HOT CHOCOLATE!

Who doesn’t like chocolate?

During my childhood chocolate meant Cadburys Milk chocolate. (with its “glass and a half of Dairy Milk in every bar”) Then of course “a Mars a Day helps you work rest and play”  Frys Chocolate Cream, with, the pictures of the five boys, never really understood why. I recall how I longed for Easter, so I could taste my first Cadburys Cream egg, and, it was close to Easter, not as now, 4 days after Christmas!!. Sheilas favourite was Milky bars.

Cadburys Milk Tray was only for high days and holidays ,… or you would think: I remember as an 8 year old being sent to the shop by a neighbour, who instructed me to treat myself to a few sweeties for going on this errand – I treated myself alright – to a 1/4 lb box of Cadburys Dairy Milk chocolates ! Needless to say she never asked me again …………………..

Dark chocolate was always Cadburys Bournville or Rowndtrees Black Magic. The coffee cream was an ugh moment! Whereas the cherry one, was delicious and definitely a taste too far. At Christmas Sheila’s Father always gave the “ladies” a box of Terrys All Gold, when you opened it, you found your present, Romantic? A piece of jewellery perhaps……money! 

I remember the descriptions “Rich Orange” – Terry’s milk chocolate protects this precious orange centre: “Sumptuous Strawberry” – Real strawberry pieces nestled within a sweet, strawberry flavoured fondant ……… Almost orgasmic!

I was an avid fan in my younger years of the Crunchie Bar, but, a gift from Sheila’s nephew, Simon, and, his wife Caitlin, changed this for ever! Let’s hear it for Violet Crumble!!!

Today my taste has definitely “matured” – chocolate with 70% + of cocoa solids is the norm. With the addition of flakes of fleur de sel ( a French sea salt), or, chocolate with chilli or even Wasabi? All wonderful! So many to choose from, so many new flavours appearing on supermarket shelves.

Artisan chocolate shops are a great treat wherever you go in France, and, chocolates from one of these establishments is always appreciated as a gift.

The piece de resistance is of course The Chocolate Pudding. These desserts are invariably welcomed at the end of a meal.

One of our favourites, very much loved by our French friends, is a Dark Chocolate torte…. Introduced to us by Sheila’s god-daughter Lizzie. See Recipe

A second one we are trying to perfect to our taste is a recipe for Chocolate Brownies, continuing shards of milk and white chocolate. See Recipe

So it’s time now for breakfast …………. Chocolate croissant anyone???