'Tempting' 'Irresistible' 'Satisfying'.... these are just a couple of adjectives that sum chocolate up for most of us......actually I think for even the most flippant, chocolate's powers are simply too seductive to escape.
Whether it's the idea of that smooth silkiness on your tongue, the dense aromatic richness of the cocoa or the instant gratuitous fix that one gets when it hits your taste buds, more is what always comes to mind.
Whether it's the idea of that smooth silkiness on your tongue, the dense aromatic richness of the cocoa or the instant gratuitous fix that one gets when it hits your taste buds, more is what always comes to mind.
So alluring is chocolate that even Hollywood has
made a movie about it's intoxicating powers. "Who can forget
those romantic scenes of Juliet Binoche as a 1950's chocolatier
winning that small French village over with the pleasures of her
craft."
In my books, keep it simple let the chocolate do the
talking! None of these 'choco snobs' for me. Price doesn't always
count when it comes to taste. I suppose you should be selective when
making your choice, a brand with above 70 percent of cocoa solids
should do the trick, but then again, when no chocolate has passed your
lips in awhile, it's surprising what one will settle for.
It always amazes me that even the most unassuming
desert or boring dish can immediately be given star
status with this special ingredient.
The humble chocolate muffin, taken to indulgent levels with an oozy soft center.
" The perfect chocolate cake should be damp, rather than dry and should have a hint of pudding about them" says Nigella, and in my opinion whatever Nigella says I follow!
Like I said before, keep it simple! Like these fridge chocolate biscuits. These are one of my favourite indulgences that I find simply irresistible and to top it off they are the easiest, quickest treats to knock together ever.
Fridge Chocolate Biscuits
500g of icing sugar
4tblspoons of cocoa powder
250g of butter
1 packet of marie biscuits or any plain tea biscuits
1/2 cup of dessicated coconut (optional)
1/2 cup of raisins (optional)
Melt butter in a saucepan on a low heat, then add icing sugar and cocoa powder, stirring until it's silky smooth. Add lightly crushed (with your hands) marie biscuits, coconut and raisins. Continue stirring until all the ingredients are well coated and mixed together.
Take saucepan off the heat and pour mixture into a buttered 22 -32 cm dish/tin. Let it cool, then put it in the fridge for an hour or two.
Cut into squares and enjoy!
Chocolate Brownie Desert
225g butter
4 eggs
2 cups of sugar
3/4 cup of cocoa
1/2 cup of all-purpose flour
Seeds from 1 vanilla bean or 1tsp of vanilla essence
Melt butter and then leave to cool. Beat eggs and sugar in a bowl for 5 to 10 mins until it is light yellow in colour and has a thick consistency. Add the vanilla seeds blending well and then add the sifted four and cocoa. Mix until combined and then add the cooled butter pouring in slowly and blending well until just combined.
Pour the mixture into a buttered 9 x 12 inch dish and place the dish into a larger baking pan. Fill the pan with very hot water until halfway up the side of the dish and bake in a preheated oven at 325 degrees F for 1 hour. Insert a skewer 5cm from the edge of the dish and if it comes out 3/4 clean, it is done.
The center should appear under-baked, between a brownie and a pudding.
Serve with whipped cream and raspberries.
"Nine out of ten people like chocolate. The tenth person always lies."
John Q. Tullius
