Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Sad Neglected Blog.

 Wilted flowers. Still pretty.

 Image from here

This little space has been so neglected lately, there's just so much going on and I'm behind in everything I'm doing.  I pin the blame on a new job, keeping me busy while trying to juggle all the other balls. On the upside I get to work with fabric in this new job and that's always a good thing, right?!

Saturday, April 5, 2014

Giving :: Rum Balls

My mother-in-law makes the most delicious Rum Balls!  They are not too squishy, not too rum-my, and freeze really well, which can make for an organised lead up to Christmas.  Perfect for gifting to friends, neighbours, colleagues, and teachers, the only downside would be all the rolling involved in making enough for all those eager recipients!


Rum Balls
1/2 pound dark chocolate, melted
1/2 tin sweetened condensed milk
4 Tablespoons chopped walnuts
4 Tablespoons chopped glace cherries
4 Tablespoons dessicated coconut
12 Nice biscuits, crushed
2 Tablespoons rum
optional - a little preserved ginger, finely chopped.
chocolate sprinkles

Melt chocolate in the microwave in 30sec bursts, stirring after each zap. Did you know that chocolate can hold it's shape even when melted, so you could end up with a burned mass of chocolate (that doesn't look melted but really is) if you don't stir it?
While that's happening I crush my biscuits in the food processor, then add to melted chocolate with the condensed milk.
Then I whizz the walnuts and cherries in the food processor and add to the other ingredients in the bowl along with the dessicated coconut, and rum. Stir well until combined and roll into walnut sized balls, then roll in chocolate sprinkles.
Place them in an airtight container in the freezer for storage and remove as needed for guests or gifts.

Notes
You can make these as big or as small as you want, my MIL makes small ones, just a little bite. While I get impatient with rolling and make slightly bigger ones! Just remember that they're quite rich so a little goes a long way - I've seen some huge rum balls in cafes but haven't ever tried them, these would be too rich if made that size.