
If you're looking for a nice easy recipe for something that looks and tastes good to whallop in a pretty tin or bag this Christmas, then look no further. Fudge. None of that boiling and thermometer nonsense here. But it does involve chocolate.
350g/12oz dark chocolate (min 70% cocoa solids)
1 x 397g/14oz can condensed milk
30g/1oz butter
pinch of salt (optional)
150g of nuts/fruit/glace cherries/marshmallows/insert your own idea
Put the chocolate, condensed milk, butter and pinch of salt (optional) into a heavy bottomed pan on a low heat, stirring until all the chocolate is melted and the mixture is well combined.
Add your pre-chopped nuts, or fruit or whatever and stir again. Pour the mixture into a lined 23cm/9in tray (or be a devil and use an oblong one), smooth the top with a wet palette knife (or the back of a spoon, no-one will ever know). Leave to cool then put into the fridge to set.
Cut into small pieces, if you cut 7x7 lines you'll get 64 pieces. You will think these are measly until you've had a few...
This can be kept in the freezer until you need/want it.
Mine contains pecan nuts, but I've made it with unsalted pistachios and mini marshmallows. I also only had 250g of chocolate so I used about three quarters-ish of the condensed milk, maybe a little more. Not including the fridge bit I reckon you can make this in less than fifteen minutes, which gives an excellent time:taste:effect ratio.
In other news: I went to look for a Christmas tree and wreath yesterday. My favourite shop had neither in the specifications I wanted. Which is plain spruce wreath and symmetrical tree in a pot. I want it in a pot after all the buggering about last year with the stand.
Fortunately for me I know the owner. Her father-in-law makes the wreaths and he has the greengrocery shop in the village where I grew up. Has had it forever. So Claire made up a special order sheet for me which was along the lines of:
'Tree in a pot. As tall, symmetrical and perfect as possible. Norwegian fir wreath.'
'You're not one of those people who won't let the children decorate the tree are you?' She enquired. Who, me? I let them decorate my Mother's.
Anyway, she'll rummage through all the trees she has and get me a perfect one for Friday. My only (other) specification was that it should have as many branches as possible to accommodate decorations. I'm sure florists get this kind of rubbish bandied at them all the time, but it pays to be a regular customer and not just rock up at Christmas/Mother's Day/ Valentine's Day wanting the world on a stick.
The snow and ice have gone. Dispatched overnight by torrential rain and gale force winds. Super.