Salted Fruit and Nut Chocolate Coins

#1 teenage son - I'm now officially a classy guy, Mum.
Me - Oh really. Why's that?
#1 teenage son - As of last week, I am now the proud owner of not one, but TWO belts - one casual and one smart. That, in my world, is the definition of a classy guy ...

Wow - who knew it was that straightforward.

So, the occasion that called for a smart belt was the Year 11 School Prom - the social event of the year when you're 16. At least I imagine it feels that way for the girls ... An opportunity to wear THE dress, to do nails, to fancy up your hair and to rock the highest of high heels. And my gut tells me that the dressing up thing for most of the boys is an inconvenience, an annoyance, a right hassle but at least our 16 year old boys have reached an age where they accept that they're going to have to do it anyway - even if it's just to keep the girls happy. And the Mums.

So 'we' made a plan -

1. Tuxedo ✓ - M&S online. Slim fit. Good value. LIFE LESSON : you get very few opportunities to wear a tuxedo so, when they come along - go for it. Can't think of a guy who doesn't scrub up well in a tux.
2. Shirt ✓ - M&S online. Extra long arms. You need it when you are a gorilla.
3. Shoes ✓ - Borrowed and accompanied by the message, 'These shoes cost more than your entire outfit, so LOOK AFTER THEM'.
4. Belt ✓ - Smart and classy. See above.
5. Haircut ✓ - Bit of a trim. Booked.

Done and done.

And then, 2 days before the prom, the air of calm anticipation was over with one short conversation -

#1 teenage son - I've got a date for the prom now.
Me - Oh that's great (.... attempting to stay outwardly cool and calm, but actually thinking OMG - this is my little boy, how can this thing they call a 'date' be possible)
#1 teenage son - And I need to buy her a corsage. Can you get me one, Mum? I'm trusting you on this Mum. I've no idea - I only just found out what a corsage is.

OMGGGODDYGOD. Suddenly it felt like all the pressures of motherhood had been building towards this point. AAAAaaagghh.

So it began -

1. Get a picture of date doing a demo in her dress - I'm sure I didn't look that good when I was 16.
2. Ask multiple frantic questions on every social media platform - help!
3. Research on Pinterest - some nice ideas .... some abominations.
4. Drink a few large glasses of wine.....

And then the next day I hit the florists. I clearly wasn't the first corsage virgin to visit - they knew all the answers to my, frankly ridiculous, questions and it was ordered. 'Keep it simple' was my mantra. Although SIMPLE doesn't always equal cheap. There's definitely money to be made in taking hardly any flowers and attaching them to somebody's wrist. I just hoped it would last beyond the first photo.

And it did. And very lovely the gorgeous couple looked too. I know it's my job to be dreadfully biased about my children, but I'm sure that #1 teenage son was by far the most handsome guy there. In a James Bond kind of way.

And so I left him at the 'Pre-Prom', from which he would go via limo to the 'Actual Prom' and then on to the 'After Prom' - where the party really starts.... and I went home to contemplate my son - the classy guy with the smart belt and the borrowed shoes who was a toddler only a second ago and who is now properly grown up.

A glass or three of chilled Rosé and a tray of these equally classy Salted Fruit & Nut Chocolate Coins was just what I needed to while away the early evening wondering what a bunch of 16 year olds do on a big night out and worrying how the shoes would fair. The chocolate is super thin and delicate, the sea salt cuts through the sweetness and the crunch of the dried fruit and nuts is a perfect contrast.

You can feel classy AND virtuous eating these chocolate coins. Just pretend you didn't see the wine ...

So here's why I'm loving these Salted Fruit & Nut Chocolate Coins -

• With just a few ingredients and very little fuss, you can create a treat that's just as classy as owning a selection of belts. Yes, really.
• These chocolate coins are seriously delicious. Seriously. We sat and ate the whole tray between us. Straight off the baking parchment too.
• Great to give as a gift - wrap in cellophane or find a classy box.
• Healthy(ish) too.
• They were perfect with a glass of wine, but I wouldn't say no with a coffee or served alongside fruit as a casual dessert.

You'll love these Salted Fruit & Nut Chocolate Coins - I'm certain of it. And a classy occasion is not a prerequisite ... honest.

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