Chocolate tiffin
SERVES 8 – 10
200g (7oz) plain chocolate
200g (7oz) butter, cut into small pieces
2 eggs
25g (1oz) caster sugar
200g (7oz) Nice biscuits or similar crumbly biscuits
Raspberry coulis and crème fraiche, to serve
You will need a 450g (1 lb) loaf tin lined with foil.
Break the chocolate into small pieces. Slowly melt the chocolate and butter together in a bowl set over a pan of very hot water (but not touching the water) until smooth and runny. Allow to cool.
Whisk the eggs and sugar by hand so they are mixed together, then gradually add the cooled chocolate mixture a little at a time.
Break the biscuits into 1.5cm (1/2 inch) pieces and stir into the mixture. Pour the mixture into the tin and level the top. Leave to set in the fridge for about 6 hours or until firm.
*This can be made up to 2 days ahead and kept in the fridge. It freezes well.
Remove the foil and slice into thin slices. Serve with a raspberry coulis and crème fraiche.
Pesto parmesan cheese straws
MAKES 24
1 (375g) packet of ready-rolled puff pastry
2 good tablespoons green pesto
75g (3oz) Parmesan cheese, grated
1 egg, beaten
Lay the pastry out on a floured work surface and re-roll to a large rectangle about 17 x 40cm, so the pastry is paper-thin. Cut the pastry in half length-ways to make 2 rectangular pieces.
Spread pesto on one side of one of the pieces. Sprinkle 50g (2oz) of the Parmesan cheese over the other piece. Place the pesto piece on top of the Parmesan piece so that the Parmesan and pesto are in contact, press together gently and chill for at least 30 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 200c/180c fan/gas 6. Trim the edges of the pastry, brush with beaten egg and sprinkle with the remaining cheese. Cut into 2cm (1 inch) wide strips.
Arrange on non-stick paper on a baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven for about 12-15 minutes, until golden brown and crisp.
*These can be made up to a week ahead, and kept in the fridge in a sealed box. Refresh in a cool oven just to warm through. They also freeze well, layered in a box with kitchen paper.
