COOKING WITH KIDS BY FULVIO PIERANGELINI, DIRECTOR OF FOOD

Rocco Forte Hotels

These easy recipes use Easter egg chocolate in a fun and innovative way and are simple enough for children to help with.

 

Chocolate Dessert Roses

Recipe by Fulvio Pierangelini, Creative Director of Food - Verdura Resort, Sicily

Ingredients:

200g dark chocolate (or an Easter Egg)

150g corn flakes

20g butter

Method:

1. Break the chocolate into small pieces and melt it using a Bain-Marie.

2. Once the chocolate has melted, add the butter.

3. Put the cereal into a bowl and pour the melted chocolate over it whilst mixing gently until each flake is well covered.

4. On a baking sheet with parchment paper, spoon the cereal and chocolate into similar sized balls.

5. Leave in the fridge to set for at least an hour before serving.

 

Fulvio's advice:

• Use a variety of chocolate including dark, milk and white

• Alternatives to cereal: flaked almonds, dried fruit, puffed rice or quinoa

• The butter must be added cold

 

 

Chocolate Paintings

Recipe by Fulvio Pierangelini, Creative Director of Food - Verdura Resort, Sicily

Ingredients: 

200g dark chocolate (or an Easter Egg)

20g butter

Grated ginger or lemon/orange/lime zest

A pinch of salt

Method:

1. Freeze one or more plastic cutting boards covered with foil at least an hour before beginning.

2. Break the chocolate into small pieces and melt it using a Bain-Marie.

3. Once the chocolate has melted, add the butter.

4. According to your preferences, add either a pinch of salt or the citrus zest/grated ginger for added flavour.

5. Using a teaspoon or small pastry bag, paint flowers, draw animals, write beautiful words with the melted chocolate on the frozen cutting board.

6. Leave them in the fridge to set for at least an hour before serving.

Fulvio's advice:

• The container where you keep the chocolate must be completely dry; a single drop of water compromises the quality of the chocolate.

• When choosing citrus peel, it is essential that the fruit used is natural, organic and not treated with chemicals.

 

 

Chocolate Mousse Surprise

Recipe by Fulvio Pierangelini, Creative Director of Food - Verdura Resort, Sicily

Ingredients:

200g dark chocolate (or an Easter Egg)

20g butter

6 eggs

Meringue or biscuits

A pinch of salt

Method:

1. Break the chocolate into small pieces and melt slowly using a Bain-Marie.

2. Mix in a knob of butter and stir well.

3. Break the eggs separating the yolks from the whites and put into two bowls.

4. Add a pinch of salt to the egg whites and whisk them until stiff.

5. Pour the melted chocolate over the yolks whilst stirring immediately to avoid cooking the egg.

6. Gently fold the whipped whites into the chocolate and egg yolk mixture.

7. Mix in the meringue or biscuits.

8. Refrigerate for a few hours before serving.

Fulvio's advice:

• If you wish, replace the meringue with crumbled dried fruit or fresh berries.

• If you don't want to use a Bain-Marie, you can melt the chocolate in a microwave oven, being careful not to burn it.


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