Chocolate fudge cookies

Some days only one thing will hit the spot and if thats not on offer, these certainly help...

Be under no illusion though these are certainly not healthy but if you can handle the temptation and eat in moderation, the amount of mental well being these bring, out weighs the calorific content :)

180g / 60z plain chocolate chips

180g / 6oz plain flour

3tbsp cocoa powder

1/2 tsp baking powder

120g / 4oz butter

240g / 8oz dark sugar

2 eggs

1tsp vanilla essence

Makes approx 25 biscuits.

Method

1) Set the oven to 180C, melt the plain chocolate

2) Sift together the flour, cocoa and baking powder

3) Beat the butter adb sugar together in a large bowl until creamy and add the eggs and vanilla essence. (if starts to curdle add a heap tablespoon of the flour mixture)

4) Add the melted chocolate and the flour mixure. (Can also add a few white chocolate chips at this point too)

5) Drop a tablespoon of mixture onto a non-stick try about 2" apart abd bake for about 5-10mins.

These have almost a cake like consistency so resist the temptation to overcook them.

Adventures in breadland- part 1

Ok what kind of fool buys a machine to that makes their favourite food? Yep you guessed it.

Well the first attempt with the machine was a hit and I bought it home, eager to test out many recipes and to my disapointment, failed on the next few attempts, producing stodgey, inedible substances, which infact resembled my mum's dreaded bread pudding!

Not to be detered (and out to prove a point that it wasn't a waste of money that will end up in the back of the cupboard), I trawled the internet for failure reasons and a recipe for malt loaf!



Well having sorted out the failure reasons most likely being due to my slap dash additions and not the carefully ordered approach that seems to be required. I measured and waited and waited and added and waited and breathed deeply. The heavenly smell of freshly baked malt loaf was rising from the kitchen.



I used this recipe and added extra raisins and mixed fruit and needless to say didn't wait for it to cool completely before cutting and and smoothering a slice in flora. True heaven. This was why I bought the bloodly thing!



My next exploration was some bread to have with the Jalfrezi I was making (recipe to follow)


Chilli, Coriander and Garlic Bread

150ml (1/4 pt) coconut milk

150ml (1/4 pt) water

3/4 tsp salt

500g (1Ib )strong white bread flour

2 mild green chillies

handful of chopped fresh coriander

large squirt of lazy garlic

Method

If using a bread machine

Add all the ingredients in the order listed to the bread pan, with the exception of the chillies, garlic and coriander.

Fit the pan to the bread machine and close the lid.

Select the BASIC WHITE setting and this will beep after the second mixing for you to add ingredients such as the chillies and coriander. Select a MEDIUM crust .

When the program has finished remove the bread and turn out on a cooling rack. Allow to cool if you can resist temptation.

This has to be the most perfect loaf to date, such a great texture and incredibly tasty!

Look out shops next size up in clothes required!