The past few days have been full of little unexpected things. Not awful things. Just either mildly annoying or … different. I’m sure you have those days, too.
While flying back from Greece yesterday, for instance, I settled in to sleep, watch the fun movie (Paddington … so cool!) that was supposed to be showing and generally chill out after our mad few days of cleaning our Greek apartment. But instead I ended up chatting to a lovely Greek lady who hadn’t ever flown before. She was understandably nervous about facing the journey on her own and wasn’t sure how to go on when she arrived in London for her transfer to the US, so I tried to help her as best I could.
Now I must admit that when I realised her worried/excited chatting was likely to go on for a large part of the journey, I couldn’t help feeling disappointed at losing my much-anticipated chill-out time. Especially as Mr. Scrummy was soon snoozing away beside me, obviously feeling no remorse whatsoever at not contributing to the conversation, too. Hmmm … I suppose we have to let him off though as the lady didn’t speak English and Mr. Scrummy’s Greek doesn’t extend too much further than ‘Hello’, ‘Goodbye’ and ‘A beer, please’.
Now before you start thinking I’m a selfish and antisocial so-and-so, I’d better just qualify that by the end of the journey I had well and truly made a new friend and even been invited to stay with the lady in her beautiful village on the west coast of Greece. And I must admit that all the times I have got talking to a stranger on a plane it has been equally as life-enriching an experience. Once I even got chatting to a life coach and she ended up giving me some great tips!
If you’re thinking this looks a bit like florentines, then you’d be right …
So what’s this got to do with these coconut & pistachio chocolate hearts & stars? Well, not too much really, except that I made them to try to get my mind off missing the fresh pastries and coffee Mr. Scrummy and I grabbed every single day from the local bakery while we were in Greece. And the broken fridge – freezer we came home to (hello meat juice from defrosted chicken thighs in bottom of fridge …) And to warm me up in our freeeezing cold apartment that had had no heating on for 2 weeks.
Needless to say, these are perfect for Valentine’s day. Which I’m a bit ‘bah humbug’ about if I’m completely honest. Buuuut … as I know that most of you just luuurve going all gah-gah about V-day and making cute little treats for your lurverrr, I thought I’d have a go at these easy-to-make (but of course) chocolate hearts and stars anyway.
The best thing about these little gooey coconut-y, other nutty, honeyed, brown sugared, fruited and chocolate-d little treats is that you can easily vary the ingredients to use what you’ve already got. I realised that I had coconut, almonds and pistachios in my cupboard already, for instance, so that’s what I threw into the mix. You could just as easily add glace cherries or different kinds of nuts, though. You could say that these are a little healthier than they could be, too, with all that nutty, fruity and honey goodness in them. Who cares about the little (OK, so big …) chunk of butter and piles of sugar you also add? And if you can’t forget about the butter when making a treat for your loved one then heck, when can you?
… or indeed when making a treat for yourself! Well, why not? Obviously these don’t have to be heart-shaped.
I made these by spreading my mixture over a baking sheet and baking it, then letting it cool and harden a bit before spreading it with melted chocolate. Once the chocolate was set, I stamped out my shapes with a really good metal cookie cutter. Well, OK, that was a little lie. I actually only had a pretty naff plastic one, which didn’t work well at all. Lucky I had a nice sharp knife to cut around the shapes (which I don’t recommend as it takes a pretty long time)
You might think that this method of stamping out the shapes is pretty wasteful, but no. Just think about it. You have all those semi-healthy off-cuts that you can throw into a bag and snack on for the rest of the week. What’s wasteful about that? You also might be thinking that these are a bit like florentines. Well, you’d be right about that, but they are a bit thicker. If you’d like to make something a little more like a classic Florentine, then just spread the mixture onto two baking trays so that they end up thinner.
So before I go, I’m a bit curious. Do you ever get talking to strangers on planes … and if so, what’s the most interesting ‘encounter’ you’ve had?
Oh, and Happy Valentine’s Day for the weekend, of course!
Coconut & pistachio chocolate hearts & stars
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup runny honey
- 2/3 cup brown sugar
- 14 tablespoons butter
- 2/3 cup flaked almonds
- 1/3 cup dried fruit I used ‘berries & cherries’ but any kind are fine
- 1 cup shelled pistachios feel free to use another kind of nut or a mixture if you like e.g. peanuts, crushed hazelnuts, cashews
- 1/2 cup desiccated coconut
- 4 tablespoons plain flour
- 9 ounces chocolate dark, milk or white or a mixture
Instructions
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Pre-heat the oven to 200C/390F.
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Melt the honey, butter and sugar together gently, then add the rest of the ingredients except the chocolate. Stir really well.
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Now tip the mixture out onto a large baking tray (at least 30x20 cm) lined with greaseproof paper and spread it out (see note below). Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until the mixture turns a rich golden brown, then set aside to cool.
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Melt the chocolate in a microwave in 30-second intervals or in a bowl over a pan of simmering water, then spread it over the tray bake. Let it cool.
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When cool, stamp out heart and star-shapes (or whichever shapes you like) using a good quality metal cookie cutter. Present to your beloved partner, family or friends!
Recipe Notes
Adapted from this recipe from BBC Good Food.
My baking tray was about 30x20 cm, but for thinner, more Florentine-like shapes, use a larger tray (about 40x30cm).
When you melt your chocolate, reserve 2 or 3 squares and add them in at the end. This is a ‘cheat’s way’ to temper your chocolate and stop it from crystallising when it sets.
Even with a good sharp cookie cutter, you might find it quite tough to cut out the shapes. Put a tea towel between your fingers and the cutter if the cutter hurts your fingers.
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Marissa | Pinch and Swirl says
10 Feb 15 at 9:58 pmThese hearts and stars are adorable and have some of my favorite flavors! I think it’s so sweet that you talked with the nervous lady – I’m usually the nervous lady – so I’ll thank you for her. 🙂
Helen says
11 Feb 15 at 9:06 pmAw, Marissa, really? You don’t strike me as the shy nervous type at all! 😉 Not that there’s anything wrong with that, of course … I’d definitely have a good old chat with you and try to make you feel better if I ever sat next to you on a plane 🙂
Laura says
11 Feb 15 at 12:41 amChocolate & coconut will always win me over, but I love how you added pistachio to the mix. I think the green color is really catchy in this recipe although I love your idea of using hazelnuts as well. And yes, I love the heart shape, making the star shaped ones for our 4th of July holiday here would be so much fun! Hmmm, do I talk to people when I’m out. Nope. Total introvert. My husband though has to talk to everyone and anyone and doesn’t care who. He just loves meeting new people! My 4 year old is just like him, yikes.
Helen says
11 Feb 15 at 9:05 pmReally, Laura, you’re an introvert? I honestly imagine you to be really smiley, friendly and chatty (now I’m absolutely sure that you are!)
That’s a great idea to make these star-shapes for 4th July … I just thought I’d get in there early this year … haha!
Alyssa @ My Sequined Life says
11 Feb 15 at 3:35 amThese flavors are so great, Helen, and the shapes are adorable. My kind of dessert. 🙂 I generally don’t spark up conversations with strangers while traveling, though once I sat next to someone from Italy and got to practice my Italian. That was nice! I bet you made your chatty new friend so much more comfortable. 🙂
Helen says
11 Feb 15 at 9:03 pmSo happy you like these, Alyssa! You’re so lucky being able to speak Italian … I’d love to learn some day! 🙂
Eva says
11 Feb 15 at 9:23 amMmmm, tu ma mis l’eau à la bouche avec tes étoiles et tes cœurs ! J’aime beaucoup le mélange que tu as réalisé : pistaches, chocolat, coco…..que des bonnes trucs !
Quel chance avoir un appartement en Grèce ! Tu le loue? J’aimerais bien aller un de ces jours! Quel île tu pense c’est la meilleur pour resté quelques jours?
Helen says
11 Feb 15 at 9:02 pmMerci, Eva! J’adore les pistaches … 😉
Malheureusement, nous ne pouvons pas louer l’apartement a cause des regles grecs (c’est complique!) mais si un jour ca change je te le dirai tout de suite! Hmmmm … quel ile? Ils sont tous si jolies que c’est difficile a choisir! Mais j’adore Skiathos, Santorini, Naxos, Hydra et Lefkada!
Bintu @ Recipes From A Pantry says
11 Feb 15 at 11:39 amI reckon these would be ok in the post so get posting Helen :D.
Helen says
11 Feb 15 at 8:58 pmTee hee … I think you might be right about that, Bintu … but unfortunately I just gave most of them away to my sister! … and we’ve eaten most of the off-cuts already. Sorry, love! 🙂
Kathleen | HapaNom says
11 Feb 15 at 1:51 pmI always enjoy your stories, Helen. I’m so glad you had a wonderful time in Greece. I’m not a big Valentine’s Day person either, but I would gladly eat these delightful little treats anytime! I love the flavors…. and of course the heart shapes 🙂
Helen says
11 Feb 15 at 8:57 pmI’m glad I’m finding a few people who aren’t so keen on V-day, too. Happy you enjoy my stories, too (blush, blush).
Culinary Ginger says
11 Feb 15 at 4:41 pmThese are so cute. I love the combination of the ingredients, these must be so tasty. BTW, my husband and I don’t care about V-day either 🙂
Helen says
11 Feb 15 at 8:50 pmPhew, glad it’s not just me!! I do like eating yummy V-day treats, though, as you can tell!
Rachel (Rachelskitchennz.com says
11 Feb 15 at 6:35 pmOh, love the look of this recipe – Helen.
Helen says
11 Feb 15 at 8:49 pmThank you, Rachel!
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says
12 Feb 15 at 9:38 pmHow cute are these?! I love these stars! The combination of coconut and pistachios sounds absolutely perfect. Such a great Valentine’s Day treat, too!
Helen says
15 Feb 15 at 6:44 pmThank you, Gayle! I must admit I enjoyed all those whole pistachios stuffed in there.
[email protected] Olives & Garlic says
13 Feb 15 at 2:19 amHelen these looks like such a cute treats. I would love to add some to my daughters lunch box.
Helen says
15 Feb 15 at 6:43 pmOoh, they would be sooo great for lunch box treats! Nice and sweet and ‘treat like’ and yet stuffed with plenty of goodness, too!
Mira says
13 Feb 15 at 6:04 amThese chocolate hearts and stars are extremely cute Helen! I love them! So easy to make and great flavors 🙂 Will be trying them soon 🙂 Happy Valentine’s Day!
Helen says
15 Feb 15 at 6:42 pmHappy Valentines day (or weekend!) to you, too, Mira … glad you liked my little treats!
Jess @ whatjessicabakednext says
13 Feb 15 at 3:34 pmLove this idea – so delicious! Really like the coconut and pistachio!
Helen says
15 Feb 15 at 6:42 pmThanks, Jess! 🙂
Mariana @The Candid Kitchen says
13 Feb 15 at 9:27 pmI completely understand being just mildly annoyed at not having a bit of me-time on a flight like that.This is a perfect little treat, so easy too x
Helen says
15 Feb 15 at 6:41 pmHello, Mariana! We’ve been scoffing these treats all week and I must admit I’m tempted to make some more, especially as they are so easy!
Allie | Baking a Moment says
14 Feb 15 at 2:30 amI’m ashamed to admit that I probably would have been a bit grumpier about losing my “me” time on that long flight! You are a good person to have done so much to make her first flight less stressful. And these treats look just amazing and such a nice way to celebrate the holiday 🙂
Helen says
15 Feb 15 at 6:40 pmHi, Allie … you’re sweet for saying that. I did help her out, but to be honest inside I was feeling a bit grumpy about it! Really happy you like the treats!
Joanne says
15 Feb 15 at 12:30 pmComing back from vacation (even though yours wasn’t REALLY a vacation, but still) is always the worst! I feel like these festive treats could help lift my spirits though.
Helen says
15 Feb 15 at 6:39 pmYup … and a bit unsettling, too. The weather here in Britain since getting back has been soooo gloomy with about 10 minutes of sun all week, so I definitely needed those treats to perk me up!
[email protected] Eats says
15 Feb 15 at 8:14 pmEven if you didn’t make them in heart and star shapes, I still would have almost broke my computer screen reaching in to grab a handful with my teeny tiny baby hands (that can hold an extraordinary amount of goodies when I am determined too :).
I really love how easy all your recipes are. I made your healthy truffles again on the weekend – it is a lifesaver dessert when my “healthy” friend comes over!! 🙂
Helen says
16 Feb 15 at 11:07 pmTee hee hee … I just love that … ‘when my ‘healthy’ friend comes over!’ Well, I aim to please, Nagi! I must admit, I do love easy recipes … I’m just too busy and lazy to make anything else!
Glad you enjoyed those truffles again … you’ve reminded me to make some more soon, actually. I love them straight out of the freezer.
Shashi at RunninSrilankan says
16 Feb 15 at 7:01 pmThese are just adorable – Love that these don’t have a ton of refined sugar in them – I bet they did a great job as a substitute for those bakery delights you and Mr. Scrummy had everyday!
Helen says
16 Feb 15 at 10:49 pmWell, not too bad substitute at all, Shashi … although I must admit I am still missing the Greek cheese pies …