Cook's Corner Your fortnightly recipe to tantalise your taste buds

Topsey turvy chocolate pudding.

4oz / 100g soft margarine
8oz /225g dark brown sugar
2 large eggs
3oz / 85g self-raising flour
½ level teaspoon baking powder
2oz / 50g chocolate powder or cocoa
½ pint /300ml strong hot black coffee

Put the soft margarine and half of the sugar into a large bowl.
Add the eggs, Sift in the flour, baking powder and half of the chocolate powder or cocoa. Mix well, beating for 2 minutes with a wooden spoon or using an electric mixer for a little less than 1 minute. Turn the mixture into a deep, greased, 1.3/4pint/ 1litre-pudding basin or pie dish. Mix the remaining cocoa or chocolate powder with the rest of the sugar and the hot coffee. Pour this over the pudding and bake it at once in the middle of a moderate oven (350F /180C, gas mark 4) for 50 minutes to 1 hour.

Serve hot, with vanilla ice cream.
To store: This pudding isn’t suitable for freezing, but as it is made by the all-in-one method it is very quick to make.
During cooking, the sponge rises up through the coffee mixture, which makes a thick fudge-like sauce at the bottom of the dish. It is a delicious pudding, a nice surprise.


Andalusian Eggs. (Serves 4)

8 eggs
100g (4oz) ham (may be canned)
1 large onion
1 green pepper
1 small clove garlic
4-tbsp. vegetable oil.
325g (12oz) can tomatoes
225g (8oz) garlic sausage
150 ml (1/4 pt) chicken stock, or use stock cube.
Salt and freshly ground black pepper.

Cut the ham into strips. Peel and slice the onion. Trim the green pepper, discarding the seeds. Slice the flesh. Peel and crush the garlic. Heat the oil in a saucepan and sauté the ham, onion, green pepper and garlic over a moderate heat for 3-4 minutes.
Drain the tomatoes and add them to the pan. Chop the sausage into small dice and add it with the stock. Season well, bring to the boil and simmer until the mixture starts to thicken.
Turn the mixture into a shallow ovenproof dish, push 8 hollows with the back of a tablespoon and break in the eggs. Cover the dish with foil and bake at 190c (375f) Gas 5, for 8-10 minutes, until the eggs are set.

The youngest pope was 11 years old.

A ‘toast’ to your success!

When it comes to growing a business, most owner-managers will recognise the importance of gaining new business, through word-of-mouth referrals. Satisfied customers, creating positive leads, is the cherry on the cake, and a sign of appreciation for all your efforts in the past. It is what makes business rewarding. However, like most cakes, these referrals can sometimes be quite limited in numbers and fail to nourish your business in the long term.  Some people say you can’t have your cake and eat it. I for one, disagree. My name is Andrew McKean, and I run a mobile personal training and massage therapy business in the North Norfolk area. My reasons for writing this are firstly, by way of an introduction. Secondly, I am also looking to contact companies that are interested in either expanding, or just increasing their business in general.    I am a member of the North Norfolk Chapter of BNI (Business Network International), that meets in Aylsham. BNI is basically, a business and professional networking organisation, whose primary purpose is to exchange qualified business referrals. What makes BNI unique is that it allows only one person per profession to join a chapter. Thus, once you've joined, there is no conflict in passing referrals, and none of your competitors can participate!  Belonging to BNI is like having dozens of sales people working for you… because all of them carry several copies of your business cards around with them. When they meet someone who could use your products or services, they hand out your card and recommend you. It's as simple as that!   I have found this to be an excellent way of generating real business through word-of-mouth referrals. Last year world-wide, members of BNI passed more than 3,000,000 referrals, which generated more than £750 million worth of business for its members. I can’t speak for all of them, but I know this system works for me, and it is by far, a more cost-effective way of increasing business, than through advertising alone.  The North Norfolk chapter holds a breakfast meeting at the Aylsham Lodge Hotel on a weekly basis. If you would prefer an unlimited amount of toast, compared to a small slice of cake, and are interested in attending a meeting, then please do not hesitate to contact me. You can also check out www.bnieastanglia.com for more details.  Andrew McKean.  AJM Personal Training & Therapy – 01263 820249

BODHAM CROQUET CLUB

New season starts for juniors on Monday 11 April 2005.
Beginners’ sessions start on Tuesday 12 April 2005.
Sessions start at 6.30pm.
For more information contact the Secretary:
Harry Bruford on 01263 588122.

New Members always welcome.