Double Deck Pot De Crème Food

POT DE CREME

Steps:

• Place rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Melt the chocolate in a medium heatproof bowl set over gently simmering water. When the chocolate is almost melted, turn off the heat and let stand until completely melted.
• Meanwhile, in a medium saute pan, scald the cream and milk. Watch carefully as cream will boil over.
• In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, sugar, and salt until the sugar is completely dissolved. Slowly whisk the hot cream mixture into the yolks. If you add the hot cream mixture too quickly, the egg yolks could cook and leave undesirable cooked egg particles.
• Remove the melted chocolate from the stove and pour the hot cream mixture through a fine mesh strainer into the melted chocolate. Whisk until well combined and smooth.
• Ladle the mixture into 6 (3/4-cup) ramekins. Line the bottom of a baking pan with a clean kitchen towel or paper towels. Place the filled ramekins in the baking dish on the towel. Pour in enough hot water to reach halfway up the sides of the ramekins. Cover the entire pan with aluminum foil and place in the oven. Bake until mixture around the edges of the ramekin is firm when lightly shaken, about 35 minutes. (Baking time will vary depending on depth and width of ramekins.) The center of the Pot de Cremes may still jiggle slightly when shaken, but that is okay, it will firm up as it chills.
• Carefully remove the ramekins from the baking pan, wipe dry and allow to cool. Once cooled, refrigerate until firm, about 2 to 3 hours.
• To serve, spoon some White Chocolate Whipped Cream into the ramekin and garnish with some grated chocolate.
• Melt the white chocolate in a double boiler over barely simmering water, stirring occasionally. Once melted, remove from the heat and cool to room temperature.
• Whip the cream in a chilled bowl to soft peaks. Fold in the cooled chocolate and beat to stiff peaks.

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:

• 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 CRèME

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F. Bring cream and milk just to simmer in heavy medium saucepan over medium heat. Remove from heat. Add chocolate; whisk until melted and smooth. Whisk yolks and sugar in large bowl to blend. Gradually whisk in hot chocolate mixture. Strain mixture into another bowl. Cool 10 minutes, skimming any foam from surface.
• Divide custard mixture among six 3/4-cup custard cups or soufflé dishes. Cover each with foil. Place cups in large baking pan. Add enough hot water to pan to come halfway up sides of cups. Bake until custards are set but centers still move slightly when gently shaken, about 55 minutes. Remove from water. Remove foil. Chill custards until cold, about 3 hours. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Cover and keep chilled.)

DARK CHOCOLATE POTS DE CRèME

Steps:

• For the dark chocolate pots de crème: In a large measuring cup or large bowl, add the chopped dark chocolate. Set aside.
• In a saucepan, add the cream, milk, and vanilla, if using, and whisk to combine. Set over medium heat and bring to a simmer. Be careful not to let the mixture boil over!
• While the cream and milk heat up, in a separate bowl, whisk the egg yolks and sugar together until smooth.
• As soon as the cream and milk simmer, turn off the heat. Whisking the egg yolks constantly, gradually pour in two ladlefuls of the hot cream and milk mixture into the egg. This will temper the egg yolks, that is, heat them slowly to prevent them from turning grainy.
• Pour the egg yolk mixture into the saucepan while whisking. Return to medium-low heat and whisk constantly for 2 more minutes.
• Here's how to tell when the custard is done: dip a spoon into the custard, then trace a line with your finger over the back of the spoon. If the indentation remains, it means the custard is done.
• Strain the custard into the bowl containing the chopped dark chocolate. Let sit without stirring for two minutes, then whisk until smooth. (The chocolate pots de crème mixture will appear grainy at first as the chocolate starts to melt into the cream, but it will fully smooth out as you whisk.)
• Divide the chocolate pots de crème mixture between 8 small glasses, cups, or ramekins, or bowls (½ cup/125 ml capacity). Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 3 hours, or until the chocolate pots de crème are cool and set.
• SERVING: Bring the chocolate pots de crème back to room temperature 15 to 30 minutes before serving. Garnish each serving with whipped cream and grated dark chocolate, if desired. Enjoy!
• STORAGE: Keep chocolate pots de crème covered and refrigerated for up to 5 days.

GRAND MARNIER POTS DE CRèME

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325ºF. Place in the oven a baking pan with 1 inch of water in it to heat. In a separate bowl. Beat egg yolks with sugar until thick and creamy. Add very gradually to the cream, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon. Add vanilla extract and the 6 tablespoons Grand Marnier. Mix well.
• Pour mixture into pot de crème cups and place in the baking pan of water in the oven. Bake for 35 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center of the custard comes out clean.
• Remove from the oven and pan of water and cool completely. Chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours.
• At serving time, blend grated orange rind with the 1 tablespoon Grand Marnier and add to the tops of the custards.

NO-BAKE DOUBLE CHOCOLATE POTS DE CRèME

Steps:

• Have ready six 6-oz (180ml) ramekins (3-1/2" wide by 1-2/3" high) or other cups and make room in the fridge. (Small teacups, demitasse- this is not baked).
• Put the heavy cream in a small saucepan (or microwave in a 4-cup heatproof bowl) and heat just until boiling. Once boiling, slide off the heat and whisk in the cocoa powder until smooth. Add the sugar, chopped chocolate, butter, vanilla, and salt and whisk until the chocolate and butter are melted and the mixture is smooth. Set aside to cool until warm and no longer hot.
• Pour the chocolate cream evenly into the ramekins or cups. Depending on what size cups you are using, they will be filled two-thirds to three-quarters of the way. Set aside until cooled to room temperature. Cover the tops- not the custard surface- with plastic and refrigerate until chilled and firm, about 4 hours.
• Make ahead: The crèmes can be prepared and refrigerated for up to 4 days before serving. Finishing Touches: Serve w/slightly sweetened whipped cream, and a few chocolate shavings.
• Mocha: add 1 tsp instant espresso powder along w/cocoa powder. Add 1 Tbsp dark rum or coffee-flavored liquor along with the vanilla.
• Orange- add 2 tsp finely grated orange zest w/the cocoa powder. Add 1 Tbsp orange-flavored liquor along w/the vanilla. Smooth- strain mixture before adding chocolate. Stronger flavor- heat zest & cream, cover & let sit for 15 minutes. Strain if smooth texture is wanted.