light, fluffy and spreadable .
• Spread icing all over the fudgey slice and sprinkle with coconut straight away and press it in a little bit so it sticks better.
• Allow to set in refrigerator.

So it's just day two of my practicum and I am totally pooped, as much as I'm enjoying being in a different centre and learning heaps I sort of can't wait for uni to be over this year, I am exhausted! Although maybe I shouldn't wish away my time, I have a 50th cake and a wedding cake to do as soon as uni is finished! Crazy!  I hope your week isn't as busy and exhausting as mine! What plans do you have?