Chocolate Blocks With Fruits And Nuts Recipes

Steps:

• Set a heatproof bowl over a saucepan of simmering water, making sure the bowl doesn't touch the water. Roughly chop chocolate and place in the bowl to melt, stirring frequently, keeping the heat very low. Chop toasted nuts; using scissors, cut dried fruit into small pieces. Finely chop candied ginger and/or orange peel. Place fruit and nuts into a large mixing bowl.
• Once chocolate is melted and smooth, take it off the heat and stir fruit and nuts into the chocolate. Gently stir to combine so the fruit and nuts are all combined with the chocolate. Line a pan with parchment paper that's been sprayed with a little oil. Sprinkle cocoa powder over parchment and then add the chocolate mixture. Spread it out in an even layer. Dust with more cocoa powder and place another piece of parchment paper on top. Let it cool down and set in the refrigerator, 1 hour.
• When chocolate is set, run a knife around the edge to remove from the pan. Break or cut into pieces to make chunky chocolates.

Steps:

• In the top of a double boiler or a metal bowl set over a saucepan of barely simmering water, melt the chocolate, stirring occasionally until smooth.
• While the chocolate is melting, line the bottom and sides of an 8-inch square baking pan with foil, leaving a 2-inch overhang. Using a pastry brush, lightly brush the foil with vegetable oil.
• When the chocolate is melted, remove it from the heat, and stir in the fruit and nuts. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan, and spread it evenly with the back of a spoon or rubber spatula. Place the pan in the refrigerator, and chill for about an hour, or until the chocolate is firm. If it is too chilled you will have trouble cutting it.
• Use the foil overhang to lift the chilled chocolate mixture from the pan, and place it on a cutting board. Peel back the foil, and cut the chocolate into whatever size you desire.
• Note: These candies keep in the refrigerator, sealed in an airtight container with foil between the layers, for up to two weeks.

Steps:

• Roughly chop the chocolate on chopping boards with a large sharp knife - chopping rather than breaking it into squares will help it to melt nice and quickly. Get someone to help if necessary. Line 2 baking trays with baking paper.
• Put 2 heatproof mixing bowls over pans half-filled with water - make sure that the base of the bowls doesn't touch the water. Add the chocolate, then leave to melt over a gentle heat. Once it starts to melt round the edges of the bowl, stir gently just once or twice, then leave to melt again. Remove from the heat.
• Take care, as the bowls will be hot. Using a teaspoon, spoon the melted chocolates onto the paper in round shapes as evenly sized as possible - you need 16 of each type of chocolate. Leave a teaspoon of the white chocolate in the basin for later.
• To decorate the white chocolates, chop the raspberry flakes, then scatter on half the rounds and top with 2 almond halves. Put a pecan on the rest, then swirl over a little of the chocolate left in the bowl. Sprinkle with cocoa.
• To make the dark chocolates, scatter half the rounds with the candied peel and the other half with the chopped cranberries and sugared cashews. Or try a combination of them all.
• Leave the chocolates to set and harden for about 3 hours (the dark chocolate will set before the white), then pack carefully into a box. They will keep for a week.