Rocky Road and ‘It’s only a thumb’

One Friday night when my Archie was at boarding school and in Year 9, I was tucked in bed at home.  My mobile rang and it was Archie.  ‘What are you doing Archie?  It’s so late’.

‘I’m at the hospital.’

‘The school’s hospital?’


‘No, I was there, but matron drove me to the one out here’.  And I knew it must be serious.  I sprang out of bed.

‘What’s wrong Archie?  Are you okay?’

‘Oh don’t worry mum, I’m fine.  I just thought I should tell you, that’s all’.

‘Tell me what?  What’s wrong with you?’

‘They don’t know yet but my hand’s all black so I’ve probably broken a bone?’

‘A fracture?  Do you need me to come out there?  I could leave in a few minutes.  Where’s the doctor?’

‘Mum, it’s fine…it’s nothing…I just can’t move my thumb, that’s all’.

‘Your thumb?  You can’t move your thumb?’

‘Yeah, but don’t worry mum, it’s only a thumb’.

Rocky Road Hostess Gift

On one of the rare Friday afternoons when Archie didn’t have a school detention, he was asked if he’d like to participate in a friendly game of dodge ball.  He played right through the game and when it was over he went to shake the umpire’s hand and realised he couldn’t move his thumb and actually, was in a lot of pain.  He looked down and noticed his hand was black.  He was taken to the school’s hospital where he was told he most likely had fractured his thumb and so matron drove him out to the local hospital.

A few hours later it was time for matron to bundy off duty.  As Archie hadn’t thought to notify me, the matron made the call to Archie’s long-suffering House-Master.  As the House-Master, it was his role to step in wherever and whenever required so on his evening ‘off’ he had to drive out and sit with Archie while Archie continued to wait for the doctor.

The house-master just couldn’t believe that a friendly social game had resulted in a fracture and of all the people to get a fracture, why did it have to be Archie.  Because without necessarily meaning to, Archie got on the house-master’s nerves, and now here he was on a cold Friday night, having to sit in a crowded Emergency department with a boy who irritated him.  Archie has always been high on life and LOUD and not shy and so instead of sitting quietly and patiently waiting he was up and on his feet and talking to all the other patients and asking why they were there and showing them his black hand and then his phone would ring, so he’d wander off outside to take his call and meanwhile the nurse would be asking the house-master where he was so he’d have to get up and look for him and he’d be getting more and more infuriated while Archie just couldn’t see why there was a problem.

And after the thumb had been x-rayed and the fracture had been diagnosed and the hand had been plastered, it was time to drive back to the boarding house.

In the car on the way home the house-master turned to Archie and said, ‘You know, for the past four hours I could have been at home in bed with my wife but instead I’ve had to look after you’.  Like there was no justice in the world.

And Archie said, ‘Oh, right, well I’m really very sorry about that sir’.  And nothing more was said.

Forever having to send appeasing gifts, I think we gave the house-master a bottle of wine to thank him for his trouble but an equally good thank you gift would have been this Rocky Road.

Rocky Road

Rocky Road

Serves:  Now that’s a bit challenging.  Definitely more than one.

Degree of Difficulty:  This is child’s play (as long as they don’t get a steam burn).  1/5

Cost:  Not cheap but definitely comparable with buying a quality box of chocolates.

  • 750g (1.6 pounds) dark good quality cooking chocolate
  • 3/4 cup dessicated coconut
  • 3/4 cup roasted hazelnuts
  • 150g (5.3 oz) marshmallows, halved
  • 150g (5.3 oz) Turkish Delight, chopped

Grease and line 2 x 27cm (10.5 inch) x 9cm (3.5 inch) loaf tins.

Melt chocolate in a heat-proof bowl sitting on top of a saucepan of simmering water.  Remove from heat.  Stir in coconut, hazelnuts, marshmallows and Turkish Delight.

Pour into prepared pans.

Refrigerate for 3 hours or until set.

Cut into large pieces.  Serve.

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Comments

  1. Charlie, I’ve taken to reading your posts out loud. It’s a bit like when Laura in Little House on the Prairie used to read the journals out loud to her family whenever the publications arrived every few months. Only we get to do it every day, and frankly, your stories are far more funny. 🙂 xxx

  2. So – just the one bottle of wine, was it? 😉

  3. Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella says:

    Life is definitely not quite a box of chocolate for you poor Charlie! 😛 Perhaps a box of Whizz Fizz or Curly Wurlys? 😉

  4. I am sure the housemaster would have loved this for his rocky road home!
    Perfect to take as a hostess gift when out for dinner – the hostess only you understand!

  5. I have to say that housemaster sounds like a…well, insert your swear word of choice! I can imagine Archie chatting to all the patients…too funny.

  6. I believe the housemaster took on the job of whenever and wherever and that’s just part of the job. You have kids, kids get hurt. It happens. I mean, it’s only a thumb. 🙂

    I would have poured the wine and shared the rocky road with Archie. You are SO much nicer than I am.

  7. I am wondering where on earth I might find Turkish delight. And I won’t be sharing with a housemaster!

  8. Sweet Posy Dreams says:

    This looks like heaven for a chocolate lover like me.

    The one time our son was taken to the emergency room from boarding school, his resident counselor went along. He wouldn’t even talk to our son, just read a book. Son was holding a towel to his bleeding head and feeling nervous with no one to take his mind off it. Too bad he didn’t just get up and talk to the other patients like your Archie.

  9. kitchenriffs says:

    Good story. The wine probably would have been just the thing if the housemaster had received it right after getting home – you know, to help sooth his jangled nerves. Although your Rocky Road would soothe my nerves, too! Anyway, your post reminds me of my youth and all the grief – and aggravation – I caused my parents and others!

  10. Glamorous Glutton says:

    I love Rocky Road but haven’t tried it with Turkish Delight. I love that scented flavour of the rose water. Boarding school injuries always seem more scary – I can’t imagine having to spend 4 hours waiting on a hard bench with my house mistress. Swopping disinterested small talk. Poor Archie! Afterall it is the House masters Job – Isn’t it?! GG

  11. I’m amazed that Archie didn’t notice until after the game, it must have been the adrenaline! That Rocky Road looks amazing Charlie, and I would challenge that it serves more than one ;-). Hope you have a wonderful weekend and that spring will be soon upon you.
    Eva http://kitcheninspirations.wordpress.com

  12. Victoria at Flavors of the Sun says:

    I remember when my son was learning to walk on a rough flagstone floor here in Mexico and I said to my mom, “I never knew I would have my heart in my throat for months, worrying.” “For the rest of your life, Dear,” was her response. And it’s true. How do we ever get them raised and when do we ever not worry?

    Love the Rocky Road with Turkish Delight. Inspired!

  13. “It’s only a thumb!” LOL. Archie’s casual remark made me shake my head in amazement. Little boys seem to take everything in stride, don’t they. Hang in there.

    Rocky Road with turkish delight … an Australian innovation I understand as I’d never heard of it before CCU’s RR ice cream and now your chocolate version. It sounds tasty though. 🙂

  14. “It’s only a thumb!” LOL. Archie’s casual remark made me shake my
    head in amazement. Little boys seem to take everything in stride, don’t
    they. Hang in there.

    Rocky Road with turkish delight … an Australian innovation I
    understand as I’d never heard of it before CCU’s RR ice cream and now
    your chocolate version. It sounds tasty though. 🙂

    http://a-boleyn.livejournal.com/

  15. How could anyone not find Archie charming? That’s just crazy talk.

  16. yummychunklet says:

    Good lord. What do they pay the headmaster for if he can’t be bothered to look after the well being of the students? Anyway, wine or rocky road would’ve been awesome!

  17. Choc Chip Uru says:

    I think Archie has his social ways more than under control, that headmaster just doesn’t see it 😛
    I’m sure this delicious rocky road would have finished within an hour of making!

    Cheers
    Choc Chip Uru

  18. The housemaster seemed to have forgotten his job description. Archie sounded like a dream of a year 9 student compared to some of the kids I’ve taught!

  19. Dear Charlie, ah these kids… Get well soon for young man 🙂 Your recipes is amazing. Angels, beauties be with you all, Thanks and Love, have a nice weekend, nia

  20. I bet the headmaster would be thrilled with the rocky road … I know I would 🙂

  21. I don’t think my Dad would have sent that house-master a bottle of wine. He would have communicated with him, though, to be sure. I’ve never heard of this kind of Rocky Road. I’m only familiar with the ice cream but I do like the sound of yours!

    • hotlyspiced says:

      I didn’t realise it but from the comments I’m thinking rocky road must be a bit of an Australian thing. Do give it a try. It’s really delicious. If you don’t have Turkish Delight in the US you can substitute red glace cherries or red jelly lollies xx

  22. What a coincidence – I was reading about regional variations in rocky road just the other day and was really surprised to read that they put Turkish delight in it in Australia. I’ve never tried it before like that – normally we put raisins in it in the UK. Would like to give it a shot!

    • hotlyspiced says:

      Raisins? I don’t think I’ve ever had rocky road with raisins. Turkish Delight isn’t all that common as an ingredient in rocky road though, most people here would use glace cherries or red jelly lollies, but I’m very partial to Turkish Delight to that’s what I added xx

  23. InTolerantChef says:

    I think the house master should be glad it wasn’t Archie’s foot that was injured or he would have had to entertain him 🙂
    Love the Turkish delight in your Rocky road, my husband insists on raspberry jelly lollies and I hate them. I will try and convert him to your version instead, yummo!

  24. Oh gosh…Charlie that Headmaster is SO rude and selfish! I know Archie may have caused some trouble but as a headmaster he should show some more empathy! Geez! That’s horrible!

    But i’m glad Archie’s finger was only fractured and not broken or anything else more serious.

    Ohhh these Rocky Road looks lovely! I think I’m gonna make it for my friends next time I go visit them hehe 😛

    • hotlyspiced says:

      HI Daisy, actually, a fracture and a break are one and the same. Lay people tend to talk about ‘broken’ bones whereas those in the medical profession will talk about a ‘fractured’ bone. Never mind that now though, the fracture/break is well and truly healed xx

  25. Claire @ Claire K Creations says:

    I’m sure that would have sweetened him up a bit. He doesn’t sound like the warmest of people!

  26. Gretchen O'Donnell says:

    This looks fabulous! BUT…we can’t get Turkish Delight in the US – any ideas for substitutes?

    • hotlyspiced says:

      Hi Gretchen, I’m amazed you can’t buy Turkish Delight where you are. It’s so common here. I’ve made it so here’s a link but if you don’t want to go to the trouble, you can always substitute something like red glace cherries or red jelly lollies like those raspberries. Do you have the raspberry jelly lollies? Anyway, if you google Turkish Delight there will be so many recipes but here’s the one I made…

      http://hotlyspiced.com/2012/06/04/playing-with-fire/

  27. You have brought up a very polite young fellow if he managed to say what in on paper to the housemaster!! Hope the latter felt somewhat taken aback when an undeserved bottle of wine came his way! Rocky Road: yup, Oz thru’ and thru’ I believe, and the centarian firm responsible has just gone into receivership we were told on TV recently ! Time passeth!!

  28. Looks delicious! I have never heard of Turkish Delight before. I’ll have to keep my eyes out for it! 🙂

  29. I must say, marshmallows and rocky road are in the quite small category of things I miss since skipping over gelatin. One day Australia will stock gelatin-free marshmallows and I will be very happy! I am sure Archie’s teachers would have loved some of this, and I suspect it would help with a broken thumb too.

  30. This looks fantastic, Charlie! Can’t believe how easy it is to make.

  31. Norma Chang says:

    You never have a dull moment. I had no idea Rocky Road was so easy to make. Wondered how it got that name?????
    Norma Chang http://gardentowok.com

  32. tania@mykitchenstories.com.au says:

    Has Archie had every bone in his body broken? You poor mummy.
    I am sur that he likes this rocky road though…who wouldnt?

  33. justonecookbook says:

    I’d worry about those phone calls if my children were in boarding school (probably that’s why I won’t send them). You must have become tough throughout years being separated and once in a while get this kind of phone call. I’ll definitely need this delicious rocky road to come me down…and I’ll need a lot of them. Hehee.

  34. Mandy - The Complete Cook Book says:

    Maybe the house master should have thought about his choice of career before taking on being a house master.
    I could go a piece or three of that rocky road right now.
    🙂 Mandy

  35. Yesterday Today Tomorrows says:

    I’m sure poor Archie would have preferred to be looking at/hanging out with someone else instead of the house master too… NOW.. Onto this Rocky Road… You are seriously making it hard for me to stick to my diet.. It looks so yum and when I originally read this post in the wee wee hours of the morning Breastfeeding Havanah, I instantly wanted Rocky Road or some form of yummy chocolate treat for being up at that time of night.. I’m definitely going to have to make this for my family and unfortunately sit there and watch them eat it ha ha x

  36. Jed Gray (sportsglutton) says:

    The headmaster took the job and it comes with the territory. Though I’m sure those treats would have help “ease his pain.”

  37. http://promenadeplantings.com/ says:

    I don’t think I’ve ever heard of or had “rocky road” but looking at the ingredients, I know I woul dlike them !!

  38. Lol! Archie would have put me in an early grave with all these stories. 😉 I’ve only seen rocky road ice cream, so it was fun to see what it actually is. 🙂

  39. Oh Archie! Even having a good time in the emergency room! He is indeed a full of life guy! This is a lovely hostess gift recipe, and looks so delightful. I’ve seen Turkish Delight show up in recipes before, and I must track that one down. I’m really not that familiar with it, but I must become acquainted. I think the way you show it packaged for presentation is just lovely, Charlie! I’d love to receive such a gift.

  40. I love how you’ve presented the rocky road in a long bar! and the addition of turkish delight in amazing! I really want to make some rocky road with crushed pretzels, I think these photos have pushed me over the edge and I’m going to have to do it!

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