Especially when it’s an easy recipe with only 5 basic ingredients. Because who said you have to be in the kitchen all day to make something special? In fact, I have a few more easy recipes to share with you this week that will not only impress your Valentine, but also give you time to actually do your hair and make up. Tell me, when was the last time that happened? Just kidding. That is just me projecting MY life on you! I rarely have time for hair and make up. Usually, I have to pick one of the two. So either you’ll see me rocking a fabulous hairdo or wearing lipstick. Don’t expect both!???
I’m very particular about my Mousse au Chocolat, which is why it took me a while playing with this recipe until I was satisfied. For me, good chocolate mousse is rich, yes, but not dense. It is sweet, creamy and light as air. The type that almost melts on your tongue and has the just amount of chocolate-ness to it.
Recipes that claim to be “authentic” say that you are only suppose to use chocolate and eggs, nothing more. Julia Child, on the other hand, uses a ton of butter (obviously!), coffee and some other fancy ingredients. My recipe asks for only 5 ingredients: chocolate, egg yolks, a little milk, sugar and heavy cream. Plus a splash of booze for fun, which is optional. And because I use whipped cream for extra lightness, I use dark chocolate (60% cacao) so we don’t lose the strong chocolate flavor. Flavorings like orange, espresso, sea salt, cinnamon, and chili powder can be added to spice things up, if you so desire!
Another trick for a lighter than air mousse is to let it stand at room temperature for 5 minutes before serving. The mousse goes in the fridge for at least 1 hour to set, but since I usually leave it there longer – sometimes overnight – I find that if I serve it right from the fridge, it will be denser than if I wait a few minutes for it to get creamy again. Some purists might go crazy if they read this, but I like to serve my chocolate mousse with whipped cream and chocolate shavings. But it’s up to you, really. With or without garnishes, this elegant Mousse au Chocolat will be the perfect ending to your romantic Valentine’s Day dinner. Oh, who am I kidding? This mousse might be delicious, but the perfect ending is ALWAYS the jewelry. (Hint hint, husband!)
