Cheats Tiramisu

Ingredients
200g Dark Chocolate
260g Mascarpone
100ml Double Cream (whipped till it holds it's shape)
260ml Black Coffee (with 17g caster sugar stirred in then cooled)
4 Tablespoons Rum/Brandy
24 Sponge Fingers
Cocoa Powder (for sprinkling)

Equipment
3 Mixing Bowls
1 Balloon Whisk
1 Wooden Spoon
1 Pan (with simmering water in)
4 Serving Plates

The Good Bit

1. Melt the chocolate in one of your mixing bowls over the pan with the simmering water in it then allow it to cool a little before stirring in the mascarpone and whipped cream
   
2. In the meantime, make your coffee, with the correct amount of sugar and rum or brandy, then you need to dip the sponge fingers in, one at a time, do it quickly so you don't make the fingers all soggy.
3. As you dip, lay out the sponge fingers on each of your 4 plates, 3 fingers next to each other pointing away from you, then spoon on some of the chocolate cream mixture, next add another layer of 3 fingers at 90 degrees to the first lot on top of the cream, now add another layer of chocolate cream and finally top with 3 more fingers pointing in the same direction as your first layer.
4. Chill for at least an hour the just before serving, sprinkle with cocoa powder.

Serves 4

Chocolate Rice Krispie Cakes

Ingredients
1 Block of Your Favorite Chocolate (only)
or
2 Mars Bars (only)
or
2 oz Butter
1 Tablespoon Golden Syrup
2 Teaspoons Cocoa Powder
Icing Sugar
And
Rice Krispies or Corn Flakes or Broken Shredded Wheat

Equipment
1 Mixing Bowl
1 Pan (with enough water in to touch the bottom of your bowl when the water is simmering)
Paper Cake Cups

The Good Bit

1. OK we're doing 3 types here but they all work along the same principal. Melt your block of chocolate/2 mars bars/butter, golden syrup, cocoa powder in a bowl over the simmering water. If you are doing this the cocoa powder way, also add in enough icing sugar until you have a thick sauce.
2. Now add in the cereal of your choice, rice krispies, cornflakes or broken shredded wheat (this make excellent nests for easter treats) making sure to coat all the cereal, spoon out into your paper cake cups.
3. If you are going with easter treats, you may like to decorate them with a few mini eggs! chill in the fridge for 15 minutes before attempting to eat them, longer if you have the will power!

Chocolate Cup Cakes

Ingredients
125g Butter
125g Caster Sugar
125g Self Raising Flour
2 Eggs (beaten)
2 Tablespoons Cocoa Powder
2 Tablespoons Boiling Water
125g Chocolate (chopped into chunks)
50g Butter

Equipment
20 Paper Cases (placed into the spaces on your bun trays)
1-2 Bun Trays
2 Mixing Bowls
1 Pan (to fit one of the mixing bowls inside along with simmering water to melt the chocolate)
1 Wire Rack

The Good Bit

1. Pre heat your oven too 190c 375f gas 5. Beat the butter and 125g of butter together until pale and smooth, the mix in the beaten egg, mix the cocoa powder and boiling water together and fold into the egg mixture along with the flour.
2. spoon into your paper cases then stick them in the oven for 14 minutes, then remove to a wire rack to cool. Whilst they are cooling melt your chocolate in a bowl in the simmering pan of water carefully, add in the butter then stir in well, spoon over your cakes and leave to set. (I put mine in the fridge after a while to get the chocolate nice and hard.)

Makes 20

Chocolate Brownies

Ingredients
150g Plain Chocolate (chopped into small chunks)
4 Tablespoons Chocolate chips
65g Self Raising Flour
4 Tablespoons Cocoa Powder
215g Light Brown Sugar
2 Eggs
120ml Sunflower Oil
1 Teaspoon Vanilla Essence
75g Chopped Mixed Nuts (or just chopped nuts that you like, walnuts? pecans?)

Equipment
1x19cm Square Cake Tin (greased)
1 Sauce Pan (half filled with boiling water and a bowl sat in it to melt the chocolate)
1 Large Mixing Bowl
1 Electric Whisk (although a balloon whisk/fork will do)
1 Sieve
1 Spatula/Wooden Spoon (for mixing and spreading out mixture)
1 Wire Rack

The Good Bit

1. Pre heat your oven too 180c 350f gas 4, start by melting the chocolate in the bowl over just barely simmering water, beat the eggs, oil sugar and vanilla essence together in your mixing bowl then stir in the melted chocolate (this is where the whisk comes in handy)
2. Once you have a smooth mixture sift in the flour and cocoa powder and fold in with either the spatula or the wooden spoon, finally stir in the chopped nuts and chocolate chips then tip out into the cake tin and smooth over the top.
3. Bake for 30-35 minutes until the top is crusty then allow to cool slightly before moving onto the wire rack, when it is cold enough, cut into chunks and serve (cream or custard goes really well)