Stuff On Sticks

Valentines is a revolting day of the year. However like the flu it persists in returning year after year, so we may as well make the most of it - do you really need a better excuse to curl up beneath a duvet and eat a lot of chocolate covered stuff? Save on washing up by putting the chocolate stuff on sticks. Stroke of genius.

Cake Pops

Sponge cake

Cream cheese

Melted butter

Icing sugar

White Chocolate

Sprinkles 

Pink food colouring

Lollipop sticks + grease proof paper

I have somewhat unhelpfully not given any measurements here, but the joy of cake pops is a lot of experimentation and a huge mess in the kitchen. Firstly crumble the sponge as much as possible then mix in a little food colouring icing sugar, butter and cream cheese - a little at a time until the mixture sticks together well but isn't too sloppy - you need to be able to roll it into balls. Wet yours hands first, it makes rolling easier, take a small handful, roll it up and place on greaseproof paper push a lollipop stick in and refrigerate them for about an hour. Melt the white chocolate and dunk the balls in, make sure they're well covered, sprinkle with exciting sprinkles and place on greaseproof paper before chilling.

When in doubt consult, Queen of the cake pop...  http://www.bakerella.com/category/pops-bites/cake-pops/

Hot Chocolate Stir Sticks

Take a mini kebab stick, poke it into a marshmallow, dip the marshmallow in melted chocolate, cover with sparkle sprinkly things, place on greaseproof paper and cool. Make hot chocolate. Swirl marshmallowy thing in hot chocolate. Make a dribbly chocolaty mess all over the place. 

Chocolate Shortbread Hearts

250g softened butter

110g caster sugar

360g plain flour

150g dark chocolate melted

Beat the butter and sugar together till creamy, stir in the sifted flour until you have a smooth paste. Turn out onto a lightly floured work surface and gently roll to roughly 1cm thickness. Use a heart shaped cookie cutter to cut out biscuits, transfer to a greased baking tray and bake in a preheated oven (150c) for 15-20mins. Once cooked and cooled dip half the hearts in the melted chocolate and cool on greaseproof paper.