Nigellas Chocolate Cherry Mousse For Two Recipes

NIGELLA'S CHOCOLATE CHERRY MOUSSE FOR TWO

Steps:

• In a heavy-based saucepan, combine chocolate, cherry brandy or kirsch, butter and corn syrup. Add 2 tablespoons sugar if using cherry brandy, 3 tablespoons sugar if using kirsch. Melt over very low heat, then scrape into a bowl and allow to cool a little.
• Separate eggs, and whisk whites until soft peaks form. Beat yolks into cooled chocolate mixture, then gently mix in a dollop of egg whites to lighten mixture. Carefully fold remaining whites into chocolate mixture, taking care to keep mousse airy.
• Spoon mousse into two wine glasses. Cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours and up to 6 hours before serving. YIELD 2 servings.

WHITE CHOCOLATE MINT MOUSSE

Steps:

• Put the pieces of white chocolate in a bowl, and sit this bowl over a pan over simmering water until it melts, stirring gently with a spatula every now and then. When it's melted, stand the bowl on a cold surface to cool down a little.
• In another bowl, and using an electric handheld whisk for ease, whip the cream, egg white and extract together. You want soft peaking rather than a stiff mixture.
• Put a big dollop of cream onto the slightly cooled chocolate and mix, and then gently fold the chocolate mixture into the cream.
• Divide mixture between 6 small but perfectly formed glasses with a capacity of 60ml/ 1/4-cup each.
• Chill in the fridge or give them a fast icy zap but sitting them in the deep freeze for 10 or 15 minutes. Decorate top with a mint leaf before serving.

CHOCOLATE CHERRY TRIFLE

Steps:

• Slice the chocolate pound cake and make jam sandwiches with the cherry jam, and layer the bottom of a large wide trifle bowl. Pour over the cherry brandy so that the cake soaks it up, and then top with the drained cherries. Cover with plastic wrap and leave to macerate while you make the custard.
• Melt the chocolate on low to medium heat in the microwave, checking after 2 minutes, though it will probably need 4 minutes. Or you can place it in a bowl over a pan of simmering water. Once the chocolate is melted, ser aside while you get on with the custard.
• In a saucepan warm the milk and cream. Whisk the egg yolks, sugar, and cocoa in a large bowl. Pour the warm milk and cream into the bowl whisking it into the yolks and sugar mixture. Stir in the melted chocolate, scraping the sides well with a rubber spatula to get all of it in, and pour the custard back into the rinsed saucepan. Cook over a medium heat until the custard thickens, stirring all the time. Make sure it doesn't boil, as it will split and curdle. Keep a sink full of cold water so that if you get scared you can plunge the bottom of the custard pan into the cold water and
• whisk like mad, which will avert possible crisis.
• The custard will get darker as it cooks and the flecks of chocolate will melt once the custard has thickened. And you do need this thick, so don't panic so much that you stop cooking while it is still runny. Admittedly, it continues to thicken as it cools and also when it's chilling in the refrigerator. Once it is ready, pour into a bowl to cool and cover the top of the custard with cling wrap to prevent a skin from forming.
• When the custard is cold, pour and spread it over the chocolate cake layer in the trifle bowl, and leave in the refrigerator to set, covered in plastic wrap overnight.
• When you are ready to decorate, softly whip the cream for the topping and spread it gently over the layer of custard. Grate the chocolate over the top.

INSTANT CHOCOLATE MOUSSE - NIGELLA LAWSON

Steps:

• Put the marshmallows, butter, chocolate and water in a heavy-based saucepan.
• Put the saucepan on the stove, over heat, though keep it fairly gentle, to melt, stirring every now and again.
• Remove from the heat.
• Meanwhile whip the cream with the vanilla until thick and then fold into the cooling chocolate mixture until you have a smooth, cohesive mixture.
• Pour or scrape into 4 or 6 glasses or small dishes and chill until you want to eat.
• The sooner the better!

CHOCOLATE CHERRY MOUSSE

Steps:

• In a heavy-based saucepan, combine chocolate, cherry brandy or kirsch, butter and corn syrup. Add 2 tablespoons sugar if using cherry brandy, 3 tablespoons sugar if using kirsch. Melt over very low heat, then scrape into a bowl and allow to cool a little.
• Separate eggs, and whisk whites until soft peaks form. Beat yolks into cooled chocolate mixture, then gently mix in a dollop of egg whites to lighten mixture. Carefully fold remaining whites into chocolate mixture, taking care to keep mousse airy.
• Spoon mousse into two wine glasses. Cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours and up to 6 hours before serving.