Forever Nigella: Seduced by Chocolate

Many of you have read about my surgical oncologist friend, (Codename: Candelabra), and our somewhat connected experiences with getting Nigella Lawson cookbooks signed. When I told Candelabra about “Forever Nigella,” she exclaimed, “I want to cook along, too! But, I don’t have time to create a blog. Or write about that month’s recipe.” Having known Candelabra for several years now, I know that it’s much easier to have her tell me about her experience, and I’ll just be the one to put it in writing. That way, both of our experiences will be shared each month! However, for our inaugural “dual post”, Candelabra found time between surgeries to do her own mini write up about our selection for “Seduced by Chocolate”!

After a perusal of the two Nigella Lawson cookbooks we both own, Candelabra and I decided to make the chocolate mint cookies from Nigella Express. And, for even more decadence, I made Mexican hot chocolate from the same cookbook. Now, although I own Nigella Express, I used the recipes from Nigella.com because those versions give the measurements in grams, thus giving me a reason to use my kitchen scale!

The cookies themselves were rather easy to put together. I happened to make these on a massive baking day in my apartment, so I took a shortcut by making the cookies super-sized, used a 1/4 cup to measure out the dough, and let them bake for 15 minutes because my oven had basically been on all afternoon. The glaze was fun to make because the mint extract made the apartment smell like gel toothpaste for awhile. As for the Mexican hot chocolate, I made one health-conscious decision and used skim milk instead of whole. I know that Ms. Lawson would be horrified at this substitution and probably wouldn’t want to even know, but I felt I had to confess because it seems anti-indulgence.

Now, as promised, here is Candelabra’s write up and photos!

CANDELABRA: Just a few comments about these cookies. First, I made them with an egg from my favorite ICU murse (that would be short for “male nurse”) who has chickens on his farm and brought me eggs just a couple of days before I tried the recipe. The most beautiful eggs I have ever seen! So, not only does his day job involve doting upon the needs of the critically ill, he has time to raise chickens who hatch pretty eggs!

Second… BUTTER. I don’t bake often and I forgot how good butter tastes in home baked goods. Finally, I found it ridiculously difficult to master the perfect “random chocolate drizzle.” The first attempt looked mostly like splotches.

Second attempt, I was getting there, but still not quite right.

Slowly got the hang of it, and finally a lovely plate of minty chocolate chunk Nigella cookies!!In the end, I was left with minty chocolate drizzled kitchen floor, counter, and stove, but well worth the effort.”

To see this month’s round-up of “Seduced by Chocolate” Nigella recipes, head over to Forever Nigella! Or, better yet, join in the fun for next month!