Roast Lamb

Last weekend we bought a fantastic leg of lamb (on the bone). I had been craving a roast lamb for a while so since we had no plans I decided it was the perfect time to make it. Since we had a whole roast we decided to invite Scott’s parents over to enjoy it with us, rather than greedily keeping it all to ourselves (tempting as it was!).

Because we are in Canada and lucky enough to be having a ‘proper’ beautiful, sunny summer , I cooked the lamb in the oven for 1 hour and 20 minutes then finished it off on the BBQ (the charcoal barbecue) to get that unmistakable lovely smoky, barbecue flavour. The result was delicious – moist and tender, medium- rare meat, subtly flavoured with herbs and garlic with a deep smoky undertone.

The lamb was served with a rich red wine and redcurrant sauce, some new potatoes, asparagus and green beans and as we sat in the gazebo devouring our meal and sipping wine I couldn’t think of a better way to end the weekend – Sunday roasts are the best – however you cook them!

Dessert was courtesy of Carol, my mother-in-law, who brought a bag of perfectly ripe and juicy peaches and a bottle of Amaretto (sounds good just like that!) and made a delicious and easy dessert in no time. It was the perfect dessert to go with a casual Sunday roast and the whole meal a delicious and satisfying end to a relaxed weekend.

Sunday Roast in the Garden with Family

Mojito

Roast Leg of Lamb with red wine & redcurrant sauce (served with new potatoes, asparagus & green beans)

Peaches with Amaretto

Mojito

A classic summer cocktail, yet I had somehow forgotten how much I like it…..until I had one! The mint and lime makes it the most refreshing and light summer drink perfect for sipping on a hot day. Next time I won’t forget just how good they are!

Serves 1

Small handful of fresh mint leaves (approx. 10-12)
2 tsp sugar
1/2 lime, cut into wedges
1 part white rum (Bacardi)
3 parts soda water
Ice

In a tall glass mix the mint, sugar and lime together using a muddler, small rolling pin, wooden spoon or any other utensil that allows you to crush everything together so you get as much flavour as possible! Add the rum then fill the glass with ice and top with the soda water. Stir then sit back, relax and enjoy!

Roast Lamb with red wine & redcurrant sauce

For this recipe I covered the lamb with some finely chopped fresh herbs and lemon zest, and cut some little slits where I pressed in some shards of garlic and small rosemary sprigs. The herbs for the lamb came straight out of the garden so use whatever you can get your hands on, although rosemary and thyme are classic flavours for lamb and work amazingly well.

1 leg of lamb (ours was 2.2kg)
1 clove of garlic, thinly sliced into spiky shards
1 large sprig of rosemary
5 or 6 sprigs of thyme
1-2 sprigs of oregano
3 juniper berries, crushed (optional)
Zest of ½ lemon
Good pinch of Maldon sea salt & freshly ground black pepper
1 tbsp redcurrant jelly
Drizzle of olive oil

For the red wine & redcurrant sauce:

1 tbsp olive oil
Small knob of butter
½ onion, sliced
1 clove of garlic, finely chopped
3 tbsp redcurrant jelly
150ml red wine
250ml lamb stock
3 juniper berries, crushed
Small sprig of rosemary
2-3 sprigs of thyme, plus an extra tsp
2 bay leaves
Salt & pepper
1 small knob of cold butter

Preheat the oven to 375F.

To prepare the leg of lamb, finely chop half of the rosemary leaves, thyme and oregano and put into a small bowl. Add the crushed juniper berries (if using), lemon zest, a good pinch of salt and pepper and mix well. Using a small knife cut about 12 little slits in the lamb and put a shard of garlic and a mini sprig of rosemary into each cut. Heat the redcurrant jelly until it has melted (I just popped it into the microwave for about 20 seconds) then brush it over the leg of lamb. Sprinkle over the herb mix and spread it all over so the lamb is evenly covered with all of the lovely flavours. Drizzle with a little olive oil and set aside until you are ready to cook the lamb.

Ok, so now for the technical part……I always tend to use a thermometer when cooking meat so I know it’s the right temperature and I don’t have to worry about it being over or undercooked. If you have one (and I definitely recommend them as a must-have kitchen gadget), then for medium-rare lamb you want it to be 145 degrees (140 for rare, 160 for medium and 170 degrees for well done). If you don’t have a thermometer then you want to cook the lamb for 20-25 minutes per lb. for medium-rare – for a 2.2kg lamb (as we had) that is roughly 1 hour and 40 minutes in a 375F oven.

As it turned out, I cooked the lamb in the oven for 1 hour and 20 minutes and then finished it off on the barbecue over indirect heat, so it took a bit longer than if you were just cooking it in the oven. Once the lamb is cooked to your liking, tent it with foil and leave to rest for at least 20 minutes, before carving into slices.

While the lamb is cooking make the red wine and redcurrant sauce. In a medium pan heat the oil with the butter then add the onion. Cook for roughly 5 minutes until the onions have softened but not coloured. Add the garlic and cook for another minute before adding the redcurrant jelly. Let it melt completely and start to simmer then add the wine. Reduce the wine a little then add the stock, juniper berries, rosemary, thyme, bay leaves, salt and pepper. Allow to simmer away and reduce for as long as possible – at least 30 minutes. If it is starting to reduce too much, cover with a tight-fitting lid. When ready to serve the sauce, strain everything into a clean pan to remove the onion and all the herbs then whisk in the cold cube of butter and the tsp of thyme leaves. Serve at once with the lamb and enjoy.

Peaches with Amaretto

This recipe is courtesy of my mother-in-law Carol, who made this for us recently when they came round for a meal. She had a bowlful of fresh peaches needing eaten so brought them round and made this dessert for us in no time at all. It is so quick and easy and absolutely wonderful when you have juicy, ripe peaches.

If you can, cut up the peaches and let them soak in the liqueur while you eat your main course (this just lets the amaretto soak into them a little bit more). Sprinkle the nuts and biscuits over at the very last second so that they don’t go soggy.

6 ripe peaches
4 tbsp amaretto liqueur
4 tbsp sliced almonds
4 amaretti biscuits, crumbled
Greek yogurt with honey* to serve

Cut the peaches in half and remove the stones then cut each half into four wedges. Place in a shallow dish then pour over the amaretto liqueur. In a dry frying pan toast the almonds until golden brown, then put into a small bowl and add the crushed amaretti biscuits (you can crush them with your hands or bash them a few times with a rolling pin).

To serve, simply spoon some peaches onto each plate and sprinkle over the toasted almonds and amaretti crumbs, and then serve with a nice dollop of the honey Greek yogurt. Light, summery and delicious!

*You can either go for the easy option (as I did!) and buy some Greek yogurt that already has honey in it, or if you prefer add a spoonful or 2 of nice honey to some plain yogurt.

A return to blogging!

I now understand why people go on maternity leave...... it is near impossible to look after a baby and try and do anything that resembles work at the same time!!! I know a lot of people do manage to do it and hat’s off to them, but despite the yearnings of wanting desperately to sit at my computer and type away, I haven’t been successful! Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that Wee One has been a high maintenance baby (as he has been fantastic) but it always seems that even when he sleeps or is content playing, there is always so many other things needing done! Yes I have to say..... looking after a baby (and for that matter, any children) is in itself a full time job that should not be undertaken lightly!

However, after an absence of six months, I am determined to make time to lock myself away every week- just for a few hours- to sit back, relax and ramble away about the latest thing I have cooked or discovered. Not only that, but it is officially Summer (my favourite season) and I can’t think of a better time to start up again when there is an abundance of fresh, delicious produce right on my doorstep.

This week’s menu and recipes are what I consider to be the perfect meal for a relaxed Friday night supper in the garden. I have cheated slightly as the main course has been featured already (last August), but to me that just proves it is perfect summer food! The dessert can be made up to 3 days beforehand (but at the latest one day so it has time to freeze) and both the starter and main course take no time at all to prepare and cook. So wipe the cobwebs off the summer furniture, light a few lanterns and sit back in the evening sun and enjoy a relaxed start to the weekend.

Relaxed Friday Night Supper in the Garden

Frozen strawberry Daiquiris

Prawns with spicy dipping sauce

Proscuitto wrapped chicken stuffed with mozzarella & pesto;

Fresh tomato sauce; mixed green salad; French bread

Lemon Icicle

*All recipes serve 4 but can be easily doubled

Prawns with Spicy dipping sauce

In the UK, the classic 1970’s Prawn Cocktail is made using tomato sauce (ketchup), mayo and if you like, someTabasco and is a delicious, rich and creamy sauce perfect for coating juicy, plump and fresh prawns. In the US however, the mayo is missed out and replaced with horseradish which results in a tangy, spicy tomato sauce that is equally as delicious as its UK counterpart. Here I have gone for more of the American style sauce as I find it a little lighter and being such a huge fan of horseradish, find that I am quite addicted to this sauce and look for any excuse to have it! If you can’t find chilli sauce, use all ketchup and add some fresh chilli if you like, or an extra few splashes of Tabasco. Also, if you are able to get your hands on some fresh horseradish grate some of that in as well, but watch as it packs a punch!

For the prawns, if you can get some really good fresh prawns with their shells on, I would recommend using those and let your guests peel them themselves at the table. If that doesn’t appeal or you can’t get any good quality prawns with their shells still on, go for peeled prawns – again, the best quality you can get.

150ml tomato ketchup
125ml chilli sauce
2-3 tbsp prepared horseradish
Juice of ½ a juicy lemon
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
½ tsp Tabasco sauce

450g Fresh cooked prawns
Lemon wedges

Mix together all the ingredients for the sauce in a small bowl. Transfer to a nice serving bowl (unless you are very clean at mixing and can use the same bowl!). Arrange the prawns on a plate or shallow bowl and spritz with a little lemon juice. Serve with some extra lemon wedges and the spicy dipping sauce.

Proscuitto wrapped chicken stuffed with pesto & mozzarella

with fresh tomato sauce

A classic summer meal with pesto, mozzarella and fresh, vine-ripened tomatoes. This is definitely a favourite of mine.

4 chicken breasts
8 slices of prosciutto
1 ball of mozzarella
4 heaped tsp of pesto
Salt & pepper

For the tomato sauce:
1 tbsp olive oil
1 onion, finely chopped
2 cloves of garlic, crushed
1 red chilli, finely chopped (optional)
10 fresh, vine-ripened tomatoes, chopped
1 tsp sugar (optional)
150ml white wine
Salt & pepper
Small handful of fresh basil leaves
Extra virgin olive oil

Start by making the tomato sauce so that it can gently simmer away and reduce while the chicken is cooking.

Heat the oil in a medium sized pan and gently sauté the onion for 5 minutes until softened. Add the garlic and chilli and cook for a further minute before adding the tomatoes, sugar (if needed), wine, salt and pepper. Simmer gently, stirring from time to time. (If it starts to get too thick towards the end of cooking, pop a lid on top to stop if from reducing any further and if need be add a splash more wine!)

Preheat the oven to 400F/ 200C/ GM 6.

Slice the mozzarella into thin slices and season with salt and pepper. Cut a deep slit down the side of each chicken breast and open it up like a book. Spread a heaped teaspoon of pesto on one side of each chicken breast and top with a couple of slices of mozzarella. Cut 4 squares of tin foil, large enough to wrap a chicken breast in. Lay 2 pieces of prosciutto on a piece of tin foil, overlapping slightly. Place a piece of chicken on top of the prosciutto and season with salt and pepper. Wrap the prosciutto around the chicken, then using the foil roll everything up like a sausage. Twist the ends tightly to secure in place. Repeat for the rest of the chicken then place on a baking sheet and cook in the oven for 25 minutes.

When the chicken is ready, remove from the oven and leave to rest for 5 minutes. Taste the tomato sauce to check the seasoning then add the fresh basil leaves, reserving a few for a garnish. Carefully unwrap each chicken breast as there will be delicious pesto-infused chicken juices in the bottom of the foil, which you can add to the tomato sauce or simply pour over the chicken once you have plated it. Put a couple of large spoonfuls of the tomato sauce on the centre of each plate. Slice each chicken breast into 5 or 6 pieces and lay on top of the tomato sauce. Drizzle with a little extra virgin olive oil and the remaining basil leaves and enjoy at once with a green salad and lots of crusty French bread.

Lemon Icicle

This is a variation of a recipe that my mum used to make for us all the time. It’s in between an Italian ice cream recipe (as you make a meringue base) and a semifreddo, which luckily for us means there is no need for making a custard and churning the ice cream until frozen. It is easy and is the most delicious, creamy, light and refreshing way to end a meal - perfect for summer time.

300ml double cream
3 large eggs, separated
125g (4oz) caster sugar
Finely grated zest and juice of 2 lemons
2 tbsp limoncello (optional)
Long strands of lemon zest to garnish (optional)

Lightly oil a loaf tin then line with cling film. Whisk the cream until thickened being careful not to over whisk. In a small bowl gently whisk the egg yolks then add the lemon zest, juice and the limoncello if using and mix well. Add to the cream and gently whisk until it is all mixed in evenly.

Whisk the whites until stiff (so you can hold them over your head!) then gradually add the sugar, beating after each addition until you have a thick, glossy meringue base. Using a large metal spoon gently fold the egg whites into the cream mixture then pour into the lined tin and freeze until firm (roughly 3 hours)*. Remove from the freezer 10 minutes before you want to serve and garnish with the lemon zest if using, before cutting into slices.

*Occasionally, for whatever reason the lemon juice sometimes separates from the cream mixture and I end up with a lemon ice layer on top of the cream….while it’s not necessarily a bad thing it isn’t what I want! To try and avoid it, I will occasionally (if I can be bothered and can remember to) stir the icicle with a knife after it has been in the freezer for 1 hour, just to make sure it is all mixed together. This is totally up to you, cause as I said, it doesn’t always happen – just one of those random things!


Unfortunately at this point getting the blog and recipes done is all I have managed so no photos. Sorry, but hopefully some will follow soon with future blogs.

Hellos and Goodbyes

Hello again everyone!! It’s a little late but I thought better late than never so ‘Happy New Year’!! I hope these first six weeks of 2010 have been a good start to the year for all of you. We had a wonderful start to the year with the safe arrival of our beautiful baby boy. Mini Vanilla was born on December 27, 2009 weighing in at a very healthy 8lb 15oz and almost 23 inches long!

The last 7 weeks have flown by in a blur of sleepless nights, dirty nappies (diapers to everyone in Canada and North America) and feedings, but most importantly getting to know our wonderful little boy (who is still affectionately known as ‘Wee One’ despite the fact he is not so wee!). So with that in mind I’m sure it comes as no surprise that the arrival of Mini Vanilla put a very swift halt to my blogging! I am hoping however, that since he is 7 weeks old, we are starting to get a little more of a routine and the colic is improving (I say that with my fingers crossed!) I can attempt to return to my recipes and ramblings.

However when there is good news it seems to go hand-in-hand at times that there follows bad news, and it was very unfortunate that with the arrival of such a wonderful little boy came the loss of another wonderful person. It is with great sadness that I must say that on January 12, 2010 Mrs Dobson passed away.

After a month of trying to work out how I can possibly put into words what she meant to me I am still at a loss. The impact and influence she had on my life was enormous and for that I can’t thank her enough. My wonderful (and giant!) collection of cookbooks is all thanks to her. Her knowledge of food and the contents of all of the hundreds of books still amaze me. She had watched so many chefs and food writers’ rise and fall throughout all of the different food movements and remembered them all along with their trials and tribulations! Her determination and encouragement for me to write and cook will constantly remain with me and inspire me to keep doing it and keep pushing myself until I achieve what it is I am looking for. For everything she has taught and given me, I am forever indebted – thank you Mrs D, you are missed more than you can imagine.


Cook Club – A Tribute to Mrs Dobson

On February 7th Mrs D would have been 87 years old, so in honour of her and to celebrate her birthday I decided to use her and her cookbooks as the inspiration for our cook club which we hosted here last Saturday night. Normally I like to use my own recipes but for this one I used a special book that we both enjoyed reading and have cooked from in the past (a book that we both agreed would be a fun one to work our way through cooking every recipe) –‘ La Potiniere and Friends’ by David and Hilary Brown, the original owners of the La Potiniere restaurant in Gullane, Scotland (unfortunately, as far as I am aware, no longer in print). I have used this book for years (it was my Mum’s book which she had received as a Birthday present) for the wonderful crème brulee recipe which had always amused Mrs D after a particular visit from Dad in which he announced when leaving that he was off home to email me the recipe as I was desperate to make it and didn’t want to use any other recipe! Of course it wasn’t long after that before a copy of the book was sent along to the Manse for me to save Dad from any desperate last minute emails! So with that in mind I turned to La Potiniere for inspiration for both the main course and dessert which undoubtedly had to be the famous crème brulee recipe.

I decided since La Potiniere was a restaurant cookbook I would stick with that theme and used ‘Maze the cookbook’ by Jason Atherton for my starter and Gordon Ramsay’s ‘Secrets’ for a side dish recipe. The full menu was:

Crab Mayo with Avocado and Sweetcorn Sorbet

(From Maze by Jason Atherton)

~

Braised Pork with Prunes

(La Potiniere by Hilary & David Brown)

Pomme Puree

(Secrets by Gordon Ramsay)

Green Beans

~

Crème Brulee

(La Potiniere)

The whole meal was a complete success that would have made Mrs D proud. The starter was a wonderful combination of flavours and textures that melted in your mouth. I have to admit I was a little hesitant about the sweetcorn sorbet, knowing it would either be a complete disaster or exceptional. However, having complete faith in Jason Atherton (who spent time working at El Bulli) and sticking to the fact I had to follow the recipes exactly, I pressed on and was delighted that it turned out to be amazing (bad me for having doubts!!). The combination of the sweet, cool sorbet with the delicate crab mayonnaise and rich, creamy avocado puree created a taste explosion that melted in your mouth.

The main course was equally as good. Mr. Vanilla wasn’t at all convinced when I told him that the pork braised in a low oven for 3 hours but after 24 hours of marinating in a brine and then the long, slow cooking in cider he admitted “it was the most tender pork” he had ever eaten. The pork fell apart at just the touch of your fork and was further enhanced by the delicious cider and white wine sauce, perfectly sweetened by the prunes (which I have to admit is not something I would usually cook with or eat!).The pomme puree was a perfect accompaniment adding an element of comfort to an otherwise elegant dinner party dish.

Dessert was my reliable, delicious crème brulee that cannot be topped. The perfect combination of velvety smooth, thick, rich and creamy custard speckled with vanilla seeds and topped with crisp amber sugar, waiting to be tapped with a spoon and broken into shards, is the ultimate in decadence and the absolutely perfect ending to a very delicious meal!

So, after an absence of what I would consider ‘proper cooking’ (in other words a delicious meal that required some real attention, time and love and not something I have just thrown together in between feedings) for a good two months, my tribute to Mrs D and her cookbooks more than paid off. Not only did I get to raise a glass to her and enjoy a delicious meal prepared from books she has given to me, I got back a renewed sense of inspiration and desire to get back into the kitchen and really enjoy cooking again. Thanks Mrs Dobson, now I just need to find the time!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas everyone!
I hope you are all having a lovely, festive day with family, friends and of course good food! xxx

Getting ready for Christmas (and baby!)

Well despite my best efforts to be more consistent at writing in my blog, I have once again failed miserably! It’s not that I haven’t been thinking about it or cooking, it’s just the days seem to be morphing into one and before I knew it, the majority of my advent calendar has been opened and it is only 2 days until Christmas! The arrival of Christmas is being overshadowed by the arrival of the baby which is so imminent I can’t believe it and after a very over-active week on the baby’s behalf last week, I have to say I am definitely looking forward to that day. My only stipulation is that the baby does not arrive on Christmas day!!!

Because of the fact I am so unbelievably large and ready to have this wee one at any point, I have managed to remain fairly organised for Christmas “just in case”! The tree is still looking as lovely as ever, especially now that it has a nice selection of presents glistening underneath it, my cards have all been written and posted, the Christmas cake is made and I have managed to make a few big batches of soup to keep the fridge and freezer well stocked! For me it wouldn’t be Christmas without my broccoli and nutmeg soup. I started the tradition quite a few years ago and now it is as necessary as turkey or cranberry sauce! As a family we always ate our Christmas dinner in the evening so this soup is perfect for lunch along with a nice selection of canapés (either homemade or bought – whatever works for you!) and of course a glass or 2 of champagne! If Christmas dinner is an earlier affair for you then you should still try this soup as it’s perfect for slurping on boxing day or even Christmas eve – it is delicious.

And of course in the lead up to Christmas you have to have baking in the house!!! Well I do anyway! I’m really not much of a baker since it tends to involve precise measurements and cooking times so I use other people’s recipes instead. Last week I made Nigella Lawson’s Sticky Gingerbread which is a winner in my opinion. I made it last year so it was a must repeat recipe for this year. (I highly recommend her Christmas book as it has lots of delicious baking and other festive recipes in it – as previously mentioned it is Nigella Christmas: Food, Family, Friends, Festivities and can be bought from any good bookstore or Amazon) I also made a batch of Tiffin cake which was something I grew up with. This is one of my recipes as it isn’t a cake but rather a delicious chocolately tray bake that has been completely devoured by Mr. Vanilla and I since I made it last Thursday (meaning I will have to make some more!!)

I tried to convince myself that the baking was to have at the ready in case of any friends or family that popped by but really I’m kidding myself – it is purely for my own indulgence…. Ok, so I might share some of it but more than likely the first batches will be considered ‘trials’ and I will make some more to share with everyone this week!

Tiffin cake

Despite its name this is actually a biscuit tray bake as opposed to a cake. It’s perfect for when you have those chocolate cravings as it is quick and easy to make and if you bake you are likely to have most of the ingredients in your pantry anyway. Be sure to make lots as it won’t last!

4oz/ 115g unsalted butter
3 tbsp golden syrup
8oz/ 225g digestive biscuits
1oz/ 30g cocoa powder
3oz/ 85g glace cherries
6oz/ 170g milk chocolate
1oz/ 30g white chocolate (optional)

Line a square tin with cling film then set aside. In a medium to large sized pan melt the butter over a gentle heat with the syrup. While it is melting place the biscuits in a food processor and blitz until you have crumbs or simply put them into a sandwich bag and bash with a rolling pin. Chop up the cherries into fairly small pieces. Add the crushed biscuits to the melted butter and syrup along with the cocoa and cherries. Stir well so that everything is well mixed then put it into the lined tin. Press down firmly using a spatula or the back of a large spoon then put in the fridge until it is cold and firm. Melt the chocolate either in a microwave in 20 second intervals, or in a bowl set over a pan of barely simmering water. Pour the chocolate over the tiffin cake then spread it so it is evenly covered. If using, melt the white chocolate in the same way then drizzle it over the milk chocolate. Pop back into the fridge until the chocolate has completely cooled and hardened. When ready to serve simply cut it into squares and enjoy!

Mars Bar Krispies

As with the tiffin cake, these aren’t particularly Christmassy, however they are so easy to make and I have yet to meet someone that doesn’t love them! They work well for parties as well as Christmas and if you have children they are an easy and delicious treat for them to make.

3oz/ 85g Rice Krispies
3oz/ 85g unsalted butter
4 Mars Bars*
6oz/ 170g milk or dark chocolate

In a large pan gently melt the mars bars and butter. When completely melted stir in the rice krispies until they are all completely covered in the chocolate mix. Pour into a tin then leave to set in the fridge for 30 minutes. Gently melt the chocolate in a bowl set over a pan of barely simmering water. As soon as it has melted pour it over the krispie mix, making sure every little bit is covered. Leave to cool for about 20 minutes then put back in the fridge to completely set then cut into small squares and keep in an air tight container or eat!

*The recipe used to be really simple to remember as it was a ratio of 3/3 and 3 however I have noticed that Mars Bars are smaller now than they used to be so to keep the deep full, chewy chocolately flavour I have upped the quantity to 4 Mars Bars. If you like you can use 3 1/2 and keep the other 1/2 for the cook's treat!

Iced Gems (White chocolate discs)

Again perhaps not very Christmassy, but definitely easy and one for the children to do (and a little pick’n mix nostalgia for the grown ups!). I tend to make up a few batches then put them into nice bags cellophane bags to give to the kids.

8oz/ 225g white chocolate
Sprinkles of your choice (I use hundreds and thousands)

Put the white chocolate into a bowl and place over a pan of barely simmering water, making sure that the bowl doesn’t touch the water. Gently melt the chocolate. Line a couple of baking trays with baking parchment then put small spoonfuls of the melted chocolate onto the sheets. Using the bag of the spoon spread out the chocolate so you have lots of white chocolate discs. Try to keep the chocolate the same thickness so that it doesn’t break. Scatter over the sprinkles that you are using then put in the fridge (or another cold place – for me the garage works perfectly for that at this time of year) and chill until set.

(I also tried a sort of ‘after-dinner mint’ version using crushed candy canes to sprinkle over the chocolate. Initially they tasted great and worked well but after a few hours the crushed candy canes started to go a little sticky and wet. If you are planning on making them and serving straight away then definitely give it a go, otherwise miss out the candy canes and experiment with something else instead!)