This post was originally published at Novelicious.com and is now at WritingTipsOasis.com. WritingTipsOasis.com acquired Novelicious.com in June 2022.
Polly, heroine from Freya North's third novel, aptly called Polly, has decided to go on a teacher exchange for a whole year. She is swapping her life in London for a job in Vermont, leaving behind her boyfriend, Max. It is hard being apart. Polly is being kept busy with new experiences and a new timetable with new pupils. Max, on the other hand, is left at home with his brother, Dom. Life as normal, but without his girlfriend.
But it is Christmas and Polly is coming home for the holidays. Max and his brother plan a trip to Waitrose, and whilst there they pack a trolley with food in celebration of Polly coming home. They've decided on 'wild mushroom risotto for Christmas Eve, duck on Christmas Day…' with boxing day being all about 'frozen pizzas and garlic bread'. They've thought long and hard about the menu and the shopping list, but when Dom spies a packet of chocolate Rice Krispie cakes on the shelves he becomes very excited. '"Remember these? Joy of holy joys,"' he says, putting one in the basket. And, when Max confirms Polly will be with them for Christmas Eve and Boxing day, he adds three more Rice Krispie cakes to the trolley.
Christmas is often the time when people are more extravagant with their food choices. But when a long standing girlfriend returns home from the States, it is even more of a reason to go wild and treat everyone to a good, old fashioned Rice Krispie cake.
This is such an easy recipe. Dom didn't really need to buy the cakes – he could have made them far more deliciously than a shop bought one. It also gives you the flexibility to put in which chocolate you prefer. Milk? Dark? And which brand you prefer. (I like Cadburys, but I'm a traditionalist.) All you need is four ingredients, fairy cake cases, access to a microwave or hob and a fairy cake tin. (The latter isn't even that essential).
Ingredients
- 100g butter cut into small pieces so it melts evenly
- 75g golden syrup
- 200g milk chocolate, broken up
- 150g Rice Krispies
Method
- Place the butter, syrup and chocolate altogether in a heavy based saucepan (or microwavable bowl) melt gently and stir.If melting in the microwave put in for half a minute at a time, then stir, you don’t want to end up with burnt chocolate.
- Once melted, take off heat and pour in the Rice Krispies. Do it steadily, a little at a time. You may need more or less than 150g.
- Stir and coat all the krispies.
- Spoon into cupcake cases. (If you have no cases grease a tin with butter. You don’t even need a tin, you could use a bowl. There are no rules here, except to make sure it is greased!)
- Let it set in the fridge for a couple of hours.
- Eat. (Try not to eat all at once!)
And that’s it. Easy.