Chocolate Mousse

Photo by Lisa

My college roommate and I are still the best of friends.  We see each other about once a week and she's been a huge support for me these past months since baby girl was born.  Today is her birthday!  On Friday night we celebrated with some girl friends, champagne cosmopolitans, and chocolate mousse.  

Some food memories that I have associated with this friend are our college days of eating lemon pepper chicken and quesadillas for dinner, lobsters in Costa Rica, baking Christmas cookies and food gifts (truffles & mini-loaves of pumpkin bread), and, of course, her epic corned beef on St. Patrick's day.  A, here's wishing you a very happy birthday and a wonderful new year of being you!

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Decadent Chocolate Mousse (8-10 servings)

• from Sunset 12/10
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• 18  ounces  bittersweet chocolate, chopped
• 1/2  cup  strong coffee
• 1/3  cup  sugar
• 6  large eggs, separated
• 1 1/2  cups  heavy cream
• 1/4  cup  orange liqueur, such as Grand Marnier

Put chocolate, coffee, and sugar in a large metal mixing bowl. Set bowl over a large pot filled with 1 in. simmering water. Melt chocolate, stirring often, until smooth. Remove from heat and set aside.

Whisk egg whites in a medium bowl with a mixer until they hold stiff peaks. Whisk cream in another bowl until soft ribbons form.  Stir yolks into warm chocolate mixture. Mix in liqueur. Using a rubber spatula, gently fold in whites until almost blended, then gently fold in whipped cream until no streaks remain.

Pour chocolate mixture into a large (8-cup) glass serving bowl. Cover bowl tightly with plastic wrap and chill until ready to serve. Serve with sweetened whipped cream.  We topped it with candy cane Joe Joe's and Heath bars as well :)