Plus some other recipes too.
Yes! I am very excited because I made some pb fudge. I was searching the internet, but all the pb fudge recipes either used icing sugar, or were no-cook versions which never seem as good to me. So in the end I decided to half freestyle it- based on the Rachel Allen fudge recipe that always works so well, I changed it up a bit.
Before you begin I always think preparation is the key. So have ready a pan lined with baking paper (I use a brownie pan, and I do not use any extra greasing or anything), have your whisk ready, have a saucer with water if you are not using a sugar thermometer, and also chop your chocolate if using. Then you can get on with making some delicious fudge.
So, first in a pan gently heat 100g butter (this is the only recipe I actually use butter, normally I use pure spread but I am never sure about using it when you need the chemical reactions), 450g brown sugar and a tin of light condensed milk.
Let it bubble away (stir regularly) until it gets to the soft ball stage. I use a sugar thermometer, which has it marked on there, but you can do the test yourself.
Then turn off the heat and whisk away. (Taking this photo was very hard!)
When it thickens and you can see the trails left by the whisk, add a tsp vanilla extract and 2 tablespoons of smooth peanut butter.
Whisk a little more,
See how thick it is now? That is the look you want, where you can see the trails left by the whisk.
Pour half into the pan (optional, if you want chocolate in it) then sprinkle with chopped chocolate.
Then pour the rest over the top (the chocolate will start to melt very quickly, but that is good!).
It will look very messy! So flatten it down. I love this part- basically bash it really hard until it goes smooth!
Then leave for a while to cool. I generally put it in the fridge for a bit, but then take it out before slicing, otherwise it will be very hard to cut.
I cannot slice evenly ever!
Final step- try not to eat it all at once!
OK, onto other recipes. I was very taken by the look of chocolate-covered Katie’s berry crumble bars, and better still, she had asked for someone to try out the recipe with coconut oil. I was only too happy to oblige. I had some strawberries that needed eating, so I went for strawberry coconut crumble bars. I followed her recipe (look here) only I used coconut oil (melted in the microwave first), and arrowroot instead of cornflour. Plus I heated up the strawberries in a pan first to thicken them up, as per the instructions on the arrowroot box.
Then I layered it up in a dish (I used coconut oil to grease the pan too).
Then after it was baked:
I have to say that it smells amazing, and I was worried about getting them out of the dish, but they came out perfectly!
Wow, look at that crumble bar. Seriously, it is amazing! I had one after my dinner and it was amazing. Katie- the coconut oil works perfectly in the crumble mix too! 🙂
After seeing on Lucy’s blog some lovely looking sweet potato burgers, I decided to give them a go. Well, a variation. The original recipe is on choosing raw, but I did not have edamame beans, or any quinoa flakes, or onions, so mine are a bit different.
So anyway, my recipe is here:
1 large sweet potato, cooked (in the microwave) and peeled.
1 drained tin of kidney beans
15g quinoa flour (makes them gluten free! How exciting!)
Tbs ground flax
Juice of one lime
Chilli powder (1 tsp)
Ground ginger (1tsp)
Put it all in a food processor (or you could mash by hand). Add water if needed. Squash it into 4 patties.
Bake in the oven for about 30 mins, turning over half way.
Enjoy 🙂
I enjoyed 2 with some rocket salad and a corn on the cob, so summery. And bonus, I have 2 more in the freezer for another day.
Gosh that is enough for today I think!
So, foodie questions: Fave fudge flavour (for some inspiration), Fave bean burger recipe, and which fruits do you love most in a crumble?
Breakfast– Chopped jazz apple, 50g Rude Health Early Bird Crispy Muesli, Milk.
Plus some end-of-term chocolates (pre-digging energy).
Lunch– some of the quinoa salad I made 
Plus a pear and a rude health oaty thin covered with Sainsbury’s choc chip pb. I was very hungry after all that digging I can tell you! Â A bulldozer might have been an easier option!
Afternoon snack– some Cosy Earl Grey tea, and a Waitrose nut bar (to give me me energy for aerobics).
Dinner– pasta with pesto, roasted courgette and pepper, and then I sprinkled it with some cheese.
A frozen banana, raspberries, cocoa powder and Kara coconut milk.
Sprinkled with coconut as I love that at the moment.
After that I headed up to our allotment for some weeding action. It was more overgrown than I remembered!
There is bind-weed everywhere!!
At one point I got very freaked out as I went to chop the bottom of a massive thistle, and nearly squashed a frog- gross! Luckily it hopped out of the way, but I may or may not have screamed, then shouted “sh*t” (this is very rare for me to swear) and then panicked about people seeing me! Anyway, I weeded for over 2 hours. I must have moved 7 or 8 big piles of weeds to the enormous compost heap. Mistake number 1 by me was to only take a small trowel and hand fork- next time I will bring the proper tools!
We have to leave the potato plants as apparently the lady might come and dig them up!
Once home (this was a good two and a half hours later) I was starving so decided to replenish my blood sugar with a lovely Eat Natural bar. Mm. I then went to Habitat in the hope of getting some bargains, but alas, too late (despite the signs still being up) they have closed! Ah well.
Some with coconut, to add to the tropical theme! I love Divine dark chocolate mango, but had never thought of making it myself until I saw it on her 
I only made 6 this time, as I know there will only be 6 of us at Sunday tea, and I had more success with the icing as I made it in my food processor.
Can you see where I poured in the teabag-infused milk??
Then I covered them in the icing, and had 2 for dessert last night- delish. The only thing was that the icing was butter icing (well, pure spread) but I find that too rich. I was planning on making it with cream cheese, but I could not find it in the fridge. Anyway, I think this would be amazing topped with some kind of chocolate/ coconut butter or peanut butter topping (like the one on the chewy rice squares). Love the idea thanks Lucy! 🙂
I love the crispy muesli, and decided to try another one- I like raisins but this one sounded nice too!
I love this, so summery! A chopped apple, muesli and milk. After that, exciting news people!!!!!!