Sweet like chocolate..

This may seem a little off topic but couldn't resist the chance to have a little flutter on the Grand National. I bet on three horses Black Apalachi, Rambling Minister and Comply or Die. So they were off and the anticipation was building as horse by horse dropped out of the race. The almighty crash happened as two of my horses were out of the race. All my hopes were pinned on Comply or die... Finally the home stretch was upon the jockeys and horses were using their last pinch of energy to get past the post first...Well I took a £1 each-way bet on Comply or die and thankfully he came second!!HURAAAH!

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 Following my victory and several commiseration's i felt the need to celebrate. After a search into cupboard i find some yummy cookies. I indulged in a cuppa tea and finished the packet off!yey!

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How sweet it is to be loved by you..

So went for something a bit unusual this time round. Now I don't really like bananas but this is something VERY special and tasty. Give it a try and you may also be pleasantly surprised!

I give to you hot out the oven..

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Chocolate Banana bread!

Basic Ingredients:

55g walnuts or pecans

245g flour

30g cocoa powder

200g white sugar

1tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

85g white chocolate chips

2 large eggs

113g unsalted butter

3 ripe mashed bananas (455 g approx)

1 tsp vanilla extract

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You will also need these: Baking sheet, Loaf tin, Chopping board, Sharp knives,large mixing bowl,medium mixing bowl,wooden spoon and cooling rack.

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So lets get mixing,mashing and making!

1. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees C

2. Butter and flour the loaf tin.

3. Place nuts on baking sheet and bake for 10 mins.

4. Leave to cool and chop coarsely

5. Whisk the flour,cocoa powder,sugar,baking powder,baking soda and salt together.

6.Combine mashed banana,eggs,butter and vanilla.

7. Lightly fold all the ingredients together.

8. Batter should be thick and chunky.

9. Fold in the chocolate chips and nuts.

10. Scrape into prepared loaf tin.

11.Bake until bread has risen. Usually about 55min

12. Leave to cool.

13. Remove from tin

14. Serve warm or at room temperature.

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So please give it a go and let me know how yours turned out?!

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For all ingredients and prices visit your local supermarket website:

Sainsbury's

ASDA

Tesco

Morrisons

How sweet it is to be loved by you..

Now for the greatest invention ever involving CHOCOLATE....

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 I give to you  THE CHOCOLATE FONDUE! =)

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The superb creation of dipping anything ( yes anything you fancy) into melted chocolate has never been oh so sexy. So here's the basic ingredients and instructions for how to enjoy this new found fondue fun!

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Basic ingredients

340g dark chocolate

225g heavy cream

a pinch of salt

'Dippables' - e.g strawberries or apple chunks

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 Things you will also need: medium glass bowl, medium saucepan, whisk, fondue pot, fondue fork or skewers and large plates.

Right lets get fondue-ing =)

1. Warm cream over moderate heat until begins to boil.

2. Add the chocolate.

3. Whisk until fully melted and smooth.

4. Immediately transfer to fondue pot.

5. Arrange 'dippables' on platter.

6. Dip away and eat immediately!

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 For something a little more adventurous you could add any of these:

• baileys irish cream
•  cinnamon
• white chocolate
• vanilla pod
•  expresso powder
•  or orange zest!
  

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For all ingredients and prices visit your local supermarket website:

Sainsbury's

ASDA

Tesco

Morrisons

How sweet it is to be loved by you..

Yes it's chocolate fix time again! 

So I went on a mission to find something a little more creative in the baking/cooking department. 

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I landed on this... Chocolate Roulade.

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This recipe is traditionally from France, so you can really claim to be a super chef connoisseur. So let's get down to the nitty-gritty!

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Basic ingredients

175g Broken Dark chocolate

6 separated eggs

175g caster sugar

sifted icing sugar (for the dusting)

oil for greasing

Ingredients for the filling

85g broken dark chocolate

300ml whipped double cream

any seasonal fruit-eg blueberries,raspberries (what ever is your favourite!)

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You will also need: 

Swiss roll baking tin, greaseproof paper,2 large mixing bowls, 2 medium glass bowls,medium saucepan,wooden spoon,chopping board,whisk,large metal spoon,damp tea-towel,fine strainer, knife for spreading filling (you can use whatever is easy)

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Right so you've rummaged through the cupboards so let's get baking!

1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees

2. Lightly grease swiss roll tin and line with greaseproof paper.

3. Melt the chocolate and leave to slightly cool.

4. Mix egg yolks and sugar in large bowl. 

5.Whisk for 5 minutes.

6. Add melted chocolate to mix and stir in well.

7.In separate bowl mix egg whites until stiff.

8. Using large metal spoon fold into the chocolate mixture.

9. Turn chocolate mixture into tin.

10. Make sure spreads evenly and into every corner.

11. Bake for 20 minutes or until firm.

12. Leave to cool for 3 minutes.

13.Place clean damp tea-towel over cake with a board on top.

14. Turn over and remove the tin and greaseproof paper.

15.  Roll up cake with damp tea-towel to keep moist.

16. Leave to stand for 5 minutes.

17. Now make the filling.

18. Melt chocolate and leave to cool slightly.

19.Quickly fold into the whipped cream.

20.Make sure the chocolate doesn't split and sets to form a mousse.

21. Unroll cooled cake.

22.Spread the chocolate mousse evenly over the cake. Leave a 2cm margin all round.

23.Sprinkle fruit or other filling over mousse.

24.Carefully roll cake up again.

25.Dust with icing sugar.

26. Serve and enjoy the fruits of your labour!!

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To make a variation to this you could add nuts to the filling or maybe a drop of liqueur or brandy.

For all ingredients and prices visit your local supermarket website:

Sainsbury's

ASDA

Tesco

Morrisons

How sweet it is to be loved by you...

This yummy treat is one that every woman should ATTEMPT to make. If you can't stretch your culinary skills this far just nick a slice off someone! So here is how to make it...

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Basic Ingredients

100g butter

250ml milk

1 tsp red wine vinegar

100g plain chocolate (melted)

15g cocoa powder

300g self-raising flour

1tsp bicarbonate of soda

225g golden caster sugar

2 eggs

For the Icing

225g plain chocolate

100g butter

142ml double cream

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Other things you will need: cake tin,baking paper,large mixing bowl, wooden spoon,electric whisk,glass bowl,medium saucepan,medium knife, spoon for spreading icing.

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Right so now for the baking..

1. Preheat the oven to 160 degrees

2. Grease cake tin and line with baking paper

3. Mix milk and Vinegar together.

4. Place other ingredients for cake in large mixing bowl.

5. Pour in the milk mix and beat until smooth.

6. Spread mix into cake tin.

7. Bake for an hour until firm in the middle.

WHILST BAKING MAKE ICING.SEE BELOW.

8. Leave to cool for at least 10 mins.

9. Halve the cake through the middle.

10. Spread a quarter of icing on 1 half and sandwich together.

11.Spread the rest over the top and sides.

Whilst baking cake make the icing...

1. Melt the chocolate and butter together for 3 mins.

2. Stir until smooth and beat in the cream.

3. Cool slightly

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Feel free to further decorate to your hearts desire. Can use chocolate buttons or sprinkles, fresh fruit anything you can think of will make it special.

For all ingredients and prices visit your local supermarket website:

Sainsbury's

ASDA

Tesco

Morrisons

How sweet it is to be loved by you

As you ay be aware I am a MASSIVE chocoholic and have the most sweetest tooth. 
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I guarantee no-one else loves sweet things more than me! All that sugar just sends me wild! I love love LOVE it! 

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Ha ha so I'm on the hunt for a quick fix. 

I remember that Jake bought me some minstrels at the weekend. Finally find them in the abyss the has taken over my room. 

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And yes I'd devoured them all already! Boooo.To my utter horror I had no chocolate.

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Gladly my subconscious had remembered of this lack of chocolate and forced me into tesco last night. 

What should I find still hiding in the bag? YESSSSS Chocolate! Whuey. So saved the 

day and got my fix!

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How sweet it is to be loved by you

Chocolate Cookie Receipe.

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Everyone young,old and in between loves chocolate chip cookies! So give it a try and enjoy the benefits of your hard labour.

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Ingredients

113g of unsalted butter

110g brown sugar

50g white sugar

1 large egg

1 tsp vanilla extract

140g all purpose flour

30g coca powder

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/8tsp salt

260 chocolate chips

You will also need: 2 baking trays, greaseproof paper,electric mixer,whisk,sieve and tablespoon.

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so now you have gathered all those ingredients-don't be tempted to eat the chocolate yet!- let's get baking!

1.Preheat the oven to 350 degrees c

2.Line two baking trays with greaseproof paper.

3.Cream butter and sugars in mixer for about 3mins (Should be light and fluffy)

4.Add egg and vanilla extract.

5.Beat ingredients together.

6.Sift together the coca powder,flour,baking powder and salt.

7.Add to the main mixture.

8. Mix together for 1 minute.

9.Add in chocolate chips.

10.Mix together.

11.Scoop mixture out  onto baking trays.

12.Place about 1/2 tablespoon each 5cm apart.

13. Bake for about 8mins (cookies should be soft in the centre but firm on edges)

14.Take out and let cool down.

15. Wait 5 mins and enjoy!

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You can add anything extra to the mixture such as cherries,nuts or many varieties of chocolate chips!

So give this a try and let me know how it turns out!

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visit your local supermarket website for prices.

Sainsbury's

ASDA

Tesco

Morrisions