Fantasy Veggie Dinner Guest - RICHEY EDWARDS

For girls of Zelda's generation, Mr Richard Edwards was an enigma, and a poet. 

Sadly, If I'm honest, we loved the fact that he took everything so seriously that, when his authenticity was questioned, he carved 4 Real into his arm with a razorblade. 
But, looking back now with the benefit of time and maturity, the sad human being behind it all becomes, ironically, more 'real'. It is clear that Richey was not suited to stardom and all its pressures. He suffered persistent and prolonged bouts of depression, leading to anorexia. One of the most promising signs of his so-called (or hoped for) improved mental health at the start of 1995 was when he was seen enjoying a bar of chocolate. Sadly, the progress was short-lived and by that February he had disappeared, leaving only a series of clues which continue to intrigue to this day. 

How much more might he have achieved if he had managed to conquer his depression...

In Zelda's world, where Karen Carpenter can clear her plate and cartoon dogs enjoy a plate of spaghetti, there is no reason why Richey can't - without any feelings of guilt - fill up on this brilliant chocolate treat. 

CHOCOLATE TREAT

400g white chocolate

100g dark chocolate
(+ optional extras such as a small packet mini fudge chunks
and a small packet of chocolate chips)

Break the chocolate into separate bowls.

Place each bowl over (but not into) a saucepan of simmering water and stir until all the chocolate has melted.

Place baking paper on a tray and pour the white chocolate into the centre. 

Spread it out using the back of the spoon.

Drizzle the dark chocolate over the top. Then use the handle of a teaspoon to swirl it all together.

Sprinkle any added extras over the top.

Put in the fridge to set.
Then, either serve on paper as a slab...

...or place on a board and cut into pieces with a very sharp knife.

CHOCOLATE BROWNIES

There are hundreds of recipes for Chocolate Brownies. This one is very easy and gives a classic, plain cake. It can be modified with a variety of fillings.

100g butter, chopped into cubes

200g dark chocolate

4 eggs

250g caster sugar

100g plain flour

1tsp baking powder

30g cocoa powder

N.B. These ingredients make about 500cm²  so make sure your Brownie tin is of the right size.

Grease and line the tin with baking parchment.

Then get all the ingredients ready.

Melt the butter and chocolate in a bowl over a pan of simmering water.

Whisk the eggs and sugar together until light and fluffy.

Fold the egg mixture into the chocolate. 

Then sift in the flour, baking powder and cocoa.

Mix all together well...

...and  pour into the tin.

Cook for 35-45 minutes at Gas 4/ 180°C/ 350°F until the top is cracked but the middle is set.

Allow to cool and cut into chunks.

A Meal for ARCHIE WATSON

This is Archie Watson. 
He is Zelda's dog and she loves him, loves him, loves him...

This week she cooked a meal for DAFT (The Devoted to Animals Fundraising Team). The proceeds went to First Step Dog Rescue which saved Archie from a certain death.
Archie is so full of life and she is eternally grateful that he has been able to make the most of every single minute he has been allocated since. 
The meal is a chance for all the DAFT group to get together. All the guests pay a set price per head and choose a 3 course meal from the menu. The profit is donated to a worthy animal cause.

Some of the recipes have already appeared on Dinner with Zelda Manners, such as: 

• Butter Crust Tartlets 
• Zelda's version of Johnny Cash's Chilli  
• Pithiviers
• Quorn with Red Wine and Mushrooms 

So here are a few of the others...

WARMING VEGETABLE SOUP

Serves 6

1tbsp olive oil

1 onion

salt and pepper

1tsp mild curry powder

2 litres vegetable stock

3 carrots, peeled and cubed

½ swede, peeled and cubed

2 parsnips, peeled and cubed

Heat oil and fry onion. Add curry powder and stir well.

Pour in the stock and add the other vegetables.

Bring to the boil. 

Cover and let it simmer for at least 30 minutes until the veg is soft.

Puree until smooth.
When ready to eat, reheat.
To 'posh it up', serve with single cream, some coarsely ground black pepper and a sprig of parsley.

FRUIT FOOL

Serves: 6-8

500g / 17oz fruit (can be fresh or frozen)
75g / 3oz caster sugar
500g tub fresh custard, chilled
142ml pot fresh double cream
Dessert biscuits to serve

Put 450g of the fruit into a saucepan with the sugar. (Keep 50g back for serving).

Heat and simmer gently without a lid until soft and pulpy.

Remove from the heat and leave to cool.
Purée in a blender or food processor. If you wish, pass the mixture through a sieve to remove the pips, pressing down with the back of a wooden spoon.

Add the custard and stir well to combine.

Whip the cream in a large chilled bowl until thick.

Fold it through the fruit mixture. 

 

Chill thoroughly.

Spoon the fool into attractive serving glasses and put some of the reserved fruit on the top of each.
Serve with dessert biscuits.

CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE

Serves 8

300g digestive biscuits

100g butter

110g caster sugar

150ml whipping cream

350g dark chocolate

2tbsp cocoa powder

400g cream cheese

1 small packet chocolate buttons

Grease and flour a 10inch springform tin.

Put the biscuits in a large bowl and bash with the end of a rolling pin.

Melt the butter and mix it with the biscuits and 10g of the caster sugar.

Press into the bottom of the tin and refrigerate.

Whip the cream until soft peaks form.

Melt 300g of the chocolate and allow to cool slightly. Add it to the whipped cream and stir in the cocoa.

Beat the cream cheese with the remaining sugar.

Fold this into the cream chocolate mixture.

Spread the mixture on top of the crushed biscuits.

Refrigerate for at least an hour.

Grate the remaining chocolate and sprinkle most of it over the top along with the buttons.

Cut into slices and serve with cream and more of the chocolate sprinkles.

Fantasy Veggie Dinner Guest - WINSTON SMITH

Winston Smith can hardly be thought of as a hero but in 1984 he struggles to find and retain his originality in a world of bureaucracy.

Chocolate is rationed and the amount allocated keeps diminishing, despite the Party’s reassurance.

I think he would love to indulge in these.

DOUBLE CHOCOLATE COOKIES

Makes about 12

50g butter

50g granulated sugar

40g light brown sugar

½ tsp vanilla extract

1 free range egg

125g plain flour

¼ tsp bicarbonate of soda

½ tsp salt

200g plain chocolate drops

100g white chocolate

NB Don't worry about the ratio of chocolate to biscuit mix - it is correct! 

Heat oven to 180C/ Gas4.

Cream the butter with the sugars and the vanilla extract.

Add the egg, flour, bicarbonate of soda and salt and mix well.

Break the white chocolate into chunks and add to the mixture with the chocolate drops.

Make sure everything is well-mixed.

Put spoonfuls of the mixture, spaced well apart on greased baking trays.

Bake for 12-15 minutes until lightly brown and still soft in the centre.

Leave to cool slightly for a couple of minutes. Then, place on wire rack to cool fully.

Also see what Zelda would cook for George Orwell.