Silky Mousse

After taking my dear friend Carolyn to see The King's Speech for her birthday, I made her a dinner of steak au poive, baked potatoes, and baked tomatoes that I stuffed with onions, garlic, oregano, wheat bread crumbs, and chevre.  We ended the evening eating a silky smooth mousse while watching President Obama give his State of the Union speech.  The mousse was a take on one done by chocolateer, Jacques Torres.  The mousse lacked the characteristic grittiness of other mousse recipes I have used before. This is due to the technique of adding soft-crack stage sugar to the eggs as they are beating.  This was a bit of trouble, so when I need to make another mousse, I will try making a simple syrup and adding that to the eggs instead.

Bittersweet Chocolate Mousse

250 grams bittersweet chocolate, chopped (I used Callabaut Bittersweet)

1 large egg

5 large egg yolks

Scant 1/4 cup (2 ounces; 60 grams) water

Scant 1/2 cup (3.7 ounces; 105 grams) granulated sugar

1/4 t. fine sea salt

1 2/3 cup (14 ounces; 400 grams) heavy cream
Shavings of bittersweet chocolate

 Directions:  Beat the heavy cream to soft peak stage and set aside.  Add eggs to stand mixer and beat on medium until light and fluffy, about 7 minutes.  While the eggs are beating, boil the water and sugar.  Bring this to soft crack stage (250 degrees).  Melt the chocolate either in your microwave, checking and stirring every 30 seconds, or in a double boiler, being careful not to let any moisture in the chocolate.  Turn the standmixer on to low,  carefully pour the sugar down the side of the bowl.  Turn back up to medium and let beat for 2 minutes.  Fold whipped cream into the egg mixture along with the salt.  Once without streaks, carefully fold in the melted chocolate.  Place into individual ramikins (about 6) and top each with shavings of chocolate.  Top with plastic wrap for refrigeration. 

The King's Speech is still on my mind today.  Even more than our lovely meal.  Colin Firth's performance was nothing shy of moving.  I don't normally attend movies, but am very glad I went to see this one.