rocky road - concocted by my good friend Katie!

Katie's made stunning Rocky Road (recipe here) - it looks so awesomely yum that I wanted to post the pic here - more encouragement for you! She managed to take pictures before eating it - that in itself guarantees extra brownie points...or extra rocky road points?

I'll check on exact nature of rocks and get back to you, but in the meantime let's make your mouth water...


Update: rocks were maltesers, marshmallows and glace cherries

A nice big slab of rocky road

Well at least, that's how it started out, until it'd been cut into manageable chunks, piled up high, then steadily devoured. Shame to chunk it up, being as it's meant to be a rocky ROAD, but I think about an inch square is enough to enjoy without feeling guilty - so guilt-free that you could have several small chunks.

I used Nigella Lawson's basic recipe and my own assorted chunks - say what you like about the lady, but she certainly knows her rocky road. My adapted recipe is below.

Ingredients:

125 soft unsalted butter

200g milk chocolate, broken into pieces

100g good quality dark chocolate, broken into pieces

3tbsp golden syrup

200g rich tea biscuits

arbitrary amount of:

mini marshmallows

Mars Planets

Maltesers

50g white chocolate to decorate

Method

1. Heat the butter, chocolate and golden syrup in a microwaveable bowl, in said microwave. Keep microwave on 80% power and do 30seconds at a time to avoid burning/over heating chocolate. When melted, scoop out around 125ml of the mixture and set aside.

2. Put the biscuits into a plastic freezer bag and bash with a rolling pin until you have some crumbs and some, er, rocks. Give your other crunchy ingredients a bit of a bashing in the same manner.

3. Fold it all into the mixture, along with any squishy ingredients you might've chosen to use (raisins, glacé cherries, dates etc.)

4. Line a baking tin (approx. 24cm/9in square) with foil and tip in the mixture. Pour over the reserved non-chunky mixture and smooth the top with a spatula.

5. Refrigerate for around two hours, or overnight.

6. To serve, melt your small amount of white chocolate and drizzle over the top however you please. It might need a little re-chilling after this, but the cold rocky road should set it fairly quickly. Cut into squares or fingers or rhombuses or whatever you choose, stack up on a plate, and feed housewarming guests.

Other variations include Nigella's Christmas rocky road, using gingernut biscuits and a higher proportion of dark chocolate for a more 'grown up' feel, adding nuts, only using marshmallows...as you will see if you Google "rocky road recipe", one of the joys of rocky road is that nearly anything goes and proportions are flexible. What could be easier?

The picture above and pictures of empty plates is all I have, so this will have to do, but I can guarantee yours will look tempting, no matter what you bung in.

11th October - fennel and potato gratin

My latest food adventure has been to sign up to get a small mixed organic box from Abel and Cole - less because they were organic, more because I can get surprise fruit and veg to my door every other Tuesday.

This serves several purposes - the box often contains things I wouldn't voluntarily buy. Unless I don't like the taste of anything on the list (a rarity) I won't remove it from that week's box. But I do have to think of something yum to make with it! Somewhat inspiring.

Aside from that (and how selective it is - hate aubergines? You'll never have to have a single one) I ordered some soups (Mushroom Soup with Tarragon and Juniper - yum, Caremelised Onion - don't bother) and some brie too. In fact, I can add bits and bobs to my delivery as and when I like, then just send the boxes back with them the next time.

I get a box every other week, but now that I've been made redundant and can eat all meals at home, I think I might try getting one every week for a bit.

So, this particular week I got fennel and potatoes as two of my ingredients.

Fennel is YUM. Potatoes are good comfort food. Throw in cream and nutmeg and milk and put parmesan on top and you'll decide not to eat cheese for days...but then you'll have leftovers!







Before it went in the oven...I was too greedy after it came out to remember to take a picture!