My Blog: July 2012

7/24/2012

Death By Chocolate: Mocha Mousse

Ingredients

14 ounces semisweet chocolate, broken into 1/2-ounce pieces
4 ounces unsweetened chocolate, broken into 1/2-ounce pieces
1/2 cup water
4 tablespoons instant coffee
2 tablespoons cocoa, sifted
5 egg whites
2 tablespoons sugar
3/4 cup heavy cream

Directions

Prepare the Mocha Mousse. Heat 1-inch of water in the bottom half of a double boiler over medium high heat. Place 14 ounces semisweet chocolate, 4 ounces unsweetened chocolate, 1/2 cup water, 4 tablespoons of instant coffee, and 2 tablespoons cocoa in the top half of the double boiler. Tightly cover the top with film wrap. Heat for 6 to 7 minutes, remove the film wrap, and stir the mixture until smooth. Keep at room temperature until needed.

Place egg whites in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a balloon whip. Whisk on high speed until soft peaks form, about 1 minute. Continue to whisk while gradually adding 2 tablespoons of sugar. Whisk until stiff, about 30 seconds.
Whip 3/4 cup heavy cream in a well-chilled stainless-steel bowl until stiff. Fold 1/4 of the egg whites into the melted chocolate mixture, then fold in the whipped cream now fold in the remaining egg whites. Hold the mocha mousse at room temperature

Frosted Orange Date Bars

Prep Time:40 Min Cook Time:20 Min Ready In:1 Hr

Ingredients

3/4 cup white sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup water
1 (8 ounce) package chopped pitted dates
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup orange juice
3/4 cup milk
2 eggs
1 tablespoon orange zest
1 cup chopped pecans
3 cups confectioners' sugar
1/3 cup butter, softened
1 (3 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 tablespoon orange zest
2 1/2 tablespoons orange juice

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 10x15 inch jellyroll pan.
In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine sugar, 1/2 cup butter, water and dates. Cook, stirring frequently until dates have softened and the mixture is well blended. Remove from heat. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; stir into the date mixture, then mix in the 1/4 cup orange juice, milk, eggs and 1 tablespoon orange zest. Spread the batter evenly into the prepared pan.
Bake for 15 to 20 minutes in the preheated oven, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. To make the frosting, combine the confectioners' sugar, 1/3 cup butter, cream cheese and orange zest. Beat until smooth. Gradually mix in the remaining orange juice a tablespoon at a time until the icing is spreadable. Spread over the bars when cool. Cut into squares.