Sunday, 21 August 2011

Irish Coffee Mousse


This is a lovely but very rich :)  Shown in an irish coffee cup but would work very well in a small wine glass, the old style round 70s ones which they used to use in restaurants for Irish Coffees.  As with liquor coffees, you can pick your own flavour of alcohol, I just like Tia Maria ;)

Needs at least 6hrs chilling, so make night before or early in the morning.

For the coffee/chocolate mousse

  • 300g 70% (at least) cocoa dark chocolate
  • 2 tablespoons espresso coffee made up (can buy instant from supermarkets or really strong coffee)
  • 2 tablespoons of your chosen alcohol
  • 120g unsalted butter
  • 6 large eggs, separated
  • 6 tablespoons caster sugar
For the white chocolate topping
  • 200g white chocolate
  • 1 1/2 gelatine leaves
  • 350ml whipping or double cream
  • 3 medium egg yolks
  • 65g icing sugar
  • a little vanilla extract
Bring a pan of water to the boil.  Find a heatproof bowl that will fit in the top of the pan and put the chocolate in this with the coffee, alcohol and the butter and melt it slowly.  Once it has melted remove from the heat and stir.

Mix in the 6 egg yolks until the mixture is very smooth (it may look a little grainy at this point, do not worry).

In a separate bowl whisk the egg whites with an electric mixer until stiff and a bowl can be turned upside down without them moving, slowly add the sugar, tablespoon at a time allowing each one to dissolve in the mix and whisk until it goes stuff and glossy.

Fold a ladleful of the egg mix into the chocolate and then add the rest trying to keep as much air in the mixture as possible.

Spoon carefully into the individual glasses, leaving at least a 1cm gap at the top of the glass and put into the fridge until you have made the next step.

Wash all the bowls you used, you're going to need them again.

Again melt the white chocolate in the bowl over the pan of water.  

Put the gelatine leaves on a plate with a few spoons of the cream and heat in a microwave for a minute or so until dissolved.

In another bowl beat the egg yolks and the sugar with an electric whisk, add the gelatine cream and the melted white chocolate and mix well.

In another bowl whip the remainder of the cream untol thick and then fold into the chocolate and egg yolk mixture.

Get the glasses with the dark mousse in out of the fridge and they will be slightly set.  Add some white chocolate mousse to the tops of the glasses so it looks like the floating cream topping on an irish coffee.

Chill the mousses for at least 6hrs before serving, and then gently dust with cocoa powder before you put them out.


Drunken Mushrooms


Really easy to make for a nice dinner :)  Make just before you want to serve.  Makes enough for around 6 people.

  • 500g value mushrooms(stalks removed) chopped chunky (so each mushroom into 6 or 8 pieces)
  • 1 packet wild mushrooms (oyster, chanterelle or any others)
  • 10 garlic cloves chopped finely or crushed
  • small bunch fresh parsley chopped
  • 75ml double cream
  • 375ml white wine
  • 50g salted butter
  • Nice crusty bread like granary or mediterranean cut into 12 slices
Put the butter in a large saute pan over a low heat until it melts.  Add the garlic and parsley and let it cook gently.

Heat the oven to 180 degrees.  Place the bread slices on a baking trays and brush both sides of the bread with oil.  Place in oven for 10 mins until become crispy.

Add mushrooms to butter and garlic in the pan and toss so they are all coated.  Cook over a medium heat for about 5 minutes.

Add the white wine and then the double cream, turn down to a fierce simmer and cook for another 5 minutes until the sauce starts to reduce.  

Serve 2 slices of bread on a plate with mushrooms poured over the top.