. Plus treat yourself to a little chocolaty goodness with my chocolate collection picked from the recipes linked up last week.
March in a nutshell
Whoah what a strange month. Firstly I want to say I hope that you and your loved ones are in good health, sadly something not one of us can take for granted just now.
When I wrote my monthly update on #CookBlogShare just 5 weeks ago, like many I had no idea just how our daily lives regardless of where we lived in the world were going to change so dramatically and so rapidly.
Just those few short weeks ago there were no food shortages in the UK and people were still going about their daily lives much as usual. Fast forward and now after a surprisingly rapid adjustment, life has changed n a away we would never have thought possible and things seem to be settling down a little to our new norms. Stressful time indeed!
How have you found the adjustments and changes? I lost my blogging Mojo for a bit, I just couldn't get my head around writing recipes when there were empty shelves in the supermarket.
I did manage to get a couple of recipes out over the last month including my Spicy chicken curry here on Recipes Made Easy and a lot later than planned Easter biscuits on Only Crumbs Remain.
Away from the blogs, I also had my own family to worry about. My eldest son who has just moved away from home, works in hospitality which was one of the first trades that was closed down. And my youngest found his 6th year at uni suddenly curtailed. He was at home at the time and didn't return, so many of his worldly goods are still in a student rental accommodation in another part of the country and no vans available for hire to get his stuff home ( our small two-seater car is not much use for that).
Meanwhile, there were things going on behind the scenes on the blogs. I have moved host from Siteground to Name Hero. Not the easiest of moves as I actually have two other smaller sites that needed moving as well. I went for a reseller hosting package so that each site had its own C panels. Many thanks to MaAnna at Blog Aid for her help I couldn't have done it without her.
An added complication was at the same time as moving hosts I also had a change of domains for Only Crumbs Remain from .co.uk to .com. I had anticipated a bit of a fanfare on the change and to celebrate the fact that it was one year from posting my first recipe on Crumbs. Both past relatively unnoticed and I am wondering what else I have forgotten I need to do as a result of the change. My mind has been on other things there must be somethings I've forgotton.
The chocolate collection
Enough about my month, so now to my recipe round up from the recipes linked up to #CookBlogShare last week at Lost in Food. I've decided we could all do with a little treat in thes stressful times. With Easter just around the corner there were a few chocolate recipes linked up so here's my chocolate themed round up to put a smile on your face.
Mini Egg Dessert Pots
Easter may be a little different this year if you usually get together for a big family gathering, but there is no need to miss out on a treat. These Mini Egg Dessert Pots from The Baking Explorer are no bake, and you can make them earlier in the day and pop them in the fridge for later. You could get the kids involved in making them too as they are so simple to put together and layer up.
Crunchy nobake peanut butter bars
These No Bake Peanut Butter Bars from a Baking Journey have a delicious Chocolate Ganache and Peanut Butter Swirl on top. Not only super simple and easy to make, they are also Flourless Candy Bars made with No Eggs, No oven and 5 ingredients only! which you may just have already in your cupboard.
Chocolate cherry pancakes
I love the combination of chocolate and cherries Sew white has used this flavour combination in her American style Chocolate cherry pancakes. The mix of cherries and chocolate chips in the fluffy pancakes is just so very tempting.
Mini egg pancakes
and if cherry and chocolate is not your thing why not try Sew Whites Mini egg pancakes instead. An unusual Easter dessert or breakfast
Chocolate Fudge Brownies
Nothing says chocolate more than Brownies and these Chocolate fudge brownies from Tin & Thyme look perfect. Just look at the shiny crust on the top and the deliciously gooey middle.
Chocolate cornflake cakes with Easter eggs
Chocolate Cornflake Cakes are one of the simplest treats to put together. Feast Glorious Feast has turned them into Easter nests by adding mini chocolate eggs for a cute Easter treat or top with your favourite chocolates for a year-round treat. Ideal to make with kids but entirely appropriate for adults too!
Russian Slice
And to finish this chocolate collection we have another recipe from Feast Glorious Feast Russian Slice. Despite my dad being a baker, this is a cake that I have not come across before. Chloe informs that it is sometimes known as ‘Tipsy Cake’ in the US, and is an old school way that bakeries used to avoid food waste by utilising leftover and stale cakes. She also describes it as - boozy as heck! Thats sold it to me!
Kat (The Baking Explorer)
So much chocolatey goodness! I'm drooling over here!
Rosemary
I think we all need some chocolate-based recipes at the moment (we are living in such strange times) and there are some fantastic ones here!
Jacqueline Bellefontaine
But which to try first?
Veronica
What a lovely roundup - so many I'd like to try. There's going to have to be some serious dieting once this dreadful time is behind us!!! Hope your son manages to get his belongings back safely, but at least he's home with you. My family are scattered all over the world in South Africa and Australia, so a very worrying time right now.
Jacqueline Bellefontaine
My best friend is in Sydney and it seems strange that she is going through exactly the same thing. Strange times indeed. Hopeyou and your family stay safe.
Michelle Rolfe
Such a difference a few weeks can make isn't it!? Its made us re-evaluate lots of things in life and whats important. Sharing my office with my husband and teenagers is proving interesting but we are lucky enough to live in a country setting, meaning we can have access to the woodland walks from our doorstep, this more than ever has made me realise that little luxury. Hope you guys are keeping okay given all the changes. And chocolate is just what I think I am eating every day without fail..! Stay safe x
Jacqueline Bellefontaine
Not much chnage to my working day as Mr B still goes into the office he walks and is the only one there so its strange for him. I quite like not sharing my river side walk with office workers and tourists. and grateful that I live in walking distance of the Thames Like the countryside there is something very calming about water.
Cat | Curly's Cooking
It all escalated very quickly didn't it. I hope you and your family are all well. A great choice for a round up. I can't wait to try some of them soon!
Jacqueline Bellefontaine
Yes indeed the last few weeks seem to have pasts sooooo slowly on the one hand and so very quick on the other.
Sisley White
Thank you so much for featuring my pancakes and for hosting this weeks round up. Love your blog.
Jacqueline Bellefontaine
Thank you Sisley and you are welcome I love pancakes!
Jhuls | The Not So Creative Cook
Hi, Jacqui. I am glad you are safe. And thanks for hosting this week’s #CookBlogShare. Take care!
Jacqueline Bellefontaine
Hope you are well too Jhuls worrying times for us all.
Jessica Cantoni
I really hope you are all ok Jacqui - and your family too. Gosh, I feel like I’ve missed so much since taking a year out of blogging! I didn’t even realise that you now have two blogs?! Happy blog-versary too! Xx
Choclette
Great idea. I'm all for chocolate, especially at the moment. It's all very disconcerting, but we bakers must go on - despite the lack of flour and eggs! Thanks for including my brownies.
Jacqueline Bellefontaine
Those brownies look fabulous! I have been able to get eggs and as yet have not run out of flour though my supply of bread four is steadily dwindling:(
Janice Pattie
I think chocolate is exactly what we all need right now! Some lovely recipes.
Lesley Garden
Great baking round up this week Jacqui and your Easter biscuits are top of my list for baking this week. I might also get my youngest to help out as she's enjoying time in the kitchen.
Jacqueline Bellefontaine
Great to see lots of people cooking with their kids. I really hope this leads to more people cooing at home in the future so many people lacking the skills to cook at home which is such a shame.
Eb Gargano | Easy Peasy Foodie
Gosh, yes - it's been a strange old month and, as you say, such a contrast to last time you were hosting. My blogging life has remained largely unchanged... the big change for me has been having hubby and the kids home and having to juggle homeschooling between us. It's been tricky but we are trying to make it work for all of us. Big congratulations on your host move and 1st blogiversary for crumbs - can't believe it's been a year already. Delighted that it has turned out to be a very positive move for you! Eb x
Jacqueline Bellefontaine
Thank you Eb. Yes in many ways my life ishas not changed as a blogger working for home. It is making me more organised I have in the past been know to go to my local sainsburys 3 times in a day! In fact I only half-jokingly refer to it as my large cupboard as it was so convenient.