Chocolate Sausage (saucisson Au Chocolat)

Ingredients

• 4 ounces manjari de valrhona chocolate or other quality bittersweet chocolate
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1/4 cup chopped almonds (50 g)
• 1/3 cup chopped dried fruit (apricots, cranberries, etc. 100 g)
• 1 tablespoon sortilege orange liqueur or Grand Marnier or Cointreau liqueur (or orange flavoring)
• grated zest orange (peel)
• 1-2 tablespoon sifted icing sugar

Directions

1. 1

   In a double boiler, melt chocolate and butter together.

2. 2

   Roast almonds until lightly browned in 350 degree F (180 C) oven.

3. 3

   Soak nuts and dried fruit in liqueur, then add grated orange peel.

4. 4

   Stir nut mixture into melted chocolate mixture and transfer to a clean, flat surface.

5. 5

   Using your hands, roll chocolate mixture into a long sausage shape, then wrap tightly in plastic wrap and chill.

6. 6

   Just before serving, remove plastic and roll sausage in sugar to give it the look of a meat sausage.

7. 7

   Slice into 16 cookie-like slices and serve at once.