FINYS FABULOUS FOODS AND FINDS

Despite the fact that the recipe was created in Florence during the Renaissance, and later exported to France, Florentine biscuits are considered to be a typical French pastry! These are delicious Florentines which, although they do not look as symmetrical as they do when you buy them in the shop, they taste so much better, and are without all the preservatives! They are quite simple to make though slightly "fiddly" with spreading the chocolate on the bottom after they are cooked -well worth the effort though! You could use any brand of chocolate - I just feel that if you use a good quality chocolate, it is like a good wine - the recipe turns out nicer.  So, my lovelies, any dark chocolate will work on this recipe, though BEWARE - they are moorish, and will disappear fast! Preparation Time: 25 minutes Cooking Time: 4 - 6 minutes Makes: About 18 Florentines Ingredients ¾ cup sultanas 2 cups Corn Flakes ¾ cup toasted unsalted peanuts, chopped   coarsle...

CHOCOLATE MOUSSE - what can I say!  I have not met anyone who does not like this. My chocolate mousse recipe is always much in demand as everyone loves it.  It has been handed down to me by my late best friend, and we used to make it often many years ago. Nowadays, I do not add any sugar to it as it does not need it though in the original recipe, it says to add a cup of sugar if using cooking chocolate. Chocolate is a bit like wine when you cook with it.  Use a good one, and your recipe will taste all the better for it.  I therefore am always on the lookout for Lindt chocolate at half price.  I use the 70% dark chocolate as that is healthier than plain dark chocolate. I do, in fact have one square of this almost every night as I rarely have cakes or food with added sugar nowadays.  That is what happens as we age - things seem to start "wearing out", and sugar levels go up for some odd reason.  I used to be able to eat exactly what I wanted, and...

Raw is currently the rage in cooking!  I have made some interesting recipes, though I have to admit some of them have failed! It is not so easy to get the right quantities of ingredients so that the sweet or dessert will not fall apart. I make a lot of bliss balls, as currently I am not eating much with refined sugar in them, and most of these raw desserts have no added processed sugars. This one also has chia seeds in it.  I love the texture of these seeds, and they are so easy to use in a variety of sweets and puddings.  They are also supposedly another of the new "super foods".  Their health properties include such things as Omega-3, antioxidants, fibre, iron and calcium.  They also contain some protein and are versatile in that they can be eaten both cooked or raw.  However they should be added to another food or soaked before eating them. Raw foods are the latest health craze and many of them use obscure ingredients.  However this recipe...

This is a recipe that I have made several times and it never fails to impress my friends and visitors. It looks professional yet it is really very simple to make. Strudels are recipes that have been handed down to me by my European mother, and she used to make them quite often. However I deviate from the ones she taught me, as hers were mostly apple strudel which is the traditional Austrian or German strudel that is well known. In this recipe, I have used a bit of ginger this time, however as it is quite an overpowering taste, I did not use a lot.  You can vary this to your individual taste, or even leave it out totally if you do not like ginger. Either way, this strudel is a flavoursome afternoon tea, snack or late night craving food.  Add some cream or ice cream to make it even nicer! Preparation Time: 15 minutes Cooking Time: 25 minutes Makes: 8 servings Ingredients 4-5 bananas (Lady Fingers work well but are expensive) 60g dark chocolate, chopped 2 sh...

This is a dark chocolate slice that has the delicate flavours of chocolate and orange, reminding me of Jaffas. We used to always have Jaffas at the pictures every Saturday afternoon, and chocolate with orange is such a delightful combination.  Today there this chocolate being made again in several different forms containing chocolate and orange. I like the dark chocolate, made by Lindt, with flecks of orange throughout it - it is a "match made in heaven".  Naturally you could use any brand of dark chocolate and another excellent one is Frey 69% cocoa which is available in only one chain of supermarkets, and is just as good, and far cheaper than the Lindt brand. This recipe is perhaps a different version of the classic brownie, and is perfect for afternoon tea, or as a dessert at any dinner party. Serve it at room temperature, or you can heat it slightly in the microwave to get the best of the fragrant Orange Chocolate taste. Preparation Time: 20 minutes Cookin...

I love cake and sweets, and I like to incorporate vegetables and/or fruit into a cake as I then think it is healthy! I now use mainly coconut sugar in my baking as this is a natural product and is unrefined, unlike sugar. The secret ingredient in this cake, which will leave your visitors wondering and never guess, is zucchini. Although the cake has more ingredients than a lot of other cakes, this one is still easy to make,  and the end result is well worth the effort. Preparation Time: 20 minutes Cooking Time: 45 minutes Makes: 12 servings Ingredients 1 cup coconut sugar ¼ cup brown sugar 1/3 cup oil (preferably vegetable) 1 medium ripe banana, mashed 1 tsp vanilla 2 large eggs 2 cups finely grated peeled zucchini 2 cups plain flour 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 1 ½ tsp baking powder 1 ½ tsp baking soda ½ cup dark chocolate chips ¼ cup low-fat sour cream Chocolate Cream Cheese Icing ¼ cup light cream cheese ¾ cup icing sugar 1 tbsp cocoa powder ...

I used to make these without the chocolate as an almond biscotti, however decided to try it with chocolate this time instead. They are very crunchy (don't break a tooth!) and last for many months if the family do not get at them first! I am a sweet tooth who has recently had to cut down on my sugar intake due to high readings, however I find that I only need to eat one or two of these with a cup of coffee to satisfy my sweet craving.  Even though there is sugar in these, one or two of them at a time does not contain a lot of sugar. They are quite easy to make and get baked twice to get that "crispness". Preparation Time: 15 minutes Cooking Time: 60 minutes Makes: 40 -50 servings Ingredients 1 ¾ cups plain flour, sifted 1 ½ tsp baking powder ¼ cup cocoa powder, sifted ¾ cup caster sugar ¾ cup blanched almonds 3 eggs 2 ½ tsp vanilla extract Method Preheat the oven to 180°/160° fan forced. Place the flour, baking powder, cocoa, sugar and almonds...