Almond and raisin chocolate fudge

Contrary to Pooja, who has been a fan of the Harry Potter books ever since they came out, I took my own sweet time to warm up to the Hogwarts crowd. When the books came out, I considered myself much too cool to read what everyone else was reading. And later as I got over myself, I felt I was now too old to read what I felt were basically ‘children’s books.’ It was only last year, at the ripe age of 26, that I decided to give the books a chance. Over the last year, not only have I read the books, I have watched all the movies and listened to most of Stephen Fry’s audio books. I was an instant convert and willingly eat my words that the tales of Magical Britain are not for me.

When Pooja suggested a Harry Potter food week, I was amused at the idea but it took a while for me to take it seriously. But before I knew, we were planning the Harry Potter menu and plotting how best to go about it. Fudge find a mention in the first two books where Harry receives a box of fudge from Mrs Weasley and Hagrid each on successive Christmases. We have made our own chocolate version with almonds and raisins (something on the lines of Cadbury’s Fruit and Nut chocolate).

Almond and raisin chocolate fudge
Adapted from Nigella
(makes about 30-36)

175 gms dark chocolate, chopped
200 gms condensed milk
11/2 tbsp butter
¼ cup raisins
½ cup chopped almonds

1. Line a baking dish, about 8in. × 6in., with aluminium foil and set aside.

2. In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, put the chopped chocolate, butter and condensed milk, and stir to melt on low heat.

3. Once melted, add the almonds and raisins and mix well.

4. Pour the mixture into the prepared dish, and make the top level using a spatula.

5. Let the fudge cool and refrigerate it to set. Cut into pieces about 1.5in × 1.5in.