Wednesday, October 11

Wednesday Baking IV: No Baking

If you are a regular reader, you’ve already read about my beloved Wednesday Baking.
Clearly, this was too good to be true - schoolwork is really kicking in (and piling up ridiculous quickly…) and my new school period starts already next week.
From now on my Wednesday morning will be spend with maths, physics and chemistry. Great. Definitely an improvement…(!)

My plan was to make something really spectacular, over-the-top and impressive for this last Wednesday Baking.
Something like a 20layercake or perhaps try to make my favourite macarons…
well, this plan failed rather badly as I - strangely - wasn’t at all in the baking mood. I just wanted to spend this last free morning in my pj’s curled upon the couch. Eat far too much kruidnootjes, spoon away something sweet and watch many, many Friends episodes…

Friends is the best. I even dare to say me and my sister are the biggest Friends fans ever - we have watched every episode approxiately a hundred times (and I can watch them at least another 100 times…) and just like baking, this is one of my favourite, most relaxing things to do.
The last few weeks however, I hadn’t have the time (or peace) to just sit down, do nothing and watch. You can understand this morning was really needed, and I happily relived Ross and Rachel’s drama story…

So this Wednesday Baking Day was really No Baking Day - just something easy, quick, really satisfying and with a good sugar kick was needed today.
The answer was Chocolate Mousse

Intensely chocolate flavoured, exactly sweet enough and delightfully fluffy, this recipe was great. Pillowy, velvety and melting wonderfully on your tongue, this was exactly what I needed.
My homework will just have to wait a little bit longer…;)


Chocolate and a big pile of friends episodes….
Could this BE any better? ;)


Bitter Chocolate Mousse (makes 8)
- 250g (9oz) good quality, bittersweet chocolate, chopped
- 30ml honey liqueur (or brandy)
- 25g (1oz/2 Tbsp) butter, cut into pieces
- 4 eggs, separated
- 90ml (6 Tbsp) whipping cream
- 45g (3 Tbsp) sugar
- whipped cream, some chopped hazelnuts and cocoa powder to decorate.

1. Place the chocolate and 4 tablespoons (60ml) of water in a medium saucepan. Melt over low heat, stirring until smooth. Remove pan from heat and whisk in the liqueur and butter.

2. With an electric mixer, beat the eggs yolks until thick and creamy, then slowly beat into the melted chocolate until well blended. Set aside.

3. Whip the cream until soft peaks form and stir a spoonful into the chocolate to lighten it. Fold in the remaining cream.

4. In a clean, grease-free bowl, using an electric mixer, beat the egg whites until frothy. Sprinkle over the sugar and continue beating until the whites are stiff and glossy.

5. Using a large metal spoon, stir a quarter of the egg whites into the chocolate mixture, and then gently fold in the remaining whites until just combined.
Gently spoon into 8 individual cups and chill for at least 2 hours until set and chilled.

6. Scoop a big spoon whipped cream (beaten with a tablespoon of sugar) on top, sprinkle some chopped hazelnuts on top and lightly dust with cacao powder.




9 comments:

Bonnie said...

What a fabulous combination! Chocolate mousse and friends! Might have to induldge next week when I don't have to go to work....

Anonymous said...

Can't go wrong with chocolate mousse.

Gattina Cheung said...

oh no, did I come too late... the glass is licking clean!
Look so delicious!

Anonymous said...

Great looking pictures! Good job girl!

Brilynn said...

Soooo good! I love the texture of mousse.
As for the Friends thing, I used to play basketball in uni and my teammate and I liked the episode when Ross is trying to get the couch up the stairway and is yelling "Pivot!" Anways that episode got even funnier for us when one day in practice my coach was yelling at me to "Pivot!". We died laughing and my coach had no idea what was going on and was not very impressed...

Anonymous said...

Am a huge fan of chocolate mousse! Nice photos!

wheresmymind said...

I've never made the mousse before but I'd really like to :)

Julia said...

Hi Bonnie! Which one? The chocolate mousse or the Friends? ;) hope you have a great time with both!

Hi Peabody - totally agree!

Haha, thanks Gattina =)

Hi Corianne - dank je wel!

Hi Brilynn - haha, yes I know the episode you mean - that one is indeed so funny =) my favourite is the one where chandler and Rachel steal the cheesecakes…yum =)

Hi Kieran! Thank you! =)

Hi Wheresmymind, oh yes I really recommend it…so easy and the result - delish! ;)

Anonymous said...

It cannot BE any better!! Throw in some Will & Grace and Married With Children and I'm in heaven!
Love the photo of macaroon by the way.