This needs a couple of hours to chill, but apart from that it’s a doddle to prepare and is not cooked. It works equally well with hazelnuts and there’s no reason why you shouldn’t use pecans, macadamias, whole blanched almonds or brazil nuts – and no reason why you shouldn’t vary the spices. What about some ground ginger or cloves? Serve it in 1cm slices or slim wedges brought back to just below room temperature Serves 8 340g walnuts, shelled and halved 400g dark chocolate, 7

Aka irresistible chocolate mousse with rum. It's another simple classic that we could all be making instead of more elaborate cakes. And it doesn’t have to be rum, although there is an affinity with chocolate. Almost any liqueur forgotten at the back of the cupboard can be brought out of retirement, as can brandy and whisky, although you may need to add some sugar to the melted chocolate. Serves 8 generously 340g dark chocolate (preferably 70% cocoa solids) 6 large eggs, sepa