A Girl's Got To Know Her Limitations

When someone asks me do I like to cook, I usually have to stop and think.  You see, I used to enjoy cooking before I had kids.  I used to like baking different slices & biscuits and trying new recipes.  But now that cooking has become part of the daily routine, it feels more like a chore than something enjoyable to do.  So once I've had a chance to ponder the question, I generally answer that I'm more a meat & 3 veg kinda cook.  Well not just meat & 3 veg ... I do mix it up a bit with some lasagne, butter chicken and tacos, but it's usually simple, filling and hopefully liked by all the kids.  When I now cook, I feel like I'm more boss of an engine room that keeps the family going from week to week rather than Nigella.  There is no time for fancy recipes, lots of ingredients & turned up noses to what's served up in front of the hungry hordes.

Image from www.thisislondon.co.uk

Nigella Lawson I'm not ... in so many ways ;-)

So keeping this all in mind, I have no idea what came over me when I thought I'd join in the spirit of all things Christmassy & try my hand at some festive baking.  Did I need to have some extra gifts on hand to give to friends who dropped by?  No.  Were the kids pressuring me to use the Xmas biscuit cutters we've never used?  No.  Did I succumb to Christmas blogging fabulousness?  Yes!  The bloggy peer pressure was just too much and I had a momentary lapse of reason and decided to make Rocky Road (something I've never made before).  This is what it was meant to look like.

Retromummy's white chocolate Rocky Road

I, on the other hand, ended up with this embarrassing choc congealed mess.  Mmmm ... appealing isn't it?

First Lesson Learnt:  Not all chocolate melts.

Second Lesson Learnt:  Choc Bits definitely don't melt.  They hold their shape when baked.  It says so clearly on the packet.

Third Lesson Learnt:  Have several packets of chocolate on hand. You will probably go through the majority of them.

Fourth Lesson Learnt:  Don't try new recipes when also cooking dinner.

Fifth Lesson Learnt:  In the words of Dirty Harry, a man (or woman) has got to know their limitations.

Mine is clearly White Chocolate Rocky Road!