One of my Grandma Monearns most regularly made recipes. A no bake chocolate slice with dates, nuts, coconut and rice krispies. She always referred to them as Ministers Slices but I've no idea why! Can't see that there's anything particularly religious about them but would love to know the origin of the name.
I'm sharing one of my Granny's recipes today. I've previously shared her Shortbread and her Cornflake Biscuits and this makes up the trilogy of what was always found in her biscuit tins. I've only ever known these as Ministers Slices but I've absolutely no idea why they are called that. I've Googled and can't find any reference to any other bakes with the same name. If you've heard of them or know why they might be called this then PLEASE do let me know as it's a bit of a mystery to me! My best guess is that they were submitted to a WRI cookbook or similar by a Minister.
There's a lot of nostalgia about these, not just that they came from my Grandma Monearn. The original recipe was in ounces and cups but I've converted it to grams. It's written out in my very own teenage handwriting in a retrotastic 'Recipes, Cuttings and Notes' book. Even the ingredients are a bit of a blast from the past. I remember that the dates she used came in a solid block, I'm not sure if you still get them like this? As for the chocolate, the recipe specifies half a block of chocolate. This would have been Scotbloc cooking chocolate. Possibly as far from chocolate as you can actually get! Not sure if this still exists either and don't have any inclination to check! The original recipe uses walnuts but for a bit of a modern twist you can upgrade to pecans but you must make the fork marks on the top of the chocolate. I'm really not sure my Granny would have been happy if you don't!
Ministers Slices
Date, Nut, & Coconut Chocolate Krispy Traybake
100g Butter
250g Dates, roughly chopped
75g Caster Sugar
50g Dessicated Coconut
75g Rice Krispies
75g Walnuts or Pecans, roughly chopped
250g Milk Chocolate
Melt the butter in a large pan. Add the dates and sugar and cook down until mushy.
Remove from the heat and tip in the Rice Krispies, Coconut and Chopped Nuts. Mix well to combine.
Spread the mixture into a greased/lined traybake tin (aprox 34cm x 20 cm) and flatten with a spoon.
Melt the chocolate in the microwave or Bain Marie.
Cover the krispy base with melted chocolate and place in the fridge to partially set.
Remove from the fridge after approx 15 minutes and score the chocolate with a fork.
Return to the fridge to fully set, then cut into slices.
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These look fab! I love recipes that bring back foodie memories :-D And now you have me intrigued...I really want to know why they are called Ministers Slices! Loving the new look and feel of your blog too - really clean and fresh :-) Thanks for linking up to #CookBlogShare. Eb x
ReplyDeleteI love the sound of these Claire, I've not heard of Minsters (or the recipe in general by another name either), but they do sound to be particularly yummy. (And, yes, you can still get dates in a block. We have a block in the cupcoard which I picked up from the baking aile of the supermarket). #CookBlogShare
ReplyDeleteAngela x
Loving the new look! I’m curious as to why they’re called ministers slices as well - one thing I do know is they look delicious!
ReplyDeleteYou've got me wondering about the name now. Thinking maybe it's the sort of thing people would have in their tin when the Minister came around for a visit???? The only way we could get dates was in a block when I was a child, but you're right, I haven't seen them like that for years. And as for Scotbloc, I used to use that all the time when baking in my youth - ahhhhh!
ReplyDeleteAnyway, these sound so good I'm going to have to try them. Thanks for sharing with #WeShouldCocoa.
I would have loved these in my grandmother's pantry - I recently found a recipe like this but it didn't have the chocolate on top - I think I woudl prefer it with the chocolate - esp with the fork marks
ReplyDelete