Valentine’s Day is nearly here and I wanted to make a special dessert for John. It didn’t need to be big because he’s not a big dessert lover but it needed to be chocolate. You know, that chocolate that gets you in the mood? Oh, right, maybe chocolate doesn’t do that for everyone.
Remember when I told you that after John’s heart attack he just started feeling better and then his computer died? No matter what he tried, it just wouldn’t reboot.
We think it’s probably because he has his office door open to the balcony much of the time and we live along the water and only 5 minutes from a surf beach so we do get ocean spray. All my appliances have a bit of rust here and there and that’s all due to the salt water. There is a price for living in paradise.
Living with a programmer with no decent computer has not been easy. I could have the title of saint but I won’t push it. He’s been worried and stressed and that’s not a good thing for someone dealing with a recent heart attack. The new computer seemed to take forever to build.
Today his new computer arrived. He had the cutest grin that went from ear to ear when he said, “Did you see how BIG it is?” When he got it cranked up and IM installed he sent me a message that said, “It’s quickish.”
I replied, “Only ish??? For that much money it should be fasty fast!”
“No programmer will ever tell you that his computer is fast enough, Maureen.”
Then it was dinner time and no John. I wanted to watch the news because there were all sorts of government goings on today. There was a ruling party revolt against the prime minister who once said that ‘nobody was the suppository of all wisdom.’ He survived the spill motion but I wanted to watch the interview and I didn’t want to watch it twice.
Finally, about 8pm he came down and announced his computer was really good. We had a nice dinner, watched the news and the interview and then I brought out this tart. It’s got a graham cracker and chocolate crust topped with thick chocolate pudding like you’d make for a pie. I topped it with cream and Bob’s your uncle.
I think if I made it again I’d make little tarts and just a couple of them because I’ll have to take the rest of this over to the nursing home tomorrow or I’ll eat it all.
- 1¼ cups graham cracker crumbs
- 3 tablespoons cocoa (I used Dutch processed)
- ⅓ cup icing / powdered sugar
- 80 grams (about 6 tablespoons) melted butter
- 80 grams sugar
- 20 grams cocoa
- 4 eggs
- 50 grams cornflour / cornstarch
- Preheat oven to 180C / 350F
- Put the graham cracker crumbs, icing sugar and cocoa in the Thermomix (or food processor) and whiz for 5 seconds on speed 6.
- Pour the crumb mixture into a bowl and pour over the melted butter and stir with a fork until combined.
- Pat into a tart pan and place in preheated oven for 13 minutes.
- Set aside.
- Place sugar and cocoa in the Thermomix and whiz for 5 seconds on speed 7.
- Add remaining ingredients and set the temperature to 90 and speed 4 for 7 minutes.
- Pour over tart shell, cover with plastic wrap and chill.
- Decorate with whipped cream and serve.
Simple and easy, who wouldn’t love that?! Oh and loaded with chocolate, that word itself – chocolate – is enough to make this recipe a success.
Im glad he has a new and good computer Mauren!!
And this chocolate tart look georgeous!!
I love yours pics look beautiful!
xo
This gorgeous chocolate tart and a new computer?! John is a very lucky man!!! Hope you guys have a fantastic Valentine’s Day!
This tart looks incredible .. love the dark, intense chocolate color. I love it.
Looks and sounds amazing.
I’ll bet this will end up in my “keeper” file.
Thanks, and Happy Valentine’s Day
Cheers, Carol
Thanks so much for visiting, Carol!
This tart looks amazing, Maureen! And I’m so glad that John got his new ‘BIG’ computer. 😉
That’s one great looking chocolate tart! Great idea to make them into little tarts too. Lucky John and lucky nursing home. Have a great week! 🙂
Ok, Maureen… you do that to tease me, right? The “Bob’s your uncle” thing. Which OBVIOUSLY I had to google. (sigh)
Bob is your uncle… that is SOME expression!
gotta have to use it at some point, you know use it or lose it (= forget it)
Great tart, and glad you survived the lack of computer ordeal…. but we both know you are married to an angel, right? 😉
Bob’s your uncle is an English phrase that I first learned when I saw Mary Poppins for the first time. LOL See what having children does for you? 🙂 Yes, he’s an angel all right, happy as can be with his new computer that’s the size of a volkswagen.
Chocolate and more chocolate. Tasteee…
OMG – I WANT a piece – NOW:) I love dark chocolate and this just looks beautiful – Maureen.
Excellent tart, Maureen. Think I’d have my cheesecake for dinner and chocolate tart for pudding. We are adults, who says you can’t have two desserts for dinner!
Looks great. I can’t wait to try this.
Is the 90 deg. F or C? I will need to do this stove top (double boiler) I am assuming it is C and the conversion would be ~200F
I’m so glad John got a computer that he really likes, my other-halves computer has been out for repairs for over a month now, what a whiny baby 🙂 and the moping.
Maybe chocolate tart is the answer!
it’s 90C because you don’t want it to boil. 🙂 Yes, the whining and moping does make me roll my eyes.
This tart is, scrumptious! Rich and chocolate treats sounds good anytime! Yep, my husband has the same computer philosophy! Faster and lots of gig-somethings ; )
Omg! it looks divine Maureen!
Rich & sumptuous & only a slither needed,,,,
Happy dance just looking at it :)) xx
I’m glad John’s computer woes are over and I do hope the new computer is fasty fast. I love the look of your chocolate tart – it’s so dark and well, chocolatey. You will be warmly welcomed when you turn up to the nursing home with this xx
Glad John’s computer’s working well 🙂 I’d love to have rust from the ocean on my appliances and be 5 min away from paradise!!
This chocolate tart looks delicious!
Maureen, I popped by to pick up that pork belly recipe that I have been lusting after for the past few days and I see you have made dessert as well. Just in time for St V! I’m totally envious of John’s new computer. Fastish will do for me – I think there is an abacus at the back of mine it is so ancient!
Wow -gorgeous tart, Maureen. Just what I felt like last night, in fact – wish I’d been up your way!
You can never, NEVER go wrong with chocolate. This looks decadent.
Congratulations to John on the new computer! Now you can all relax 🙂 Love this chocolate tart. It would be too hard to resist eating the whole thing. From Judith Viorst, Love & Guilt & The Meaning Of Life, Etc, “Strength is the capacity to break a Hershey bar into four pieces with your bare hands – and then eat just one of the pieces.” I totally agree!
A man without his computer = chaos… over the years, Peter had three PCs to my one iMac… each of his died, one after the other… he was like a bear with a sore head without them. I finally convinced him to go with an iMac… and, apart from a couple of glitches, we’ve lived happily ever after.
Glad John has his new one… may it work forever… and thank you for a beautiful chocky tart!
Your dessert looks so good!!
Congratulations on John’s new computer! Sounds like he really likes it!
I’m so happy to hear John likes his new computer! From all you’ve had to deal with these last few weeks you should definitely be canonized, especially for this tart – it’s GORGEOUS!!!
Your dessert looks great!
Congratulations on Johns new computer, sounds like he really likes it!
Glad John’s new computer is a good one. And quickish is a good word! Anything chocolate floats my boat . This is terrific — thanks.
I’ve been seeing your FB updates about John’s new computer, rather amusing. 🙂 Sooooo, this tart looks freakin’ delicious, Maureen! 🙂 Hope you guys have a wonderful VDay, I’ll be fundraising for Menslink at the Multicultural Festival, very romantic.
Never live with a programmer who has no decent computer. Just a word to the wise. 🙂
It cracks me up that you IM each other from different rooms:) Gorgeous chocolate tart – I bet the oldies wolfed it down.
Maureen I actually groaned when I first saw this in a get-in-my-belly way. I’m glad John has his computer back. I can imagine it would have been tough although part of me thinks perhaps it was a sign for him to take it easy? He’s very lucky to have such a wonderful wife to make him treats like this.
What a decadent tart and just perfect for Valentine’s Day! I’m sure you have been quite the saint ;).
Seems like not-so-good news bring out the best in you! The chocolate tart looked great. Love the texture, too!!!
Julie & Alesah
Gourmet Getaways xx
This tart looks amazing a real chocoholics dream 😀 I am so pleased to hear John’s new computer is up to scratch! But a geek will never truly be happy and will always be looking for the next GB of RAM!
I’m glad all the computer issues are sorted out – it can be so frustrating when your computer doesn’t work! Love this beautiful Chocolate Tart, Maureen. It looks so rich and creamy – definitely the food of love!
That tart is gorgeous! Also, I trust Apple to build my computers, because I could never, ever do it myself. Not without about 100 tarts, anyway.
Wishing you and John an extra-special Valentine’s Day, Maureen. xo This cake is sure to make it so. Swoon…
Oooh, I’m all about chocolate for Valentine’s! and I love the simple, pure ingredients. I like the idea of mini tarts as I’m with you, I’d sliver that till it was all gone! Happy day for John…chocolate and technology!
John might have inspired me to finally switch over to my new-ish computer. I hate switching computers…such a pain. But maybe if I had a slice of this as my reward I might just do it without as much griping.
Chocolate is my addiction – and this tart is just so rich and chocolatey!
Glad John finally got his big, quickish computer-if y’all were here in Atlanta, I would gladly have helped you eat this tart Maureen 😉
Maureen this is a beautiful tart – just enough chocolate for me! I would have to give it away too – because if it sits in my refrigerator it would call to me at different times – chocolate knows my name! Glad the computer is up and running – and fast enough for now!
Such a lovely Valentine’s dessert; I will only make very small desserts for fear of eating all of them! Either that or I just put them in the freezer, but that doesn’t stop us sometimes because the frozen dessert if often as good, if not better than the original! I’m glad John is feeling better.
That looks outstanding Maureen and looks quickish to make! Which is a good thing because I am told my computer is very slowish.
So glad the computer arrive. Who knows what wonderful invention he’ll come up with next? We need him to have a good computer! I’m drooling over that dessert, I know he loved it! YUM!
Gorgeous, gorgeous tart Maureen! I love the graham/chocolate crust….but I don’t know how the chocolate pudding ever made it inside! So glad John got a new computer. A new computer and a chocolate tart…..all is right in the world! : )
Yayyy for a new computer, I totally know and understand how it is to live with a tech savvy person. Sometimes it’s a bit annoying.
Well, your tart is another story, omg, it’s so smooth and decadent.
Man that looks incredible! 😮 And Saint Maureen? That has a lovely ring to it 😀
I can’t imagine being without my laptop so I can only guess at how frustrated a programmer might be. So glad the new one is fasty fast. Great looking tart and the crust sounds really delicious. They’ll love it and you at the nursing home. GG
Hi
You said ” Place sugar and chocolate….” But I don’t see chocolate in the list of ingredientes, am I missing something? I am planning to make this for Valentines. Thanks
Ack! I meant cocoa! Many apologies!
That looks incredibly good. I love the side on view. It almost looks like three layers.
When your livelihood depends on a computer, you feel bereft without it. I feel for John.
Swooooooning, Maureen! Gents like our hubbies may get excited about computers and allow their moods to be dictated by the demanding mistresses…But, my heart goes pitter patter looking at your gorgeous Graham crusted chocolate tart! Hope there are ample chairs in the nursing home…Want to make sure you catch those fainting residents and nurses =)
Oh yum! We were looking for a chocolate dessert for tonight and here it is! Yes, it HAS to be chocolate and this one is easy too. Love the photo, BTW, so tempting. Happy Valentine’s Day!
I think John had one of the best day in his life ! The new computer arrived and he has an excellent tarte of chocolate ! What else ? Live is perfect (some days) 😉