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My original thinking with these beauties was that they would become the modern day Welsh Love Spoon. The one you'd actually like to receive on Valentine's Day, as opposed to one of those outrageously over-priced and overwhelmingly useless, hideous, hand crafted, wooden goodfornothings. Those of you not in the same country as I am might not know what a Welsh Love Spoon is, and in this case, Google is your best friend - he's found this for you.
My timing is off though; I've been busy! Thus, I didn't make them in time for Valentine's Day, and they became Dessert One of Two at Rowanne's Un-Birthday Party. (It's a little-known, but fortunately often implemented rule that one must always have two desserts at an Un-Birthday Party).
I confess that, fabulous though my spoons are, they were not actually my own idea; I saw something similar in a Valentine-themed cookbook in Tokyo a week or so ago, and immediately decided to make some at home (as I've said, as Valentine's gifts, but that didn't happen). But actually, they went down so well at Row's Un-Birthday that I think I'll make them a party regular.
I'm just mad for this one - it's like a jewelled brooch! The making and eating is ridiculously fun and easy to do; you could even get children to help. You can see that this isn't really a 'recipe', so I'm going to attempt a step by step tutorial.
(A tutorial - ha!)
Now, hold on to your hats, because here we go.
First of all, get yourself some spoons. I found these coloured plastic ones in the kind of cheap shop that you love going into but wouldn't want to be seen in. Have a hunt around to see what you can find.
Then, you'll need some chocolate. I'm not a snob (honest!), but I do think you get what you pay for, so make it a chocolate that you actually feel comfortable eating. Nothing too expensive; you'll be covering it with trashy sweets and sprinkles after all. I got these bars in Rome - I'm a sucker for pretty packaging.
While you melt the chocolate, either in the microwave, or over some simmering water, you need to make your spoons level so that when you pour in the liquid chocolate, it doesn't spill. I simply propped them up using a copy of James Wong's enlightening Grow Your Own Drugs. (Calm down: he's talking about things like chamomile.) You could use anything suitable - the edge of a plate or chopping board, for example.
Then, spoon in some chocolate. I'm afraid the sun came out and cast some shadows on this, but you get the idea. (Remind me never to do a step-by-step 'tutorial' on party spoons ever again.)
Then you simply go mad with whatever small sweets, silver balls and sprinkles you have. Jelly beans are a must - we all agreed they go nicely with the chocolate, however odd that may sound. If your sweets are chocolate themselves though, wait ten minutes before putting them onto the molten chocolate, just in case they also start melting.
Serve, at parties, with gleeful abandon!
