Chocolate Rocky Road..YUM!

Doesn't this look yummy, I love chocolate and dried fruit, what a great combination.

Found this recipe by Jamie Oliver

I will be making this for Christmas gifts. It was a hit during a test run.

This is more for the adult candy eaters due to it's "secret" ingredient....a red chili pepper. Chocolate with a little bit of heat from a chili is my personal favorite! (or you can leave this out)

You can use any combo of fruit and nuts you like. I used cashews, pistachios, craisins and golden raisins. 

Chocolate Rocky Road

2 (4 oz) bars good quality bittersweet chocolate (70% cocoa solids)

1/2 fresh red chile, seeded and diced (or leave this part out)

1 heaping cup mixed unsalted nuts, such as almonds, hazelnuts, pistachios, or pecans

1 tablespoon sunflower or pumpkin seeds (optional)

3/4 cup mixed fruit, such as golden raisins, dried mango, dried sour cherries or cranberries, larger bits chopped

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Break up the chocolate and melt in a heatproof glass bowl over a saucepan of simmering water; don't let the bowl touch the water. Once the chocolate is melted, take the bowl off the heat and set aside. Meanwhile, put the chili on a cookie sheet with the mixed nuts and place in a hot oven for 5 minutes, until the nuts are toasted and shiny. When cool, mince the chili and rough chop the nuts and mix with the dried fruit in a bowl.

Save out a large handful of the fruit/nut mixture and set aside; add the rest to the chocolate. Stir everything until it is completely coated and spoon the mixture on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and smooth out. Sprinkle reserved nut/fruit mixture on top and leave in a cool place for 30 minutes to set.

Once set, break up into large pieces and pile up on a serving plate or pile into gift bags....do this before it gets eaten up!