Chocolate Mousse Cake With CrÈme Anglaise Food

ALMOST-FAMOUS CHOCOLATE MOUSSE CAKE

Steps:

• Make the cake: Prepare the cake mix as the label directs for a 9-by-13-inch cake. Bake; cool slightly in the pan, then invert onto a rack to cool completely.
• Clean out the cake pan and line it with plastic wrap. Cut the cake in half lengthwise, then in thirds crosswise to make 6 rectangles. Using a serrated knife, slice each rectangle in half to make two layers. Arrange half of the pieces snugly in the cake pan. Crumble the remaining pieces and press tightly into 6 small balls; arrange 1 cake ball in the center of each cake rectangle in the pan.
• Make the mousse: Heat the chocolate, butter, coffee and 1/4 cup water in a heatproof bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water (do not let the bowl touch the water), stirring, until melted. Remove the bowl from the pan; stir until cool. Reserve the simmering water. Fill a large bowl with ice water.
• Whisk the egg yolks, 1 1/2 cups sugar and 2 tablespoons water in a separate large heatproof bowl. Set the bowl over the saucepan of simmering water and whisk until pale yellow, 6 to 8 minutes. Add the chocolate-coffee mixture and the vanilla and whisk until combined, about 2 minutes. Remove the bowl from the pan and set in the bowl of ice water; whisk until slightly cool but not thick, about 4 minutes.
• Beat the egg whites and salt in a bowl with a mixer until foamy. Add 2 tablespoons sugar and beat until almost stiff; gently fold into the chocolate-yolk mixture to make a dark chocolate mousse. Spread 5 cups over the cake and cake balls. Freeze until firm on top, about 30 minutes.
• Beat the heavy cream and the remaining 4 tablespoons sugar until soft peaks form; fold into the remaining mousse. Remove the cake from the freezer; spread with the light chocolate mousse, cover with plastic wrap and freeze until firm, at least 6 hours or overnight.
• Make the chocolate shell: Stir the chocolate, heavy cream and 4 tablespoons corn syrup in a heatproof bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water (do not let the bowl touch the water) until melted. A spoonful at a time, spread half of the shell mixture over the frozen mousse. Return to the freezer.
• Make the chocolate sauce: Add the remaining 1 tablespoon corn syrup and the butter to the remaining chocolate shell mixture. Microwave 30 seconds, then stir until glossy.
• To serve the cake, beat the heavy cream with a mixer until foamy. Add the sugar and beat until soft peaks form. Remove the cake from the freezer; invert onto a baking sheet and unmold, then invert again onto a platter, chocolate shell-side up.
• Cut the cake in half lengthwise using a warm knife, then cut into thirds crosswise to make 6 rectangles; cut each rectangle in half diagonally to make 2 triangles. Top each triangle with whipped cream, ice cream and the prepared chocolate sauce.

RICH CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH CREME ANGLAISE

Steps:

• To make the creme anglaise, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place the almonds on a baking sheet and toast until nicely browned, stirring twice, about 10 minutes; watch carefully to prevent burning. Place in a saucepan with the milk and bring just to a boil. Remove from heat, cover and let stand 15 minutes.
• Whisk the egg yolks and sugar together until pale yellow. Bring the milk mixture back to a simmer. Whisking constantly, add the milk to the yolk mixture. Return sauce to pan over low heat and cook, stirring constantly, until thick enough to coat the back of a spoon; do not let it simmer. Strain through a fine sieve. Stir in the vanilla. Refrigerate until cold.
• To make the cake, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 10-inch springform pan. Place chocolate, brown sugar and butter in a metal bowl over a pan of barely simmering water until melted. Mix well. Stir in egg yolks and vanilla, then almonds, flour and salt.
• Whip egg whites until firm but not dry. Stir 1/3 of the whites into chocolate mixture. Fold in remaining whites. Scrape batter into prepared pan and bake until a toothpick inserted into center comes out only slightly wet, about 30 minutes. Cool.
• To serve, spoon sauce onto each plate and top with a slice of cake.

JAMES MARTIN - CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE WITH CARDAMOM CREME ANGLAISE

Steps:

• Grease a 10cm/4in chefs' ring with butter and place onto a plate.
• Place the cream cheese, icing sugar, cocoa powder and cream into a bowl and whisk together.
• Press the biscuit crumbs into the bottom of the ring mould, then add the cream cheese mixture to fill the ring.
• Smooth over the top and sprinkle the chocolate over.
• Carefully remove the ring and top with the orange segments and mint.
• For the crème anglaise, heat the milk and cream in a saucepan over a medium heat, until nearly boiling, then remove from the heat.
• In a bowl, beat together the egg yolks and sugar, then gradually add the warmed cream mixture, stirring constantly.
• Return the mixture to the saucepan. Add the cardamom and vanilla seeds and stir over a low heat, until thickened enough to coat the back of a spoon.
• Strain the mixture through a sieve into a bowl and allow to cool.
• For the spun sugar, melt the sugar in a small frying pan until golden, then remove from the heat. Using a fork, flick strands of the caramel over an upside-down bowl.
• Allow to set, then remove and serve over the cheesecake with the crème anglaise poured around.

CHOCOLATE MOUSSE CAKE

Steps:

• Line a 10-by-4 1/2-by-3-inch loaf pan with plastic; let excess hang over sides of pan. Line pan with chocolate genoise: Cut one 9-by-4-inch rectangle to fit bottom and two 9-by-3-inch rectangles to fit sides of loaf. Cut four 2 1/4-by-4 1/2-inch pieces; use two to fit each end of the loaf; set other two aside. Cut another 10 1/2-by-5-inch rectangle to fit top; set aside.
• Place chocolate in a large heat-proof bowl or the top of a double boiler set over a pan of barely simmering water; heat until melted. Set aside.
• Combine yolks and sugar in a medium bowl; whisk until pale yellow. Add flour and cornstarch; whisk to combine. Place milk in a small saucepan; bring to a boil.
• Gradually pour milk into yolk mixture, whisking constantly. Return mixture to pan; set over medium-low heat. Cook, whisking constantly, just until mixture comes to a boil. Remove from heat; immediately pass through a fine sieve into melted chocolate. Use a rubber spatula to combine; set aside to cool. When almost cool, whip the heavy cream to soft peaks, and fold into the chocolate mixture.
• Spoon chocolate mousse into the prepared loaf, and top with the reserved genoise. Wrap the excess plastic over the loaf, and place in the freezer overnight.
• Unmold cake onto a wire rack set over a rimmed baking sheet. Pour ganache over cake, coating completely. Allow ganache to set for about 10 minutes. Scrape excess ganache from baking sheet back into the bowl. Pour a second coating of ganache over cake. If ganache gets too thick, it can be rewarmed slightly over simmering water. Transfer cake to a serving platter; refrigerate for 1 hour or until ready to serve. Garnish with edible roses and rose petals just before serving. Thinly slice with a serrated knife. Serve with creme anglaise.

"FLOATING ISLANDS" WITH CHOCOLATE MOUSSE AND CRèME ANGLAISE

Steps:

• Make meringue:
• Preheat oven to 325°F. Spray six 1/2-cup muffin cups with oil spray. Whisk sugar and egg whites in large metal bowl. Set bowl over saucepan of simmering water and whisk egg-white mixture until thermometer inserted into mixture registers 160°F, about 5 minutes. Remove bowl from over water. Using electric mixer, beat meringue until soft peaks form.
• Reserve 1/2 cup meringue in bowl. Cover; chill. Spoon remaining meringue into prepared muffin cups, dividing equally. Smooth tops with knife. Place muffin cups in large glass baking dish. Pour enough hot water into dish to come halfway up sides of muffin cups. Bake until meringue is set but still moist, about 25 minutes. Remove muffin cups from dish. Cool to room temperature. Cover; chill.
• Make mousse:
• Place 3 ounces chopped chocolate in medium bowl. Bring cream to simmer in heavy small saucepan. Pour cream over chocolate. Stir until chocolate melts and mixture is smooth. Let chocolate mixture stand at room temperature until cool to touch but not set, about 30 minutes.
• Beat crème fraîche in another medium bowl until soft peaks form. Fold crème fraîche and reserved 1/2 cup meringue into chocolate mixture. Leaving meringue in each muffin cup, scoop out center of each meringue, forming cup with 1/2-inch-thick bottom and sides. Fill meringue cups with mousse. Cover and chill until set, at least 1 hour.
• Spoon Crème Anglaise onto plates. Run small sharp knife around sides of meringue cups. Carefully turn meringues out. Place atop sauce. Sprinkle shaved chocolate over. Garnish with berries.

WARM CHOCOLATE CAKES WITH COFFEE CRèME ANGLAISE

Steps:

• Sauce:
• Bring first 4 ingredients to a simmer in a medium pan over medium heat, stirring continuously. Remove vanilla bean; scrape seeds into sauce. Place egg yolk in a bowl. Stir in 2 tbsp hot-milk mixture; add back to pan. Cook 1 minute; stir. Remove from heat; cool. Cover and refrigerate.
• Cakes:
• Beat egg white in a bowl with an electric mixer on high until foamy. Add 1/2 tsp sugar; continue beating on high, adding 5 more 1/2-tsp increments of sugar until stiff peaks form. In another bowl, beat egg yolk with remaining 1 tbsp sugar until thick. Melt chocolate in a double boiler or microwave. Remove from heat; stir in yogurt; add to egg yolk mixture. Fold in egg white mixture. Cover; refrigerate at least 1 hour. Heat oven to 325°F. Coat 4 molds in a muffin tin with cooking spray; pour in batter. Bake 12 minutes or until cake springs back when touched. Cool slightly. Pour 2 tbsp sauce on each of 4 plates (or serve in a creamer on the side); put 1 cake on top of each.

MOLTEN CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH ESPRESSO CREME ANGLAISE

Steps:

• Instructions for Cake: Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Butter the round molds with the unsalted butter and dust with cocoa powder, tapping out excess cocoa.
• Melt the extra bitter chocolate and the unsalted butter in a double boiler.
• In an electric mixer, beat the eggs, yolks, and sugar until light and fluffy.
• Stir in the chocolate/butter mixture.
• Add all the flour and mix until just incorporated.
• Pipe or carefully spoon the batter into the prepared molds, filling no more than 1/2 full.
• Place the filled molds on a baking sheet.
• Refrigerate for a minimum of 20 minutes.
• The batter will hold overnight in the refrigerator after it's been put into the molds.
• Bake for 7 to 9 minutes.
• The tops will have cracks, the sides will be set, but the centers will be very soft.
• Instructions for Espresso Creme Anglaise: Whisk the yolks and the sugar together until thickened and pale yellow.
• In a small pot warm the cream just to the boiling point over medium heat.
• While whisking, add some of the hot cream into the egg mixture.
• Pour into the pot with the rest of the cream and stir with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula until the mixture thickens enough to coat the back of the spoon.
• Add the espresso.
• Refrigerate until ready to use.
• When cakes are done, drizzle with the creme.