How could I forget it's Chocolate Week?

I can't believe it's Thursday of Chocolate Week and I've not yet had chocolate.  This obviously had to be remedied, but not with a boring bar of chocolate.... oh no.


Salame di Cioccolato

200g caster sugar
175g walnut pieces
200g dates, pitted
120g dark chocolate, roughly chopped
165g candied peel, chopped
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
200g dried figs

• Place the sugar in a small pan with 2 tbsp water and heat gently until the sugar has dissolved.  Continue to cook until the syrup starts to turn golden.
• Place 100g of the walnuts in a pestle and mortar and lightly crush.  Place in a large bowl.
• Place the dates in a food processor and blitz until broken down.  
• Add the dates to the walnuts with all the remaining ingredients.
• Pour the hot syrup into the bowl and mix together really well.
• Divide the mixture into two and roll each halve into a sausage.  Wrap each one in greaseproof or wax paper and leave cool.
• When set hard slice the salame and serve.