Sunday 29 December 2013

Christmas Baking - Snickerdoodles!

Hi friends!

It's been really really busy around here over Christmas....and yes, I've been really really lazy.....so this blog post is a little late in getting out. I know some of my friends have been waiting very patiently for this. And others have quite bluntly said "hurry up Bill!" so here I am....I've peeled myself off the lounge and am ready to tell you about my lovely Kitchen Adventure baking Snickerdoodles.

Firstly, snickerdoodles are NOT made out of snickers chocolate bars :) They are a super yummy USA sugar cookie that is rolled in cinamon sugar before baking. Yes, they are the cinamon donut of the cookie world.

Yes I know, stop talking Bill and show us the cookies! But first - credit where it's due.
Thank you to my friends Ellie and Edmond for introducing me to these lovely treats!
And thank you to Mrs Betty Crocker for the recipe :)

I won't write out the recipe here - just click on the link above and be magically taken to Mrs Crocker's recipe page. One note for non-American kitchen friends........ our friends in the USA have an ingredient called shortening. I don't know about Europe, but here in Aussie Land we don't have anything that really compares, so I just used extra butter instead of shortening. It worked out real well.

Ok - PHOTOS! Here we go.........the Snickerdoodles........here they are just out of the oven.....


They look quite yummy don't they. Can you see the cinamon?.....

 The recipe sure made a lot of cookies!!!!!.........


I let my Mumma Bear have one with her cup of tea. (Just one mind you).......


Well, you know what we do now don't you friends?
.......nom nom nom

Bill xx

Friday 20 December 2013

Mini Christmas Pudding Balls

Hi friends!

One of my favourite things about Christmas is the nommy Christmas food. Mumma Bear and I have been very busy in the kitchen - she has to supervise me whenever I use the stove or the oven......something about me being highly flammable!

Here is one of my favourite Christmas treats. It's very yummy and super easy to make, so very bear friendly! Mini Christmas Pudding Balls!
.....as always - a recipe in pictures :)

You'll need 400g of fruit cake (that's about half of a store bought fruit cake if you live in Aussie Land). Crumble it all up in a big bowl so you have fruit cake crumbs....



Then melt 100g of dark chocolate with 60g butter. None of that bowl over the pan of simmering water nonsense.....if you have the heat really low you can just melt this straight on the stovetop - the butter gives it a high enough fat content that you won't burn the chocolate. Just keep stirring over a teeny heat and take it off the heat when about 80% melted. Keep stirring and the residual heat will finish the melting for you....




....stirring....stirring....stirring......



Pour this chocolate mixture into the cake crumbs and mix it all together.....


Ok now, here's the messy part.....you may want to wear disposable gloves like I do.....


Get tablespoon fulls of the mixture and roll it into balls.....like this......


Place all the balls on a tray lined with baking paper and stick it in the fridge for a couple of hours.....


When they have been in the fridge for a while, the pudding balls will feel firm and be easy to decorate. You can use icing or white chocolate and then sprinkle anything you like over the top. I've used white chocolate and decorated with metallic cashous, Wilton's sugar gems and sprinkles, and crushed candy canes....


You know the rest don't you friends.......only one thing left to do.......nom nom nom


Merry Christmas!


Bill xx