Who doesn’t Love Reece’s Pieces? Well I guess firstly you have to be American and secondly you have to love dark chocolate and peanut butter.

I do not have a sweet tooth, but If I am going to eat chocolate, then it has to be dark chocolate, and as for Peanut butter? Once upon a time I resorted to making my own, as the only product available was a sticky goo, laden with sugar, but nowadays pure peanut butter is available and I can eat that straight out of the jar. So for me to the answer to above question is an unreservedly Yes.

I devour recipes as if they were actual food. Over the years I can not count how many I’ve read and yet it never ceases to amaze me, how extremely odd many of them can be.

Take for example one I scanned the other day, 285 grams of chocolate, bars of chocolate tend to be in 100 grams, maybe 125 or even 200 but 285! Where did that come from? Not 250 but 285! 285 is 10.08 ounces in old money, 10.08! Bonkers is all I can say. Or how about 180 grams, becomes 6.34 oz, it is also fine I guess, if you have a digital scale but seriously?

I have a good friend who is new to cooking and if the recipe calls for a 7″ tin and she has an 8″ and a 6″ , she would go out and buy a 7″ ( actually not sure that it exists) but it really doesn’t matter that much.

Yes, measurements do matter, especially in baking cakes and bread etc but in somethings it really is a bit of this and a bit of this, and a lot of trial and error.

I also find that many recipes in magazines are too long winded, and as such put off lesser cooks as being just too complicate to even attempt. And so I try hard to condense my recipes into easy steps, and am very much for, shortcuts wherever and whenever possible.

And so it was that this week, I made an indulgent Chocolate Peanut Butter tart. The younger version of Himself, Helen and baby Melia were coming for dinner, and so felt inspired. ( I also made ginger ice cream to go with the tart, but that is for another day).

For the tart, use your favourite pastry recipe , or buy some. Roll out the pastry line a tart pan, which has been greased with the pastry, either roll it our before hand( this is what I would do) but some people just place it in the pan and flatten it out with the palm of their hand to fit the tin. Prick the bottom, to stop from rising up and bake blind for about 15 mins at 200C, it should be firm and not soggy, if a bit soggy bake for a further few minutes.

For the filling take 250 grams dark chocolate ( 70% plus) place it in a pan along with 500mls double or thick cream. Add a tablespoon of honey and and a good dollop of peanut butter, either crunchy or smooth, and heat them all together, stir until well blended, but do not let them boil. Stir well to make sure it is a homogenous mix. Leave to cool ( at room temperature) and when cool pour into the pastry case. Do not refrigerate.

Just before serving , sprinkle on the top, either chopped peanuts, or as I did, ( as I had it in the pantry) some toasted coconut bits.

I then served it with fresh ginger ice cream. Even Baby Melia liked it, ( actually she is now 2 1/2 and calls herself Mimi)

And now we are two ( Volumes that is) and more to come !