New blog...skimferellascloset.blogspot.com

I started this blog for a couple of reasons.

1. practice photography
2. force myself to cook 
3. keep me from shopping (you can't leave the house while something is cooking)

So, it worked for a while but seriously....cooking is not my favorite.  I actually just love to eat.  What I find fun is fashion. It's a little shallow..yes, but so interesting and fun.  Doesn't a crazy fashion make you smile?  Well, in honor of Valentines day I am starting a new blog for my real love of fashion.  Check out Skimferella's closet.  I think I will have more interest in keeping that one going.  My closet isn't as big as my kitchen but there is definitely more action happening there.

Hot Buttered Rum Recipe for Sarah

Hot buttered rum use to be my Christmas drink.  Here is the recipe I used back in the day.

Ingredients:

1 cup butter softened
1 lb light brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamin
1 pinch all spice
1 tsp vanilla

mix well - may be refrigerated or frozen.  Use 1 round tsp with 1 shot of rum in 1 cup of hot water

Mexican Mocha Balls!!!!

One of the favorite Watt's Family Christmas Cookie Traditions

Ingredients

1 cup butter

1/2 cup sugar 

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 cups flour

1/4 cup cocoa powder

1 teaspoon instant coffee powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

1/2 cup chopped maraschino cherries

fine bakers sugar for dusting

preheat oven to 325 degrees

cream butter, sugar, and vanilla until fluffy.  Mix dry ingredients in a bowl (flour, cocoa, coffee, salt) and gradually beat in to butter mixture.  Stir in walnuts and cherries and chill for a minimum of 1 hour.  Shape into 1 inch balls and back for 20 minutes.  Cool and dust with fine sugar when still warm.

Chocolate chocolate Birthday cake!!!

first attempt at a fondant bow

1 cup butter
1 cup water
1/4 cup cocoa
2 cups flour
2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon 
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup of sour cream
2 eggs

Preheat oven to 375

Combine dry ingredients into a mixing bowl.  Melt butter, water and cocoa in a saucepan and bring to a boil and pour into dry ingredients in mixing bowl and beat together.  Beat in sour cream then add in eggs and mix well.  Bake for 20-22 minutes.  Can use a jelly roll pan for texas sheet cake style or cake rounds for a birthday cake.

For Birthday cake, make up some chocolate genache while the cake cools.  Spread genache in between layers and pour generously over the top.  Use piped icing for happy birthday saying.

Time for Gingerbread

These are good made up as men or can be cut in rounds for a ginger snap. 

These cookies are so good I'm not sure they will last long enough to decorate.  Might want to make a double batch!

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 cups brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1/2 tablespoon orange or lemon zest
• 2 tablespoons molasses
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions

1. Cream the butter and the sugar together. Add the egg and mix well. Mix in the orange/or lemon peel and molasses. Add the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, ground cloves and salt, mixing until well combined. Chill dough for at least 2 hours.  I chilled overnight.
2. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). On a lightly floured surface, roll dough out to 1/4 inch thick. Cut into desired shapes using cookie cutters. Place cookies 1 inch apart on the prepared cookie sheets.
3. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes in the preheated oven, until cookies are firm and lightly toasted on the edges.