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Jamie Oliver Epic Hot Chocolate

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I first saw this recipe on one of Jamie Oliver’s Christmas cookery shows a few years ago. The Jamie Oliver Epic Hot Chocolate Mix. I decided to give it a whirl and was so impressed I swore to make it up into jars for gifts for friends and family. I didn’t end up doing it until last Christmas when I made small jars to place in my Christmas hampers and everyone loved it.

I’ve made this on the stovetop and it’s a thick gooey indulgent cross between a hot chocolate and a chocolate dip.

Anyway without further waffling ( Oh did I mention it is really good served with waffles? )  I promised to share the recipe so here we go:

Jamie Oliver Epic Hot Choc

You will need:

2 tablespoons Horlicks/malted milk powder
2 tablespoons cornflour
3 tablespoons icing sugar
4 tablespoons quality organic cocoa
100 g good-quality dark chocolate (70% cocoa solids), finely grated – Chill your chocolate first to make it easier to grate
1 pinch ground cinnamon
1 pinch sea salt

*Ingredients can be multiplied depending on how big your jars and how generous you feel.

Combine all ingredients and place into a small jar. Tie a piece of pretty ribbon around the rim and give to someone you love.

Here is the method to making the hot choc:

To make two pints, place 2 pints of semi skimmed (or full fat for ultimate indulgence) milk in a saucepan and bring almost to the boil before adding 10 tbsp of your mix, whisk in quickly and leave to bubble for a few min before serving. Your mixture should be thick and luxurious.

*Write the instructions on a small piece of brown card and attach to your jars.

You could serve with toasted marshmallows or waffles/churros to dip in 😀

jamie oliver epic hot chocolate

 

A Christmas Hamper Review

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Sometimes as a food blogger you get some pretty cool review opportunities. A few weeks ago I was offered a Christmas hamper to review … Um YES please.

So this showed up last week:

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It contains:

Cabernet Sauvignon Klippenkop Coastal Region South Africa 2012 37.5cl
Chenin Blanc Klippenkop Robertson South Africa 2012 37.5cl
The Original Cake Company 2″ Square Top Iced Christmas Cake
Matthew Walker Classic Christmas Pudding 100g
Just Chocolates Divine Chocolate Selection 65g
Crunch Craving Roasted & Salted Cashews 55g
Four Anjels Classic Shortbread Biscuits 100g

So far I may have munched my way through the shortbread – ”twas divine.

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I’ve crunched my way through the cashews and I reluctantly shared the chocolate selection with my other half. I’m saving the pud and Chrismas cake for the weekend and unfortunately the wine has to wait a few more weeks until baby 2 arrives.

Would make a nice present for the inlaws or a good friend 🙂

The hamper retails for £35.99 and I’d say that’s a pretty reasonable price. I’m quite frugal by nature so I am more likely to make a hamper normally than buy one but for convenience and to save all the hassle of wrapping it up etc this is ideal. I especially like the pretty basket – a lot of hampers these days seem to come in cardboard boxes which I think spoils the overall effect.

One big plus point for me was the information leaflet that came with it explaining how everything could be recycled.

You can order this hamper or look lust after lots of others by clicking here

* I was sent this product for free in exchange for an honest review.

Thrifty Homemade Christmas Gifts – Part 1

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Last year I made a lot of the gifts that I gave to friends and family. It saved me a fortune and everyone seemed to like them. This year the intention was to make all my gifts. It’s not going to happen. I would however like to share over the next few weeks things I made last year so you can try them out for your Christmas presents. Some of these ideas are mine, others I have blatantly stolen from Nigella, Jamie and co or from images I’ve spotted on Pinterest.

This week I want to tell you about flavoured sugars and shortbread.

First up Vanilla Sugar.

This is so easy peasy that you don’t really need an explanation but here it goes.

You will need large jars, golden caster sugar and vanilla pods.

The quantities you use don’t matter, you want to layer caster sugar and vanilla pods cut in half in large jars. Seal for a minimum of a month or for up to a year. If you are gifting these try using pretty jars such as Kilner jars, making your own labels and tying with pretty festive ribbon.

As well as for gifts you should have a jar of this at home in your store cupboard at all times, use it in place of standard caster sugar in all recipes for extra flavour, as you use it simply top up with more sugar and pods.

I buy my vanilla pods from food sellers on eBay as far cheaper and in bulk.

This idea is from the Nigella Christmas book. Which is awesome by the way.

You will use the vanilla sugar in my next gift idea:

Superb Simple Shortbread

You will need:

125g Plain Flour
90g salted butter
40g Vanilla sugar plus extra for dusting

Blend your flour and sugar together before rubbing in your butter until completely combined and forming a dough. Roll into a rectangular piece of dough and cut into 8 lengths. Using a fork prick them several times and bake in a preheated oven on a greased tray for 20-25 minutes. Immediately on removing from the oven sprinkle with vanilla sugar and leave to cool on a a wire rack.

Most recipes ask for unsalted butter but I like the salty/sweet shortbread taste you get when using salted butter.

Gift in a pretty box. These are best made the night before giving as a gift. These quantities are the perfect amount for a gift for one person/or couple.

I made these today with my (almost) 2 year old and we had lots of fun making and eating them!

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Coming up next week:

Jamie’s epic hot chocolate and peppermint creams.