Brazilian Mocha Food

MOQUECA BAIANA (BRAZILIAN SEAFOOD STEW)

Steps:

• Place crabmeat and shrimp in a dish; coat with lemon juice, lime juice, 3 cloves garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. Mix well. Cover with plastic wrap; chill until ready to use.
• Combine rice, 3 cups plus 2 tablespoons water, coconut milk, chopped onion, butter, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1 clove garlic in a large saucepan or rice cooker. Simmer, covered, until water is absorbed, about 15 minutes.
• Heat dende oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook and stir sliced onion until beginning to soften, about 5 minutes. Add yellow bell pepper, orange bell pepper, and crushed pepper. Cook and stir until heated through, 3 to 5 minutes. Add sliced tomatoes, chopped tomato, and green onions. Reduce heat to low; let vegetable mixture simmer for 5 minutes. Add the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, and cilantro.
• Transfer 1/2 the vegetable mixture to a plate. Spread the remaining mixture to evenly cover the bottom of the skillet. Spread crab-shrimp mixture on top. Top with the remaining vegetable mixture and pour on coconut milk. Bring to a simmer over medium heat. Reduce heat to low. Cook without stirring until flavors blend, about 15 minutes. Serve over the rice.

BRAZILIAN MOCHA

Steps:

• Stir the coffee and the chocolate in the top of a double boiler over direct heat until the chocolate is melted and completely blended into the coffee.
• Mix in a few grains salt and the sugar.
• Boil for 4-5 minutes, stirring constantly.
• Place the top of the double boiler over hot water in the bottom.
• Gradually mix in the scalding milk (do not boil!).
• When the mixture is near the boiling point, beat with an electric mixer until light and frothy.
• Pour into 4 cups or mugs and top with whipped cream if desired.

SPICED BRAZILIAN MOCHA

Steps:

• Place coffee and chocolate in heavy saucepan; cook on very low heat until chocolate is melted and mixture is well blended, stirring constantly with wire whisk.
• Stir in sugar and cinnamon. Bring to boil on medium heat; cook until sugar is dissolved, stirring constantly. Gradually add milk and vanilla, stirring until well blended. Cook until heated through, stirring occasionally.
• Pour into 4 large cups or mugs. Top with whipped topping. Garnish with a light sprinkling of additional cinnamon, if desired.

SPICED BRAZILIAN MOCHA

Steps:

• Place coffee and chocolate in a heavy saucepan; cook on very low heat until chocolate is melted and mixture is well blended, stirring constantly with whisk.
• Stir in sugar and cinnamon.
• Bring to boil on medium heat; cook until sugar is dissolved, stirring constantly.
• Gradually add milk and vanilla, stirring until well blended.
• Cook until heated through, stirring occasionally.
• Pour into 4 large cups.
• Top with whipped topping.
• Garnish with a light sprinkling of additional cinnamon, if desired.

DARK CHOCOLATE MOCHA MOUSSE CAKE

Steps:

• Make the cake: Preheat the oven to 350˚ F. Butter a metal 8-inch square cake pan. Line the bottom and sides of the pan with parchment paper; lightly butter the parchment. Combine the cocoa and espresso powders in a medium bowl. Heat the milk and butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat until the milk is steaming and the butter melts. Whisk into the cocoa mixture; let cool to room temperature.
• Whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl. In a large bowl, beat the eggs and sugar with a mixer on medium-high speed until very pale, thick and pillowy, 5 to 8 minutes. Beat 30 to 45 more seconds to stabilize the egg foam.
• Reduce the mixer speed to low; beat in the cocoa mixture in 2 additions, alternating with the flour mixture in 2 additions. Beat just until the batter is smooth and no dry flour remains.
• Pour the batter into the cake pan and gently tap against the counter to eliminate any air bubbles. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 35 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes in the pan, then turn out the cake onto a rack. Peel off the parchment but let it rest gently on top of the cake while it cools completely. Wipe the cake pan clean and reserve.
• Make the ganache: Combine 1/2 cup heavy cream, 4 ounces chocolate and 1 tablespoon butter in a small saucepan. Gently cook over medium-low heat, stirring, until melted and smooth. Let cool.
• Make the mousse: Combine the remaining 4 tablespoons butter and 4 ounces chocolate in a small microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring, until melted and smooth. Whisk in the cocoa powder until smooth. Let cool.
• Meanwhile, combine 1/4 cup heavy cream and the gelatin powder in a small microwave- safe bowl. Let stand until the gelatin absorbs the liquid, about 5 minutes, then microwave until melted, 20 to 30 seconds, whisking. Let cool, stirring occasionally.
• Combine the remaining 1 1/4 cups heavy cream, the sugar and espresso powder in a large bowl. Beat with a mixer on medium speed to dissolve the sugar, about 1 minute. Stream in the cooled gelatin mixture, then increase the speed to medium high and beat until the mixture is thick and stiff peaks form. Fold in the cooled chocolate mixture in 2 or 3 batches until the mousse is well blended.
• Assemble the cake: Line the reserved cake pan with 2 crisscrossed strips of parchment paper (this will help you lift out the finished cake). Carefully slice the cake horizontally into 3 equal layers. Lay the best layer cut-side up in the bottom of the pan and brush with some of the chocolate liqueur, if using. (Use a plate or small cutting board to move the layers; if your top cake layer is domed, use it for the middle of the cake.) Evenly spread half of the mousse on top with an offset spatula, all the way to the edges. Top with a second cake layer. Brush again with chocolate liqueur, then spread half of the ganache evenly on top. Add the final cake layer, cut-side up, and brush with the remaining liqueur. Top with the remaining mousse and ganache. (The assembled cake should fill the pan.)
• Refrigerate the cake until the top is set, about 30 minutes, then wrap the whole cake pan with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight to set completely.
• Lift the cake out of the pan using the parchment pieces and transfer to a cutting board. Using a hot, dry serrated knife, slice the cake, wiping the knife in between cuts for clean edges.

MOCHA POTS DE CRèME

Steps:

• Put the chocolate in a blender. Whisk the milk, heavy cream, egg yolks, sugar, espresso powder and salt in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring constantly with a heatproof spatula, until the mixture is thick enough to coat the spatula and almost boiling, 5 to 6 minutes.
• Immediately pour the milk mixture over the chocolate in the blender. Cover and hold the lid down with a thick kitchen towel; blend until combined and smooth, stopping to scrape down the blender as needed. Divide the chocolate mixture among eight 4-ounce ramekins. Refrigerate until set, at least 2 hours. Top with chopped chocolate-covered espresso beans.

SPICED BRAZILIAN MOCHA

Steps:

• Mix coffee and chocolate in a heavy saucepan. Heat on very low temperature until chocolate is melted and mixture is well blended, stirring constantly to blend.
• Add sugar and spices and bring just to a boil while continuing to stir.
• When it starts to bubble gradually add milk and vanilla, stirring until well blended.
• Continue to heat until it's where you want it (I like it good and warm but not very hot)
• Pour into cups and top with whipped topping if using. Garnish with a light sprinkling of additional cinnamon and annatto mix if desired.

BRAZILIAN COFFEE COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (205 degrees C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Beat the shortening, brown sugar, white sugar, egg, vanilla and milk until fluffy.
• Stir the flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder and instant coffee. Add to sugar mixture and mix thoroughly.
• Shape dough in 1 inch balls. If it's too soft, chill it for a while. Place balls 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheets. Flatten to 1/8 inch thickness with fork or glass dipped in sugar.
• Bake at 400 degrees F (205 degrees CV) for 8 to 10 minutes until lightly browned.