Blessings on Fruit (advanced quiz) - Tu B'Shvat with Aish

If you sit down to eat a platter with the following items (in alphabetical order): almonds, apples, apricots, dates, figs, grapes, hazelnuts, pistachio nuts and raisins. On which fruit should you make the blessing -- and why?

After making the proper blessing, do you have to also eat them in the order as outlined in the answer to question #1?

If you mistakenly made the blessing on the apricot (rather than a fruit of the 7 species), does that blessing cover the 5 fruits, or do they still require a new blessing? (The case is that the fruit of the 7 species was in front of you at the time of the blessing, but you did not have it specifically in mind, nor is it your custom to eat them in this setting, nor were they served to you by your host.)

What if you specifically had fruit of the 7 species in mind at the time of the blessing, and you knew that you should have made the blessing on them (but you didn't), do they still require their own blessing?

If you made a blessing on a fruit of the 7 species, without having the other regular fruits in mind (though they are in front of you on the table), do they require a separate blessing?

Let's say the original blessing was made on dates (which also covered other fruit) and now you have totally finished the dates. There are still other fruits left over in front of you. Now somebody knocks on your door and -- surprise! -- they've got apples. Do you have to say a new blessing on the apples?

When the blessing Shi-hakol was made on chocolate, does it cover a drink which was not in front of you at the time of the blessing (and which you didn't have in mind), but was brought out while there is still some chocolate left on the table?

If in the middle of eating your plate of fruit, you leave the building for Mincha (and you're planning to come back to finish the fruit), do you have to recite a new blessing upon returning?

Does it make a difference, and what would be the halacha, if: a. you had eaten a kezayit of fruit of the 7 species, or b. you were eating with a group of people, some of whom some remained at the table.

What if you decide not to have any more fruit, and then minutes later you decide to eat more fruit. Must you make a new blessing?

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