132.Chocolate Profiteroles (M Berry)

Mary Berry's complete cookbook 
Rating: 5/5 
Comment: I wanted to try the Mary B version of profiteroles after watching the Great British Bake off bakers make the religieuses recently. Decided to stick with one size profiteroles rather than the 2 separate and used whipped cream filling rather than creme patisserie. I followed the recipe, and Mary's instructions once again produced a great result! I got 11 instead of 12, and they were rather large.
This is from one of my must-have books which I turn to for traditional recipes.
Use it again: Yes. The last  profiterole recipe I used didn't work out so well so I will definitely use this again :-)

108. Chocolate victoria sponge (M Berry)

Mary Berry's Ultimate Cake Book
Rating: 4/5
Comment: Nice enough light chocolate cake. The icing to go with this is margarine so used a chocolate (using real chocolate) buttercream icing and higher quantities to include a covering on the top.
Use it again: Yes, for a light choc cake.
Lovely recipes from this book: Coffee victoria sponge, lemon traybake.

98. Cheesecake brownies (R. Allen - Cake)

Rachel Allen - Cake
Link to the recipe
Rating: 4.5/5 
Comment: Yummy - much nicer than a regular Rachel Allen brownie recipe I sometimes use - the cream cheese balances out the richness a little, although it has a slightly odd taste, still good. I also think I will add more of the chocolate chunks part to the melted choc/butter mixture relative to the amount of chunks - maybe 30-40 %. These were even nicer the second day.

Use it again: Probably, but not as often as my regular brownie recipe.

90.Chocolate mousse (L. Pascale)

Lorraine Pascale's Fast, Fresh and Easy Food 
Rating: 3/5 
Comment: This probably would have been fine except that I didn't notice it uses 50g milk chocolate in addition to 150g dark chocolate! didn't work out too well and was quite heavy. Admittedly it was probably user error - I've never been able to make a nice chocolate mousse. 
Use it again: No. 
Lovely recipes from this book: Chocolate cake, lemon& lime poppy seed cake,warm bramley apple pies, spicy chicken fajitas, roasted new Potatas&chorizo Bravas. 
Nice enough recipes from this book: Twister Bread.
Recipes to avoid: Lamb Biryani.

83. Chocolate cake (L Pascale)

Lorraine Pascale's Fast, Fresh and Easy Food 
Rating: 5/5 
Comment: This is the 'let them eat cake' recipe, which is meant to be covered in maltesers and chocolate butter-cream icing, but thought that was too time-consuming and too much icing so did 2/3 the suggested amount of icing and didn't use maltesers. If I was doing this for a birthday, or special occasion, which it is good enough for, think I would go all out and put the maltesers on (it would be very very sweet!).  However, it's still very nice without them. This recipe uses creme fraiche and less butter than normal, which give it a lovely consistency. I use a different chocolate cake recipe (no creme fraiche in it) from the original book (baking made easy), that is also very good (#27 in May). 
Use it again: Yes. 
Other lovely recipes from this book: Warm bramley apple pies. 
Nice enough recipes from this book: Twister Bread.

73. Mini Molten Chocolate Puddings (Donal Skehan)

Donal Skehan: http://www.rte.ie/lifestyle/food/recipes/2012/0528/3203-mini-molten-chocolate-puddings/
Kitchen hero - great food for less
Rating: 3.5/5
Comment: Tasty but too sweet. Over-cooked the first two, then slightly under-cooked the second two, but all tasted great anyway. Hopefully will get it right next time. Also omitted the chilli but will try a little next time.
Use it again: Yes. 

 

70. Chocolate brownies (Rachel Allen-favourite food)

Rachel's Favourite Food 
Rating: 4/5 
Comment: Nice brownies but not as good as the Lorraine Pascale ones.
Use it again: Yes, but only when low on eggs as uses 2 less eggs than the usual brownie recipe.
Lovely recipes from this book: Pasta with chorizo and cream, Pea and coriander soup with chilli, hot lemon pudding, mustard and honey salad dressing.
Average recipes: Homemade burgers.

62. B-list chocolate chip cupcakes

Saved by Cake - Marian Keyes  
Rating: 3/5 for the cupcakes; 4.5/5 for the icing
Comment: The cupcakes themselves were a bit heavy but the icing was lovely. Will use the chocolate icing again with plain vanilla or chocolate sponge fairycakes.
Use it again: Icing - yes; cupcake recipe - no.

49. mini Dark chocolate & raspberry swirl cheesecake

Lorraine Pascale - Baking Made Easy
Rating: 2.5/5 
Comment: This was only OK. The cheesecake part is really just philly, cream, icing sugar and some melted butter and digestives with a few raspberries thrown on top. I wasn't in the mood for sweet food so may not have given this a fair score.

  
Use it again: Probably not but I may try it again in the future when I feel fine. 
Lovely recipes from this book: Fudge brownies, Chocolate cake, Chocolate melting pots, Soda bread, Strawberry and mascarpone swiss roll, baked plaice with rosemary and anchovies, mini toad-in-the-hole, Focaccia, glam mac and cheese.
Avoid: Banana and Honey Soufleé

47. Chocolate melting puds (L Paascale)

Lorraine Pascal - Baking Made Easy 
Rating: 4.5/5
Comment: Yummy, these are very good - gooey chocolate surrounded by sponge. Didn't bother tipping the puds out of the ramekins. (Meant to use dariole moulds but don't have any). 

The second time I tried these they came out of the moulds grand (used Dariole ones). Also prepared the mixture in advance and left in the fridge for a few hours. Left them in the oven slightly longer and still worked great. (12/13 mins at 170 - fan oven).
Use it again: yes.

Other lovely recipes from this book: Fudge brownies, Chocolate cake, Soda bread, Strawberry and mascarpone swiss roll, baked plaice with rosemary and anchovies, mini toad-in-the-hole, Focaccia, glam mac and cheese.
Avoid: Banana and Honey Soufleé

35. Fudge brownies (Lorraine Pascale)

Lorraine Pascale - Baking Made Easy 
Rating: 5/5  
Comment: These should be called sinful brownies - delicious. They have broken up oreo cookies - but would be lovely without them too or with an alternative such as Minstrels.

Use it again: Yes.
Other lovely recipes from this book: Chocolate cake, Soda bread, Strawberry and mascarpone swiss roll, baked plaice with rosemary and anchovies, Focaccia

27. Chocolate cake - 'I can't believe you made that' cake

Lorraine Pascale - Baking Made Easy link
Rating: 4/5 
Comment:  Lovely cake. I may not bother icing the top as well as the sides next time as it is quite sweet. The recipe would be better with cigarellos or even matchmakers, as suggested, but my local supermarket only had chocolate fingers. The strawberries go well on top, as would raspberries. Great cake for a special occasion - I served it to family today who liked it. It was too sweet the first day, but a night in the fridge made it perfect.
Use it again: Yes 

 

 Other lovely recipes from this book: Soda bread.