Plum and Chocolate Clafoutis

This is from Donna Hay's cookbook "Seasons". I've adapted it to make it easier, because after making it I don't think it needs to be made in a fry pan at all...just something fancy that she did for looks.

1/3 cup (50g) plain flour, sifted
1/4 cup (25g) cocoa, sifted
1/3 cup (75 g) caster sugar, sifted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (I used essence)
3 eggs
1 cup (250ml) single pouring cream
1 cup (175g) chopped dark chocolate
20g butter
6 blood plums, halved and stoned

1. Preheat the oven to 180 (355 F).
2. Place the flour, cocoa and sugar in a bowl.
3. In a separate bowl, place the vanilla, eggs and cream and stir to combine.
4. Add the vanilla mixture to the flour mixture and whisk to combine.
5. Stir in the chocolate.

Now this is where she gets you to divide it between two 13 cm ovenproof frying pans. I used a 28 cm oven proof frying pan, but I would think if I did it again I would just use a cake tin. Perhaps the only advantage to using a fry pan is, that because the cake doesn't rise it is not very high, so a fry pan makes it easier to get it out. Up to you though!

6. heat butter in the fry pan and remove from the heat(or grease a cake tin) and then place the chocolate mixture into the pan.
7. Place the plums on top of the mixture and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until puffed up and cooked through.

Serves 7-8 people

It was beautiful having some chunks of melted chocolate, mixed with the plums... although word of warning, try a plum first. The plums I bought were very tart, so I ended up putting caster sugar on the top when we got it out of the oven.
Another fruit that would go great with this is cherries or raspberries instead of the plum. We served with some fresh cream. some nice vanilla ice cream would of been great too!

Chocolate and Coconut Balls

An easy and delicious sweet treat to make. My daughter helped me, and glad she did, what a mess!!

What you will need:

250g plain sweet biscuit crushed finely (something like Marie is good)

400g tin of sweet condensed milk

4 tablespoons cocoa

1 row of chocolated finely grated

shredded coconut

chocolate sprinkles

Mix all the ingredients together and then form small balls. The easiest way to do is to roll them in the palms of your hands, its sticky and messy :)

Roll balls in the coconut and sprinkles mixture.

Place on a tray to cool in the fridge for around 30 mins.

Store in air tight container for up to 5 days (if they last that long!!)

Makes around 40 balls

Chocolate and Strawberry Cupcakes

I was inspired to try making these after I saw them on another blog HERE.Thanks for sharing your recipe with me!! I ended up changing a few things as I thought cocoa was meant to be added so I added it, and I changed a little thing in the frosting too.

1 cup milk

4 room temperature eggs

1/4 cup canola oil (I used vegetable oil as that is all I had)

1 cup caster sugar

2 tablespoons vanilla extract or essence

2 1/2 cups plain flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon bi-carb soda

1 cup cocoa (you probably could add a little more if you want it more chocolatey, and I think next time I will add some chocolate pieces to make it even gooier)

1/4 cup strawberry jam.

1. Preheat oven to 175 C and line 2 x 12 hold muffin tins with cupcake papers

2. In a mixing bowl or food processer beat eggs, milk, oil and sugar until the sugar has dissolved and ingredients combined. Add the vanilla and beat for another minute. I have also seen recipes that say to add the eggs one at a time, so I guess you could do that too.

3. Sift flour, baking powder and bi carb soda together and then add half to the wet ingredients. Beat for 30 seconds and then add the remaining flour mixture. Beat until combined.

4. Fill the cupcake tins halfway, then add a teaspoon of jam in the centre of each cupcake (the original recipe used a heavy jam that sank, but mine didn't). If you aren't using a heavy jam that sinks I would then place a little more mixture over the top so the jam is not exposed and spills out.

5. Bake for 20-25 mins or until a skewer comes out clean.

5. Allow to cool and then frost with the whipped cream buttercream (recipe below).

Whipped Cream Buttercream Frosting

1 cup unsalted butter (or 125 gms), softened

2 cups icing sugar (the original called for 6 cups but 2 was more than enough for the 24 cupcakes)

2 tablespoons boiling water

1/4 cup thickened cream

2 teaspoons vanilla extract (essence)

1. Cream butter and icing on low speed. Once combined increase speed and slowly add the boiling water and vanilla.

2. Add the cream and beat until thick and fluffy

3. I used a piping bag to put the cream on top of the cakes, but you could just spoon it on also.

4. Top with half a fresh strawberry. If you are going to be saving these for later top with the strawberry just before serving.