The Thousands

I grew up in a dry house. It wasn’t that my parents were recovering alcoholics, just God-fearing squares. The closest thing we got to alcohol at Chistmas was a bottle of rose Maison (that shit isn’t alcoholic by the way, Mum) or when the black sheep of the family, my vivacious Aunty Marg, would bring a plate of loaded rum balls to share. Here’s her recipe (makes about 30 balls):

Ingredients:
8 weet-bix
2 tabs cocoa (make them nice and heaped)
1 tin condensed milk
1 cup sultanas / raisins
5 tbs dark rum (ok here’s where I think Aunty Marg got a bit loose – most recipes have only 1, so add more weet-bix if mixture is too moist)
1 cup desiccated coconut
Extra coconut for rolling

Method:
1. crush weet-bix in a large bowl
2. add remaining ingredients
3. stir well
4. roll into desired sized balls and coat in coconut
5. freeze

Now you can use just about any kind of rum, but if you want to be all fancy pants about it use a top-shelf rum – with the remainder you can try your hand at a batch of eggnog.

PS: Martha Stewart’s recipe also gives Aunty Marg’s a run for its money.