Chocolate And Butterscotch Pots De CrÈme Food

EASY CHOCOLATE POTS DE CRèME

Steps:

• To the canister of a high speed blender, add the chocolate chips, sugar, salt, and process on high speed until you have fine chocolate dust; set aside.
• To a microwave-safe glass measuring cup, add the heavy cream and heat on high power until just boiling, about 1 1/2 to 2 minutes, but check every 15 seconds or so after 1 minute has passed.
• Pour the cream into the blender and process on high speed until smooth.
• Evenly divide the chocolate mixture between 2 to 4 ramekins (read blog post for my commentary), cover, and place ramekins in the fridge for at least 2 hours, or until set.
• Optionally garnish with whipped cream and/or chocolate shavings before serving.

EXTRA-BITTERSWEET CHOCOLATE POTS DE CRèME

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees. In a heavy saucepan, bring cream and milk to a boil. Remove from heat; whisk in chopped chocolate until smooth.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the yolks, sugar and salt. Whisking constantly, slowly pour hot chocolate into yolks. Strain through a very fine mesh sieve into a large measuring cup or bowl.
• Divide mixture among 2- to 4-ounce espresso cups or small ramekins. Set filled cups in a large roasting pan that has been positioned on center rack of oven. Add hot tap water to pan, halfway up sides of cups. Cover pan with foil; use a fork to prick holes in foil.
• Bake until edges are lightly set (lifting foil to check) but center is still jiggly - it will set as it cools - 30 to 35 minutes. Transfer cups to a wire rack to cool completely. Refrigerate at least 3 hours before serving with crème fraîche or whipped cream.

CHOCOLATE POTS DE CREME

Steps:

• Place the chocolate in a blender. Whisk the milk, 1 cup cream, egg yolks, granulated sugar and salt in a heavy-bottomed 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 with a thick kitchen towel; blend until combined and smooth, stopping to scrape down the sides of the blender as needed. Divide the chocolate mixture among ramekins or small cups and refrigerate until set, about 2 hours.
• Whip the remaining 1/2 cup cream and the confectioners' sugar with a mixer or in the blender until soft peaks form. Top the chilled pots de creme with whipped cream.

CHOCOLATE POTS DE CREME

Steps:

• Put heavy cream in top of a double boiler.
• Add sugar.
• Place over boiling water and scald (i.e., heat almost to boiling).
• Remove from heat and add chocolate and stir until completely melted.
• Beat egg yolks and gradually beat them into the hot chocolate cream mixture.
• Place top of double boiler over boiling water again and cook, stirring constantly, until well thickened (about 3 minutes).
• Remove from heat, stir in vanilla, and then pour into 6-8 small custard cups (1/2 cup size).
• When cool, place in refrigerator to chill before serving.

BUTTERSCOTCH POTS DE CRèME

Steps:

• Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 300°F.
• Bring cream, muscovado sugar, and salt just to a simmer in a small heavy saucepan over moderate heat, stirring until sugar is dissolved.
• Bring water and Demerara sugar to a boil in a 2-quart heavy saucepan over moderate heat, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until browned and bubbly, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and carefully add cream mixture (mixture will bubble up and steam), whisking until combined.
• Whisk together yolks and vanilla in a large bowl, then add hot cream mixture in a stream, whisking. Pour custard through a fine-mesh sieve into a 1-quart glass measure. Skim off any foam with a spoon.
• Divide custard among ramekins. Arrange ramekins in a small roasting pan and bake in a hot water bath , uncovered, until custards are set around edges but still tremble slightly in centers, about 40 minutes. Transfer ramekins to a rack with tongs and cool to warm or room temperature. Pots de crème will continue to set as they cool.
• *Available at specialty foods shops and Dean & DeLuca (800-999-0306).

BUTTERSCOTCH POTS DE CREME

Steps:

• Use 6 (4-oz) ramekins Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 300°F.
• Bring cream, muscovado sugar, and salt just to a simmer in a small heavy saucepan over moderate heat, stirring until sugar is dissolved.
• Bring water and Demerara sugar to a boil in a 2-quart heavy saucepan over moderate heat, stirring until sugar is dissolved.
• Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until browned and bubbly, about 5 minutes.
• Remove from heat and carefully add cream mixture (mixture will bubble up and steam), whisking until combined.
• Whisk together yolks and vanilla in a large bowl, then add hot cream mixture in a stream, whisking.
• Pour custard through a fine-mesh sieve into a 1-quart glass measure.
• Skim off any foam with a spoon.
• Divide custard among ramekins.
• Arrange ramekins in a small roasting pan and bake in a hot water bath, uncovered, until custards are set around edges but still tremble slightly in centers, about 40 minutes.
• Transfer ramekins to a rack with tongs and cool to warm or room temperature.
• Pots de crème will continue to set as they cool.
• Custard can be made, but not baked, 1 day ahead and chilled, covered, in the glass measure or a non-reactive container.