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Monday, January 24, 2011

Chocolate Mousse Cake


If you are looking for a delicious, decadent, dessert (that's not difficult) to make, look no further.  I'm going to give you my FAVORITE chocolate recipe.
Now, I'm known far and wide for being the ultimate chocoholic, so when I say this is my favorite chocolate recipe, that is saying a lot :))
This Cake is actually a chocolate mousse that is baked, and part of the mousse is used as a filling.  It bakes almost like a souffle in that, after the cake cools, it will fall in the middle.
 It's at this point that you will use the unbaked portion of the mousse to fill in the "sink". The result in a divine cake that will leave your guests begging for more.


Tools
9 Inch Spring form pan
Electric mixer
Large piping bag and Large star tube (optional)



Ingredients
7  ounces          semisweet, or bittersweet chocolate
                           (chips, or chopped)
1/4 pound        unsalted butter
7                         eggs, separated
1 cup                  sugar, separated
1 teaspoon        pure vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon    cream of tartar

Whipped Cream Frosting,  recipe below


Instructions

1). Preheat oven to 325 degrees

2). Melt butter and chocolate together either in a double boiler, or in 30 second intervals in the microwave until melted, and combined.  Stir in vanilla, set aside.

3). In large mixing bowl beat egg yolks and 3/4 cup of sugar until doubled in volume, pale yellow and thick enough to leave a ribbon on itself, this will take 3-5 minutes

4). Fold the egg yolk mixture into the melted chocolate mixture until combined

5). In separate clean mixing bowl beat egg whites and cream of tartar until soft peaks form. Once soft peaks form, slowly add the remaining 1/4 cup of sugar until mixture is glossy and stiff peaks form.

6). Fold egg white mixture gently into chocolate mixture. Reserve 1/4 of the mixture for filling, cover the 1/4 chocolate mousse mixture and refrigerate.

7). Put 3/4 of  the chocolate mousse mixture into a 9 inch spring form pan. You can line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper to make cleaning the pan easier. Cover and refrigerate 1/4 of the chocolate mousse.

8). Bake at 325 degrees  for 35 minutes, do not over bake. When cake is done baking, let it cool completely.

9).The cake will fall as it's cooling (like a souffle) take your 1/4 remaining chocolate mousse and fill the top of the cake

This is a photo of the cake filled with the chocolate mousse, before frosting with whipped cream frosting


10). Refrigerate for at least 2 hours to let mousse set, you can let this set in the refrigerator overnight

11). Frost with Whipped Cream Frosting
Whipped Cream Frosting
2 Cups of Heavy Whipping Cream
1/4 cup of sugar
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Beat whipping cream until soft peaks form. Once soft peaks have formed, slowly add sugar, then vanilla until stiff peaks form.  Once it has formed stiff peaks it is ready to use.

Garnish with shaved chocolate or sift on some powdered cocoa. Here I made leaves from chocolate molds. If you have heart molds it  would be perfect with 4 hearts (with the points towards the center of the cake:))
 Keep this cake refrigerated when not serving

Sunday, January 16, 2011

"Indulge Yourself" St. Valentines Giveaway


I thought it would be fun to have a St. Valentines Day  give-away that would be great if you have a Valentine to share it with, and fun even if you don't.  I also wanted to throw in something in that you would have even after this St. Valentines Day is over, so I could not resist these adorable heart shaped ramekins.


You will receive four of these ceramic heart shaped ramekins that would be wonderful filled with Chocolate Mousse, Pots De Creme, Creme Brulee, Berries and Creme Anglaise, or even little chocolates.

You will receive an un-opened DVD, wide screen format of one of my favorite romantic comedies. Wedding Date, starring Debra Messing and Dermot Mulroney.  Not only is this movie funny and romantic, it's shot in the English countryside and has one of my favorite soundtracks.


You will receive 8.5 ounces of Decadent Milk Chocolate, melt in your mouth,  Lindt Lindor Truffles

And last, but certainly not least, these adorable Sweet Heart, Apple Blossom Bath Salts.  So there you have it.  Everything you need to indulge yourself.  A great movie, a fragrant hot bath, decadent chocolates, and adorable dishes to eat them out of.  Best of all you will have all of this in time for St. Valentines Day since the drawing will be held on Jan 25th.
Now for the rules.  You must be a follower on either Google Friend Connect, or Networked blogs.
You need to "Like Me" on Facebook.  All of these things can be done from the right hand column of this blog.
You receive extra entries for posting this on Facebook, Twitter, or you blog :))
Please leave a comment letting me know you've done these things so I can give you the extra entries.
Good luck and Happy St. Valentines Day from one romantic to another :))

Thursday, January 06, 2011

Romantic Table Settings


 Let's Face it, there are few things more romantic than sharing a meal together. Weather it's breakfast in bed, or a wonderful dinner, we love sharing a meal with our loved ones.

For those of you who are married and have small children, you may say, I can't have a Valentines dinner with my husband, we have small children.  Well, I say the only thing better than having a husband to share a romantic dinner with, is having children see that thier parents love each other.  Make it a family Valentines meal, and share your love with your children.


For those of you who don't have a "significant other".  I say, love comes in many forms, share a Valentines meal, with your parents, your siblings, your best friends, or your children.  

 So share a meal with someone you love, and set a pretty table that says "I love you"


 Here is a fun table setting that even kids can help with, print out a vintage valentine on your computer and wrap it around your favorite candy bar.


Even simple touches like lace napkins with a simple heart shaped napkin ring add a real romantic touch.  Consider sprinkling pink or red rose petals or heart shaped confetti, on your table for even more romance. 

This French Country Red & White table is so charming with roosters, toile linens, and hydrangeas
If you're lucky enough to live in a mild climate, nothing is more romantic than a meal and flowers in the garden:)