Love this time of year as I have time to catch up with old friends and family and even get time to sit down for lunch with my lovely husband.

Having been inspire with all these amazing cook books out there, I’ve come across chocoholic heaven, with berry brownies and a liquid fix with orange and cardamom . Think I’ve found heaven girls.If your planing to surprise a loved one you guys out there, you might want to get your sticky little paws on these recipes.

Berry chocolate brownies:
200g milk chocolate, roughly chopped
100g dark chocolate, as above
250g unsalted butter
150g plain flour
400g golden caster sugar
4 free range eggs
50g Cocoa powder
200g frozen berries ( I like to us blackberries and blackcurrants ) take out about 15 min before using them.

To make these cocoa- laden treat preheat the oven 200c or fan 180c line a baking try
Put a large pan on and melt the chocolate, sugar and butter
Remove from the heat add the eggs, flour and cocoa powder. Mix throughly.
Add half the berries and stir.
Tip the mixture into your baking tray then scatter the rest of the berries on the top.
Bake for 25-30 min, until the top is firm and cracking but the inside remains moist and gooey.
Allow to call if you can. I can never wait and I must say a dollop of Cornish clotted cream is just Devine .

Now for that winter warmer Orange and Cardamon
1litre milk
200g milk chocolate chopped
10 Cardamon seeds crushed, outer shell removed
Zest of an orange
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Put milk, chocolate, Cardamon, orange juice into a sauce pan.
Heat gently, keep stirring until chocolate has melted and the milk is hot.
Stir in the vanilla with maybe a whole cinnamon stick.
Then get your lips around that mug and totally get high on chocolate.
If this hasn’t wakened those taste buds…