• 500 g butter
• 500 g sugar
• 4 eggs
• 6 1/2 c flour
• 2 tsp salt
• 4 tsp baking powder
• ¾ c cocoa
• 1 ½ c roasted coarsely chopped  unsalted peanuts

Cream butter and sugar, add the eggs and beat well.  Transfer to a very large bowl and mix in the dry ingredients and lastly the peanuts.  Bake for about 20 mins at 190C.

Often I will divide the dough in half, add peanuts to one half as above.  Add ½ cup of desiccated coconut to the other half and then roll into balls and place a chocolate button on the top of each one to flatten before putting them in the oven (instant icing)

• 3 c water
• 2 cups mixed frozen berries
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 4 cloves
• 2 star anise
• ½ tsp nutmeg
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 tbsp honey
• 4 peeled pears

Place the water, berries, cinnamon, cloves, star anise, nutmeg, vanilla and honey in a large saucepan and simmer for 10 minutes.  Peel the pears and remove the core from the bottom.

Place the pears in the syrup and simmer for 20 minutes or until they are just tender.  Serve in individual bowls with the syrup and berries.