Have I ever mentioned my chocolate addiction? I remember making truffles for Christmas as a child, but I had forgotten all about it until hubby treated me to a cooking class a few years ago. We made truffles on that day and it reminded me how easy it was. I adapted the recipe to make it even simpler and decided to make them with the children and my brothers when we next went to France.
When we travel to France to see my family, I want to make sure we make the most of the moments we spend all together and have a good time. We get on well but somehow, we always end up squeezing in an argument so before our latest trip, I decided we would make some sort of “Russian roulette treat” to make our family reunion a memorable one. Let me explain …
On a day out in London with my aunt and grandmother a few months before, we had been to Fortnum & Mason for a bit of browsing and I was surprised to see they were selling insects in their grocery section. For some reason (do not ask, I do not know myself), I got myself a small pack of their finest ‘Thai Green Curry Crickets’. I was rather bewildered on the way home and not actually sure what I was going to do with them (I am not one for impulse buying normally), but I decided it might make a fun present for one of my teenage brothers.
As I was packing for our trip to France, I thought about the crickets and had an epiphany… we would have truffles with a twist! We would make the chocolates, but half of them would be normal truffles whilst the other half would have crickets in them. I know, I know, not your usual kind of treat for a nice family gathering. The thing is, our previous family reunion had been a disaster and I did not want a repeat of that. I just wanted everyone to get along, laugh and think about crickets hidden in chocolate rather than starting turning bitter on each other. I know what you are probably thinking: “That was unexpected… when she mentioned a ‘twist’ in her title; I assumed she meant adding salt to the chocolate or at a push chili powder, not insects!”
I know, this is an odd concept but I promise you, it is effective! It worked! We had an amazing night, playing a quick and easy card game. The principle was simple: whoever lost each game had to eat a truffle. We giggled, cried with laughter and I actually felt really nervous as I did not want to end up eating one of the insects. Even hubby, who is known for never joining in games, played along and had an amazing time with us.
The preparation bit that afternoon was filled with anticipation and good mood as well. One of my brothers and Crevette helped make the treats and Beanie got so addicted to eating the bugs we thought we would not have enough left for that evening! We made twelve truffles. Six of them were plain; six of them had an oven baked cricket in them. Before you ask, this post did not get sponsored by Fortnum & Mason, but these babies were the perfect size to be hidden inside truffles. Even I could not tell which ones were the ‘special’ ones, to my greatest disarray (I had assumed I could cheat).
So if you are still reading and fancy doing something similar, you could go for a ‘Russian roulette’ game to spice up a family evening like I did, or use it as a prank for April fool’s day!
If anyone fancies the recipe for my easy truffles and a ‘free from’ version, just click here.
A great idea to stop a family bickering!
Not one single argument that week! Must buy oven baked crickets more often! x Mel
I love this, Mel! It was definitely not a twist I’d expected, but can well imagine the fun!
You should try it, Jocelyn. Hours of laughter guaranteed! (and will you just relax and enjoy your holidays, lady!) x Mel
Thats a brilliant idea-not sure I’d be brave enough to try but my husband would love some thing like this! Thanks for sharing with #TheThemeGame
I know Iona, it is a bit ‘different’, isn’t it? Mel
I love your sense of humour!
Thanks! x Mel
This really is a weird and wonderful concoction Mel! Very creative – a more civilised version of the food test on I’m a Celebrity! I bet it was a really good laugh daring everyone to pick one!!
There were lots of tears of laughter and nervous giggles I have to say! We had a brilliant time. x Mel
A brilliant idea and very brave of you all to take part – I do not think I would fancy joining in with that game as I know that I would end up eating a cricket! #ThePrompt
Well, I played and did not lose! I am not normally competitive, but I have to tell you I was paying attention to that game. I was determined not to lose as I really did not fancy eating insects. Mel
What an inspired way to diffuse any arguments and bring your family together for a game! Love it, and definitely unexpected 🙂 Thanks so much for linking to #ThePrompt x
We really had a memorable time. Something to do again! Mel
I have a chocolate addiction too and we should start Chocolate Anon =P
Truffles looks yummy!
#thepromt
Thanks!
Oh my goodness! This actually makes me feel a bit icky! I was not expecting this twist to your truffles!! How did it go? did people eat them?? It’s weird because when I was travelling I ate a deep fried spider, though I was able to gear myself up for it (and prepare myself by drinking a lot of wine first). The thought of not knowing and biting and finding it….ewwww! Very funny though, I hope it helped avoid any bickering at the family gathering! I for one would probably be very nice to you forever from that day forward! 🙂 xx #theprompt
Deep fried spider… that sounds worse than those little crickets! It is the ‘not knowing’ element of the game that creates the tension, and tension there was! I was so glad not to have to eat one. My brothers were not too bothered about the crickets in the end and did not hesitate for a second when it was their turn to eat a truffle. My mum, brother’s girlfriend and I were a lot more terrified! We really had a fab night. x Mel
Hahaha, brilliant! I’d love to see the recipe – and I’m dairy free, so would love a dairy free version too! xxx
Thanks Kiran, I am planning to make them with the children tomorrow but am struggling to find cocoa powder that is definitely dairy free. I found out a couple of days ago that the one I have been using for years is now not guaranteed dairy free anymore. Hubby will be on a mission tomorrow when he goes shopping! x Mel
I thought #thethemegame link was wrong for a minute…but, I was happily drooling at the chocolate truffles and boom, there’s the animal connection! You’re braver than me, great fun! 🙂
Got you there! I am not remotely brave and I was incredibly relieved not to get one of the ‘special’ truffles. x Mel
I love your imaginative idea for a fun game and a twist to truffle-making too. #theprompt
Thanks Astrid, we had such a great time with my family! Having hubby join in as well was a big bonus. Mel
What a great idea for family bonding! I don’t think I could bring myself to eat one though 🙂 You’re lucky you didn’t have to! #theprompt
It really did bring us all together and there was not one single attempt at bickering. Tension brings you all together and that is what we needed! We all had a brilliant time. Mel
This sounds so much fun! I don’t think I could cope with the insects though
I certainly cannot cope with the insects, which made the game all the more exciting! Mel
Mel, this is an absolutely brilliant idea! And a great way to diffuse a potentially difficult situation. I love making truffles and am intrigued by those crickets now. I am so glad I discovered your blog on Magic Moments last week and so pleased you have linked up to PoCoLo – welcome and I hope to see you next week x
Now you have an extra ingredient to get for next time you make truffles. I promise you, you will not regret it… hours of laughter guaranteed! Thanks for inviting me to link up to PoCoLo, I love it already (as well as your blog). x Mel
This is hilarious! I thought it was going to be a standard post about how to make truffles, and then….BOOM. I might try this when the in-laws come to visit….:-0
I am thinking of posting the recipe for the truffles soon as it is so easy, but I thought I would start with this baby! Great idea for a dinner party, wouldn’t that be a nice ice-breaker? Mel
Hi Mel, such a great post. You really made me smile whilst reading it. I think you may have started a new chocolate trend. Julie from Julie’s Family Kitchen. xx
Hi Julie, chocolate is my current obsession and the plan is to make less unusual truffles with the kids tomorrow! That’s if hubby manages to find dairy free cocoa powder so we can make some for our allergy baby at the same time. x Mel
Oooh they look yummy…….not sure I’d fancy the ones with the crickets in though lol
#PoCoLo
Haha, me neither! Luckily I didn’t get to try the ‘special ones’. Mel
I love chocolate and these look amazing! x
Thanks!
Sounds like a great little activity! I love truffles xx
I will be posting the basic truffle recipe in the next couple of weeks I think. Whether you decide to add crickets in them or not is up to you! x Mel
When I started reading I really couldn’t see where the unexpected element was going to come in, I certainly never imagined you’d put the crickets in the truffles! Hilarious and disgusting all rolled into one! Fabulous 😀 #ThePrompt
Haha, ‘hilarious and disgusting’ sums the whole thing really well! x Mel
Haha!! LOVE IT!! Well done you for turning it all around and having a fantastic time together! Nobody is going to forget that night 😉
My mum mentioned it again last week! It made our time together so memorable. x Mel
You made me laugh! I can just imagine your excitement in someone finding a cricket!!! Did you manage to make these dairy-free? If so, let me know what ‘cream’ you used and whether they tasted any good!!
I did! We made two batches with the children yesterday, a dairy free one and a ‘normal’ one. I thought they all tasted great and I went round work today giving them away to colleagues. No one could tell which ones were the dairy free ones, I am so pleased! I will be typing the recipe tonight so I can post in the morning. x Mel
Sounds revolting, not sure it’s a game I’d fancy playing. When I was younger I used to love the idea of trying unusual foods that others hadn’t tried but I think I’ve got a bit duller as I’ve got older.
I realised after our tweets/comments yesterday that I’ve been all over the Internet saying your recipe is disgusting! I hope people come and see and don’t just think I’m a nasty person (I think I’m justified with this one).
I didn’t actually end up trying one of the truffles with a cricket in. I am not normally competitive at all, but believe me, when we played that game, I was paying attention and making sure I didn’t lose!