Chocolate MALTESER Refrigerator Cake.

My aunt used to always make this when I came over because I loved it so much.  So last time I went to her house for dinner just before I came back to college, she presented me with a big box of it much to my delight.  Alas, my supply has now run out (it's awfully addictive), and so I've decided to take matters into my own hands and attempt to recreate my favourite biscuit cake of all time.

Warning; if you are dieting, stop reading now.

Ingredients:

100g butter

6 tbsp golden syrup

250g chocolate (I used Dairy Milk)

200g broken Rich Tea biscuits

200g Maltesers

Honestly, is it almost impossible that there exists a recipe which is easier than this one.  Basically, all you do is place a saucepan on a medium heat and add the butter, chocolate and golden syrup.  While these are melting together, stir occasionally.  Crush the Rich Tea until the pieces are quite small, and add the Maltesers.  When the heated mixture is melted together and smooth, add to the bowl with the biscuits and Maltesers and mix well.  Lay the completed mixture into a greased swiss roll tin and leave to cool.  When it is cool, place in the fridge for a few hours and you're good to go!

CHRISTMAS Hot Chocolate.

This really wasn't meant to be a recipe blog.. But every time I discover something new, I can't resist!

I just got home from college today, my dad was supposed to drive up and collect me yesterday, but the ice meant that he couldn't, and so I got the 12 noon train home today with Peter.  This was quite difficult- let's just say that I don't pack light.  But it was so good to finally get here!  Not to say I won't miss Dublin terribly.

When I got back to my house, I really felt like it was Christmas for the first time this year.  All the decorations were up, and my mom had a cinnamon spice candle lighting, so it all felt seasonal and warm.  Seeing as it was absolutely freeeezing outside, and we had marshmallows in the house, I decided what better way to warm up than to make some hot chocolate?  So here's my recipe!

Ingredients:

(I used American measuring cups for the milk!)

4.5 cups of milk (I used semi-skimmed)

8oz of Cadbury's Dairy Milk chocolate

1 tablespoon of caster sugar

1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

1 teaspoon of instant coffee 

(the coffee is optional, but I think it gives a really nice flavour!)

Marshmallows

or

Cinnamon sticks

or 

Candy canes.

Method:

1. Heat the milk in a saucepan, bring almost to simmering point.

2. Take the saucepan off the heat and stir the chocolate in until it's melted.

3. When the chocolate is melted, stir in the caster sugar, vanilla essence and coffee.

4. Whisk the mixture vigorously until it's a little bubbly on top.

5. Spoon into mugs using a ladle, and float some marshmallows on the top, or alternatively, place a cinnamon stick or candy cane in your mug and let the flavours infuse out of it.

Sandwiches and Stuff

Even though sandwiches are generally kind of boring and I associate them with all these tedious things like midtown lunch breaks and elementary school, people sure do get pretty passionate about them. There is the whole Stuff White People Like entry on Expensive Sandwiches, and then there was Joey on Friends and that amazing sandwich that Adam Sandler made in Spanglish. Also Spanglish is totally a good movie especially if you are interested in issues of immigration and transculturation or bonkers hot Spanish actresses like Paz Vega.

During one of the brief periods that I had cable I managed to catch this PBS documentary called Sandwiches That You Will Like. They went all across the country to these sandwich places that are known for having the best of whatever their regional sandwich is Muffeletta, Pastrami, Loose Meat, etc. They go to those two cheesesteak places in Philly that are across the street from each other and have this intense long standing rivalry. I went to Philly a month ago and we didnt know which one to chose but we decided on Pat's because Geno's
Okay I won't go into a political diatribe about immigrant rights, mostly because the cheesesteak at Pat's wasn't even good. I realize that I made a huge mistake in that I ordered it with Provolone instead of Whiz but still, and also it had gross canned mushrooms.


Anyway Sandwiches, so lately I've been seeing some crazy sandwiches. I saw this one at the cafe at Target in Serramonte (Daly City, CA). I love it because it is such a bizarre thing for someone to have devoted that kind of effort to, making a PB&J for people who can't decide between white bread and whole wheat.
had a bunch of racist signs about how you need to order in English and how we should thank the Marines for the fact that we know English. Look at that sign, seriously "(1) per customer". Also check out this little cutie I got a Dean and Deluca. Such a perfect little snack. It was pretty good, turkey with cheese, lettuce, tomato and everything. But of seeing as how it was from D&D and I do seem to operate as a white person most of the time it was pretty expensive ($3.50).