Grown up Rocky Road

When I was packing for my girl’s weekend, I thought well, I’d take cereal, milk, coffee/tea, maybe a box of chocolates and maybe something decadent to share with my room mates. I did make a batch of Pumpkin, Pecan and Maple muffins but had ducked out for a couple things and when I got home they were covered in ants. Lucky I had made this Rocky Road the night before and it was safe in the fridge.

I thought if you’re going to make Rocky Road, let’s make it a little bit special with some nicer ingredients and a good splash of something cheeky. This Rocky Road has pistachios, berry flavoured marshmallows and Tia Maria (chocolate liqueur). The alcohol wasn’t very overpowering but it was just the ticket for a little nightcap with a hot cup of coffee for the girls and I.

I think this would be perfect as a little decadent gift for Christmas but it must be clearly marked that it contains alcohol.

Grown Up Rocky Road

• 200gm block dark chocolate
• pistachio nuts, roughly chopped
• berry flavoured marshmallows, cut in half
• raspberry jelly lollies, cut in half (or other jelly lollies)
• 1/2 cup shredded coconut
• 50ml Tia Maria (chocolate liqueur)

1. Break chocolate up and put into a microwave proof bowl.
2. Add chocolate liqueur and heat in microwave on 30 second bursts until just starting to melt. (If you add liqueur to melted chocolate, the chocolate will ‘seize’.)
3. Add coconut, chopped nuts, jelly lollies and marshmallows.
4. Pour into a baking pan lined with baking paper and allow to set in the refrigerator.
5. Once set, cut into bite sized pieces and serve.

Rocky Road Cupcakes

Instead of going to bed early, I sometimes stay up and watch a cooking show from the US called “Cupcake Wars”. It does nothing to inspire me other then crave eating a cupcake. And what’s the deal with the judges eating the cupcake with a fork? I’ve never seen such a thing. Anyway, whatever is in my pantry usually dictates what I’ll be baking and with 4 marshmallows, a few chocolate buttons and some peanuts, I decided to throw them into my old favourite No Fuss Fudge Cake recipe for a Rocky Road Cupcake.

They were fudgey, crunchy from the peanuts, gooey from the marshmallow and chocolate and just the ticket for afternoon tea.

It satisfied my craving for cupcakes. I’m not sure watching “Cupcake Wars” is satisfying my desire for quality http://blorner.com/ReniL/ television program viewing but I’ve just got to be strong and turn it off and get to bed.

Rocky Road Cupcakes

• 1 and half cups plain flour
• 3 tablespoons cocoa
• marshmallows, chopped
• 1/2 cup choc chips or melts
• 1/2 cup coconut
• 1/2 cup peanuts, chopped
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 cup water
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 tablespoon white vinegar
• 6 tablespoons oil (I use canola)
• 1 teaspoon bicarb soda
• half teaspoon salt

1 quantity Chocolate Buttercream

1. Turn oven to 180 C (375 F).
2. Put the flour,
   sugar, cocoa and water in a bowl.
3. Add chopped nuts, marshmallows and choc chips.
4. Add vanilla, vinegar, oil, baking soda and
   salt.
5. Mix with beaters until smooth. (Mixture is runny.)
6. Pour into cupcake papers.
7. Bake
   for approx 20 minutes.
8. Top with chocolate buttercream.

My chief taste tester approved.

Rough Road Slice

Let me just say, nearly six weeks after Easter and I’m sick of the sight of Easter eggs. Someone gave the kids about a kilo and a half of the damn things and I was sick of looking at them in the fridge plus picking up the foil off the floor all the time. The chocolate wasn’t very nice so I didn’t even eat them, which is saying something for this chocoholic.

I didn’t have marshmallows or peanuts to make a Rocky Road Slice but had a few Snake lollies and a packet of Scotch Finger biscuits so decided to make up a ‘pseudo’ Rocky Road Slice and called it a “Rough Road Slice”. Bit like a Coconut Rough in a slice.

Rough Road Slice

250gm chocolate, melted
1 packet or 250gm biscuits, broken into small pieces
100gm jelly lollies, like Snakes, Jelly Babies, jubes (whatever you have or you can leave out)
1/2 cup shredded coconut
1 tbs butter, melted

Mix all ingredients and put ino a slice in lined with plastic wrap. Sprinkle with extra coconut, if desired. Refrigerate to set. Slice into small pieces to serve.