Friday 27 March 2009

Merry Go Round

Jump on and join a group of artists/crafts-women as they link around the world and tell you a little about their lives in art and craft.

Our question for this month is: Your favourite recipe is...?

Well, this is interesting...because I can't cook - if I have to cook for anyone, I simply go to pieces. Many friends will testify to that! Which makes writing this post a trifle (no pun intended!) difficult, so here's our favourite, incredibly simple treat...courtesy of that kitchen goddess, Nigella Lawson (but we swap her pistachios for crumbled digestive biscuits...now you have a clue for how simple this is!!)
Take one lazy Saturday morning, add to that two willing little girls, a mass of chocolate (no-one said it was good for you...after all, it is a treat!) and a woodcutter who adores anything sweet (usually cake, but this is an equal first in the favourite stakes), and we're ready.

Ingredients:
350g/12oz dark chocolate, at least 70 per cent cocoa solids, chopped
1 x 397g/14oz can condensed milk
30g/1oz butter
pinch salt
150g/5¼oz unsalted pistachios, shells removed (or biscuits!)


Firstly, pop all of the chopped chocolate, condensed milk, butter and salt into a heavy-based pan over a low heat and stir until fully melted and thoroughly mixed.
Whilst the chocolate mix is melting, stick the nuts (or biscuits) into a freezer bag and crush them with a rolling pin, until broken up into some large and some small pieces (memories of Home Ec classes come flooding back every time). Remember to stir the mixture in the pan every now and again.
Tip the nuts (biscuits) into the melted chocolate mixture and stir well.
Dollop the mixture into a 23cm/9in square tray, smoothing the top with a wet palette knife.
After cooling, pop it into the fridge until set.
Cut into small pieces approximately 1.5cms square.

Once cut, the fudge can be kept in the freezer - there's no need to thaw, just eat straight away.
I told you it was simple! That bit in red? That's the best bit! It's fab straight from the freezer - in fact, you really must keep it in there - and this recipe makes such a mountain of fudge, you'll have a lovely store of it to enjoy for ages. I guess you could just make less in the first place, but to be honest, our families love it so much that after we've had some and bagged up some more for them, it's all gone!


Please pop in on my friends (this week we're pleased to welcome Nikki, Jenny and Wendren to the team) who are part of the Merry Go Round meme - everyone's links are in the sidebar - and see what they enjoy cooking up! We're all posting from different time zones, so do pop back if necessary. Thank you!

13 comments:

Mariana said...

I love Nigella!!!! Her recipies are always so rich...not minding the calories too much... which I like...
Im not a good cook either. I never did any cooking until I moved in with my husband... before that, when I was living on my own, I just ate out a lot! LOL

Will have to try this one!

meherio68 said...

Yummy! How can you even consider chocolate might not be good for you? ;))

kendall.micayla said...

Sounds delicious! I love anything with chocolate even distantly related to it. :)
Thanks for sharing this!
Kendall

Easterya said...

AHHHHH, chocolate at its best!! Thanks for this!! I love Nigella too, anyone who likes butter, cream and chocolate gets my vote!

Sara Millis said...

Oh fudge will be the ruin of me... when I go to craft fair I always prewarn D to be on the look out for the fudge stall, so that he can halt my temptation before it finds my nose... needless to say he hasn't yet been sucessful!!

Beaded Zen said...

I like that u can keep it in the fridge :)

Gina said...

That sound yummy! I love Nigella's recipes - they make you want to eat!

Ruth said...

It's interesting that all the recipes I've read so far on our merry go round are sweet and yummy and make you drool! I think the biscuit substitute sounds much nicer than pistachios! Good choice!

Jenny said...

Seems like we are a few who likes chocolate and yummy things!
And of course it is good for you :)

Unknown said...

Congratulations Charlotte! You are one of my giveaway winners! You won the original mixed media artwork! Email at sophieisobeldesigns@hotmail.com and let me know your details!
Thanks so much for your support!
Sophie x

trisha too said...

this sounds rich and YUMMY--
thanks for sharing!
:)

Jackie said...

I really wish you hadn't.
Don't you know I have a chocolate habit?
You would if you could see me.
x

Contessa Kris said...

Your recipe sounds scrumptious. I'll have to try making it! I've been keeping a list of my favorite recipes to make on my new foodies blog: http://www.LookOutStomach.blogspot.com.