Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Must Love Chocolate



As you know Valentines Day is around the corner. But seriously now, it's a little cheesy and far too commercialized for me to get into the festivities of it all, if you know what I mean. At the same time, NOT doing anything sounds like a relationship in a rut of oldness and boring nights in front of the TV. When I think of love, my thoughts often wander to chocolate, so I declare Valentines Day the official day of cocoa, with a little love on the side.

Can't find a sitter? Not to worry, it's easy to impress with these smooth and rather rich Chocolate Pots de Creme. I think just about anyone can make these! A stemmed glass really brings it up to another level, too. Use good quality dark chocolate, it's Valentines Day, after all!


Chocolate Pots de Creme
Serves 2 - can easily be doubled if you include more than just yourselves for Valentines Dinner!
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup whipping cream
2 egg yolks
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
3oz (90g) bittersweet chocolate (70%), chopped
garnish:
whipping cream
icing sugar

Heat milk and sugar in a small sauce pan. Stir at all times, milk scorches very quickly.

Lightly beat egg yolks a medium size bowl. While whisking, pour the milk mixture into the egg yolks. Don't stop whisking, unless you want scrambled eggs!

Return everything to the sauce pan. Cook gently, again always stirring, until mixture comes just to a boil. Continue to cook for 2 minutes.

Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla and chopped chocolate. Stir until the chocolate has melted.

Pour into two ramekins or small glasses. Chill completely before serving - give it a couple of hours, or even overnight.

Top with a dollop of whipped cream and chocolate shavings.


To make sweetened whipping cream, add 1 tsp of icing sugar to 1/2 cup of cream and whip until thick.


No comments: