Recipe 52/19 - Mac 'n' Cheese

I spotted this recipe on one of my favourite blogs (http://www.whatoliviadid.com) and although I told myself that Mac n Cheese is a meal that should be enjoyed on a cold, dark winter's evening (not in the first signs of spring..) my cheese craving was just too strong!

Its a meal that had kind of slipped off my radar since childhood, maybe because if it's just the macaroni and a cheese sauce it can be a bit bland... but with the bacon and tomatoes thrown in it just adds that extra yumminess and makes it a bit more grown up somehow. I really forgot quite how good Mac n Cheese is - basic good old comfort food at its best!

Low in cost but high in cheesiness = perfection!

Here's the how to http://www.whatoliviadid.com/2013/09/what-olivia-cooked-mama-ps-mac-n-cheese.html

Recipe 52/18 - Five Minute Chocolate Pot

Last weeks recipe was my Valentine's burgers... this week its my Valentine's pudding!

I found this recipe in a Green & Black's Chocolate Tasting Collection (where all the best recipes come from surely?)  - among all the amazingly good chocolate there were several chocolate recipe cards. It was the five minute bit on this one that caught my eye! If you want a super quick, seriously simple yet still deliciously indulgent pudding this is perfect. 

The recipe suggests using expresso cups but I had a cute heart shaped ceramic dish that I wanted to use and it seemed fitting (the chocolate just took a lot longer to set!)

I personally love dark chocolate but if you aren't a fan I'm sure this recipe would work equally well with milk chocolate - I actually compromised with half milk and half dark chocolate as my boyfriend Tom is not a fan! 

You will need:

200g Green & Black's organic dark 85% chocolate (any cooking chocolate will do but I'm sure using G&B's chocolate would have amazing results!)
100ml boiling water
1 tsp vanilla extract
300ml whipping cream

1. Melt the chocolate bars in a microwave or bain-marie, stirring occasionally.

2. Add the water gradually and then the vanilla.

3. Add half the cream and stir until fully blended.

4. Pour into six expresso cups (or similar) and leave in a cool place for at least 45 minutes to set.

5. Just before serving whip the remaining cream and spoon on top of each pot.

6. Grab two spoons and dig in!

The chocolate was heavenly - I wish I had doubled the recipe! Next time I make this I won't bother with the whipped cream on top  though - it was just a distraction from the yummy chocolate which I would have preferred on its own.