Chocolate Macaroni Terrine With Dried Cranberries And Chocolate Sauce Food

DARK CHOCOLATE TERRINE

Steps:

• Lightly oil an 8 1/2-by-4 1/2-by-2-inch loaf pan and line it as neatly as possible with plastic wrap, allowing the ends to drape over the sides. (I lay two pieces of plastic wrap crosswise in the pan, overlapping in the center.) Place the pan in the freezer.
• Place a large heatproof bowl over a pan of simmering water. Place the butter in the bowl, then the chocolate and coffee powder and heat until just melted, stirring occasionally with a rubber spatula. As soon as the chocolate and butter are melted, take the bowl off the heat and whisk in, one at a time, and in order, first the confectioners' sugar, then the cocoa powder, egg yolks, Cognac and salt. Set the bowl aside for 15 minutes to cool.
• Place the egg whites and granulated sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and beat on high speed until the whites form firm but not dry peaks. Fold the whites into the cooled chocolate mixture with a rubber spatula.
• Without cleaning the bowl or whisk attachment, pour the cream and vanilla into the bowl and beat on high speed until it forms firm peaks. Fold the cream carefully but thoroughly into the chocolate mixture. Pour into the prepared loaf pan, smooth the top, fold the plastic wrap over the top and chill for 4 hours or overnight.
• To serve, turn the terrine out of the mold and unwrap it. Spoon a puddle of Orange Sauce in the middle of each dessert plate and place a slice of the terrine in the middle. Sprinkle each serving lightly with orange zest and fleur de sel.
• Beat the egg yolks and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment on medium-high speed for 3 minutes, until very thick. Reduce to low speed and mix in the cornstarch.
• With the mixer still on low, slowly pour the hot milk into the egg mixture (I use a liquid measuring cup for pouring). Pour the mixture into a clean, small, deep saucepan and cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until it reaches 180 degrees F on a candy thermometer and thickens to the consistency of heavy cream. The mixture will coat the spoon. Don't cook it above 180 degrees F or the eggs will scramble! Immediately (it will keep cooking in the saucepan), pour the sauce through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl and stir in the vanilla, Cognac, Grand Marnier and orange zest. Cover and chill.

CHOCOLATE TERRINE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a medium-sized bowl, fitted into a saucepan, covering but not touching barely simmering water, melt chocolate and butter.
• Add the coffee and sugar and continue to whisk to dissolve the sugar. Continue cooking until very hot approximately 120 degrees F.
• Remove from the heat and whisk in the eggs. Pour into foil-lined loaf pan and bake in a water bath for 40 minutes.
• Let cool, then chill overnight. Turn out the next day and serve in slices.

MEXICAN CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH DRIED CRANBERRIES

Steps:

• Position a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 350°F (175°C).
• Butter and flour a 12-cup (1.5-L) Bundt pan or 9-inch (22.5-cm) angel food cake pan. Melt the butter over moderately low heat, then whisk in cocoa.
• Add water and coffee and whisk until smooth. Remove from heat and let cool.
• Whisk in the sugar, eggs, buttermilk, and vanilla.
• Sift together flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt.
• Add the cocoa mixture and whisk until just combined.
• Whisk in the cranberries.
• Pour the batter into the cake pan and bake cake until a toothpick inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean, 45 - 55 minutes.
• Cool the cake in the pan on a rack for 10 minutes, then loosen the edges with a thin knife and invert onto a plate.
• Let cool.
• For the glaze, bring the cream to a boil in a small pot.
• Remove from the heat and add the chocolate, stirring until smooth.
• Spoon the glaze over the top of the cake, letting it run down the sides.
• Keeps well for 3 days tightly wrapped. Freeze for longer storage.

CHOCOLATE, CRANBERRY & MACADAMIA BROWNIES

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 180C/ 160C fan/ gas 4 and line a 20cm x 20cm baking tin with baking parchment. Melt the dark chocolate with the butter in the microwave or in a heatproof bowl over just simmering water.
• Mix together the sugar, flour and cocoa powder and stir in the melted chocolate and butter mixture, followed by the eggs. Stir through the dried cranberries and macadamia nuts, then swirl through the cranberry sauce.
• Pour into the tin and smooth the surface. Bake for 25 - 30 mins. Allow to cool before slicing.

TRIPLE CHOCOLATE TERRINE

Steps:

• Since the flavor of these layers depends entirely on the chocolate, please use the best brand you can afford- I like Callebaut, but you can also use Lindt, Tobler, Valrhona or Ghiardelli.
• Using a standard loaf pan, line it with plastic wrap so that the plastic extends beyond the sides of the pan by at least 3 inches on each side.
• For the dark chocolate layer: melt the chocolate, espresso, and rum in the microwave on 50% power for about 2 minutes.
• Stir until smooth.
• Whisk in the yolk and mix well.
• Set aside.
• Whip the whites and cream of tartar until soft peaks form.
• Sprinkle in the sugar, beating on high until stiff, but not dry.
• Fold a quarter of the whites into the chocolate to lighten it, then scrape the remaining whites on top of the chocolate and set aside.
• Beat the cream until it holds it shape (not stiff) then scrape on top of the whites.
• Fold everything together gently until no streaks of white appear.
• Turn the mousse into your prepared mold, spreading until it is an even layer.
• Place in the freezer.
• Make the milk chocolate layer: melt the chocolate and coffee in the microwave on 30% (low) power for about 2 minutes.
• Stir until smooth and completely melted.
• (Milk chocolate burns very easily. Do not attempt to melt it at a higher temperature.) Set aside to cool slightly.
• Whip the cream until soft peaks form- not too stiff.
• Fold very carefully into the milk chocolate- it will seem very soft.
• Scrape on top of the dark chocolate layer, smoothing to an even layer.
• Put in the freezer.
• Make the white chocolate layer: place the chocolate and 2 tbl.
• water in a heatproof bowl.
• Microwave on low (30% power) for about 2 minutes.
• Stir until very smooth and completely melted.
• Let cool slightly.
• Whip the cream until soft peaks form- not too stiff.
• Fold very carefully into the chocolate- it, too, will seem very soft.
• Scrape on top of the milk chocolate layer, smoothing to an even layer.
• Now- gently, gently tap the pan a couple of times on the counter to allow all the layers to settle against one another.
• Carefully wrap the excess plastic up over the mousse.
• Put the entire thing in the freezer for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight.
• It also freezes well for a month prior to serving.
• To serve: Take the pan from the freezer, and set in a pan of hot water for 10 seconds.
• Carefully unwrap the plastic from the top, then unmold onto a cutting board, pulling on the plastic wrap to help release it.
• Peel the plastic from the mousse and discard.
• Slice the mousse into 8 slices (this is done more easily with a knife you run under hot water then wipe dry quickly and cut while the knife is still warm) and carefully arrange on individual plates.
• Serve immediately.
• Serving suggestions: raspberry sauce and a few berries and a sprig of mint, or be really decadent and serve it with a drizzle of hot fudge sauce and a sprig of mint or both.