Bittersweet Chocolate Mousse Cake

This is SO GOOD. Like what chocolate cheesecake should be. Like eating a chocolate truffle in cake form. Just make sure you have people to share this with because it's definitely rich.

Bittersweet Chocolate Mousse Cake

from America's Test Kitchen
Makes one 9 inch cake, serving 12 to 16

12 Tbsp (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, cut into 12 pieces, plus 1 tsp softened butter for greasing pan
flour for dusting pan
12 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped (This recipe was supposedly design with Hershey's Special Dark in mind - they say other bittersweet chocolates will work, but because the amounts of sugar and cocoa butter differ from brand to brand, they will produce cakes with slightly different textures and flavors. I used a combination of some random bars I had lying around with chocolate chips and Baker's and I thought it turned out really well. Chocolate chips are supposedly not a good direct substitution due to their relatively low fat content.)
1 ounce unsweetened chocolate, chopped
1 Tbsp vanilla
8 large eggs, separated
1/8 tsp salt
2/3 cup packed light brown sugar, crumbled with fingers to remove lumps (Note: When crumbling brown sugar to remove lumps, make sure that your fingers are clean and grease free; any residual fat from butter or chocolate might hinder the whipping of the whites.)

1. Adjust an oven rack to the lower middle position and heat the oven to 325 degrees. Butter the sides of a 9 inch springform pan; flour the sides and tap out the excess. Line the bottom of the pan with a parchment or waxed paper round. Wrap the bottom and sides of the pan with a large sheet of foil.

2. Melt 12 tablespoons butter and the chocolates in a large bowl over a large saucepan containing about 2 quarts barely simmering water, stirring occasionally, until the chocolate mixture is smooth. Cool the mixture slightly, then whisk in the vanilla and egg yolks. Set the chocolate mixture aside, reserving the hot water, covered, in the saucepan.

3. In the clean bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat the egg whites and salt at medium speed until frothy, about 30 seconds; add half of the crumbled brown sugar, beat at high speed until combined, about 30 seconds, then add the remaining brown sugar and continue to beat at high speed until soft peaks form when the whisk is lifted, about 2 minutes longer. Using a whisk, stir about one third of the beaten egg whites into the chocolate mixture to lighten it, then fold in the remaining egg whites in 2 additions, using the whisk. Gently scrape the batter into the prepared springform pan, set the springform pan in a large roasting pan, then pour the hot water from the saucepan into the roasting pan to a depth of 1 inch. Carefully slide the roasting pan into the oven; bake until the cake has risen, is firm around the edges, the center has just set, and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center registers about 170 degrees, 45 to 55 minutes.

4. Remove the springform pan from the water bath, discard the foil, and cool on a wire rack 10 minutes. Run a thin-bladed paring knife between the sides of the pan and cake to loosen; cool the cake in the springform pan on a wire rack until barely warm, about 3 hours, then wrap the pan in plastic wrap and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled, at least 8 hours. (The cake can be refrigerated for up to 2 days.)

5. To unmold the cake, remove the sides of the pan. Slide a thin metal spatula between the cake and pan bottom to loosen, then invert the cake onto a large plate, peel off the parchment, and re-invert onto a serving platter. To serve, use a sharp, thin-bladed knife, dipping the knife in a pitcher of hot water and wiping the blade before each cut. (If you like, dust the cake with confectioners' sugar just before serving or top slices with a dollop of lightly sweetened whippped cream. To make slicing easier, freeze the cake for 30 minutes just before serving.)

Variation: Chocolate-Orange Mousse Cake
Follow the recipe for Bittersweet Chocolate Mousse Cake, reducing the vanilla extract to 1 teaspoon and adding 1 tablespoon orange liqueur and 1 tablespoon finely grated orange zest to the chocolate mixture along with the vanilla and egg yolks.

Bake Potato Soup

Ingredients:
4 large baking potatoes (about 3 pounds)
2/3 c. butter
2/3 c. flour
3/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
6 c. milk
1 c. sour cream (8 oz.)
1/4 c. green onions, finely chopped
10 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled
1 c. cheddar cheese

Directions:
Bake potatoes @350 for 1 hour, until tender, or use leftover from the nite before; allow to cool completely. Peel and cube potatoes.

In a large saucepan, melt butter; stir in flour, salt and pepper, until smooth. Gradually add milk. Bring to a boil; cook & stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Remove from heat; whisk in sour cream. Add potatoes and green onions. Garnish with bacon and cheese. Serve.

Chinese Chicken Salad

I found this recipe at Make it and Love it. Served it today for a little party and it was so yummy!

Ingredients:
1 chicken breast (grilled and chopped)
1/2 head of lettuce
2 stalks of celery
1 stalk of green onion
2 8 oz. cans of mandarin oranges
1 8 oz. can of water chestnuts
4 oz. of slivered or sliced almonds
1/2 cup of sugar

Dressing:
1 cup of canola oil
2/3 cup rice vinegar
2 T soy sauce
1/2 tsp garlic powder
2 tsp salt
1/2 cup sugar

Directions:
Heat almonds and sugar at medium heat in a small pan. Stir continuously until the sugar has heated through and coated the almonds with a nice caramelized coating. (Don't worry if the sugar gets all clumpy and seems to not be working. Just keep stirring.....it will melt.) Then spread over foil and let cool completely. Chop up all of the remaining salad ingredients and mix together in bowl. In a cruet, mix in all the ingredients for the dressing. Shake until completely blended. The dressing isn't soluble so you'll have to shake again right before pouring over your salad.

One last note: The dressing made is a bit too much for the amount of salad. So I always pour the dressing over individual portions of salad. But if you'd like to pre-mix your salad if you're headed to a pot luck, make sure to watch how much you're using in the salad. Sample it before serving.

Enchilada Soup

My upstairs neighbor made this for us the other night, delicious!

Chicken Bouillion Cubes
4 Chicken Breasts
2 Cans Corn (drained)
2 Cans Black Beans (drained)
2 Cans mild gree enchilada sauce
1 can diced green chiles

Boil chicken with water and boullion cubes. When done take chicken out and dice, keep the water. Put the chicken back in the water and add rest of ingredients bring to a boil...

Um she doesn't put on there how much water or how many chicken cubes....I am guessing maybe 5 cups of water and 5 bouillion cubes..?

Honey Lime Enchiladas- four stars!

Adapted slighty from Mykitchencafe

This was easy and very yum, even with my questionably old tortillas : ) Seriously, yum, this is what I will make when I have to take someone dinner next. All you ladies in TX who are having babies, make this for yourself and pretend its from me : )

Honey Lime Enchiladas

5 Tbs honey
6 or 7 Tbs Lime juice
1 Tbs chili powder
1/2 t garlic powder

1lb chicken, cooked and shredded (you can use 3 chicken breasts if you want, I used a rotisserie chicken...yum)
8-10 flour tortillas
1 lb monterey jack cheese, shredded (I used sharp cheddar)
1 C sour cream
16 oz green enchilada sauce

Mix the first four ingredients and toss with shredded chicken. Let it marinate for at least half an hour, the longer the better ( I just did half an hour and it was great!). Pour about half a cup of enchilada sauce on the bottom of a 9x13 pan. Fill flour tortillas with chicken and shredded cheese, saving about 1 cup of cheese to sprinkle on the top of enchiladas (I think I used way less cheese than what the recipe calls for, not sure, I just used what I had!). Mix the remaining enchilada sauce with the sour cream and leftover marinade. Pour sauce on top of the enchiladas and sprinkle with cheese. Bake at 350 dgs for thirty minutes until brown and crispy on top.

* Freezable meal: freeze prior to baking. To bake, preheat oven to 350 dgs and bake enchiladas, covered (without thawing first) for one hour. Uncover and bake 30 minutes longer, until brown and crispy on top.

Yummy Stew!

Jim joined the biggest loser club online (and it's working!). So, we have been trying some of their recipes. This is a stew that we find super yummy, especially because our family loves sweet potatoes.


INGREDIENTS


* 1 tablespoon whole grain oat flour

* 1/8 teaspoon garlic power

* 1/8 teaspoon salt

* Pinch of ground black pepper

* 1 pound top round steak, cut into 1" cubes

* 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil

* 8 ounces button mushrooms, halved

* 1 onion, chopped

* 1 tablespoon minced garlic

* 1 teaspoon dried thyme

* 2 cans (14-ounces each) lower-sodium, fat-free beef broth

* 2 large carrots, peeled and sliced

* 1 pound sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1" cubes





In a medium resealable plastic bag, combine the flour, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Add the beef and shake the bag until all the cubes are coated. Refrigerate for at least 15 minutes.

Set a large nonstick soup pot over medium-high heat until it is hot enough for a spritz of water to sizzle on it. Add the oil. Add the reserved beef cubes to the pan in a single layer. Cook for about 1 minute per side, or until browned. Reduce the heat to medium. Add the mushrooms, onion, garlic, and thyme. Cook, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon and scraping any browned bits from the pan bottom, for about 10 minutes, or until the onion is tender.

Add the broth and carrots. Increase the heat to high. When the broth comes to a boil, reduce the heat to low so the mixture simmers gently. Cover and cook for 45 minutes.

Add the potatoes. Cook for 45 minutes, or until the beef is fork tender. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve immediately.


Yield: 9 Servings; Serving = 1 cup




Adapted by Chef Devin Alexander, The Biggest Loser Cookbook, Rodale 2006.

What We've Been Eating

This is going to be a week of trying new recipes. When I sat down to make my menu for the week I ended up picking five recipes we've never had before. I guess I'm bored with my regular repertoire?

Anyway, here's what we've had thus far:

Easy 4 Cheese Pasta Bake

It was really simple and Aaron and I both really liked it. Plus it made a lot. Like..A LOT. I probably have two more dinners worth in my freezer, which makes meal planning for the next couple weeks that much easier (and cheaper). If you make it, make sure you do three packed cups of spinach. I didn't, and ours had very little green. It could have supported a heck of a lot more. I served it with a green salad and homemade raspberry applesauce and it was perfect.


Broccoli Pasta Sauce

Wes was the one who ended up really liking this. Which isn't surprising since he loves broccoli with all his little two year old heart. Aaron and I both thought it was fine, something kind of fun and different for a change. I'd add more garlic if I made it again and lots more salt and pepper. It was just kind of bland. Also, I ended up adding some chicken stock and then some of the pasta water to thin it out to more of a sauce consistency and it was still fairly thick. I served it with these rolls (except I made them with half wheat flour) and steamed asparagus. The rolls were excellent, I'll definitely make them again.