Craig Claibornes Rum Chocolate Dessert Recipes

CRAIG CLAIBORNE'S RUM CHOCOLATE DESSERT

Steps:

• Position oven rack 1/3 up from the bottom of the oven; preheat to 350°.
• You will need an 8 inch round cake pan that is 3 inches deep or a 2 ½ quart souffle dish.
• Cut a round of wax paper to fit the bottom.
• Butter the sides of the pan and one side of the paper; place the paper, buttered side up, in the pan.
• Shake a bit of flour into the pan, tap it around to coat all surfaces, then invert the pan to remove excess; set aside.
• Sift the flour and sugar together; set aside.
• Place chocolate in the top of a large double boiler over hot water on medium heat.
• Dissolve the coffee in the boiling water and pour over the chocolate.
• Cover the pot and leave until the chocolate is melted.
• Remove the top of the double boiler and stir well with a wire whisk until smooth.
• With the whisk gradually stir in the butter, adding about a ½ inch slice at a time and whisking until smooth after each addition.
• Gradually whisk in the dry ingredients and then the rum.
• Add egg yolks to a large bowl; stir them lightly with the whisk just to mix; gradually add the warm chocolate mixture, stirring well to mix.
• Add the salt to the egg whites; beat until they just hold a shape or are stiff but not dry.
• In two or three additions fold the whites into the chocolate.
• Pour the mixture into the prepared pan; smooth the top.
• Place prepared pan in a larger but not deeper pan, and pour in hot water to reach e cut AWhipped Cream: whip the ingredients until they are stiff enough to hold a shape when spread over the cake.
• With a small metal spatula first cover the sides of the cake and then the top.
• Additionally, may decorate with chocolate curls or with candied violets or rose petals.
• May refrigerate, if needed before serving.

CHOCOLATE-RUM MOUSSE

Steps:

• Put the cold milk and gelatin in blender. Cover and blend at low speed to soften the gelatin.
• Add boiling milk; blend until the gelatin dissolves. If gelatin granules cling to the container, use a rubber spatula to push them down.
• When the gelatin is dissolved, add the rum, egg, sugar and salt. Blend at high speed and add chocolate pieces until smooth.
• Add 1 cup of the cream and the ice cubes. Continue blending until the ice is liquefied. Pour into parfait or wine glasses and chill.
• Add vanilla to the other cup of cream and whip until stiff. Top the mousse with whipped cream.

MAIDA HEATTER'S CHOCOLATE MADELEINES

Steps:

• You will need two special madeleine pans, available in fine kitchen equipment shops, to prepare these cookies.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
• Lightly brush the cookie indentations of each pan with butter, using a pastry brush. Take care not to leave any unbuttered spots.
• Sift together the flour, cocoa, coffee, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
• Place the 1/4 pound of butter in the bowl of an electric mixer and cream thoroughly. Beat in the vanilla, rum or Cognac and granulated sugar. Add the whole eggs and egg yolks and beat thoroughly. The mixture may take on a curdled look, but that is proper. Start beating on low speed while adding the dry ingredients. Beat only long enough to blend.
• Place a rounded teaspoon of the batter into each of the cookie indentations. Do not spread; it will settle itself. Place in the oven and bake about 12 minutes or until madeleines spring back when touched with the fingertips.
• Remove from the oven and invert onto a rack. Arrange them patterned side up on the rack. Using a sieve, dust lightly with confectioners' sugar.

WHITE CHOCOLATE MOUSSE

Steps:

• Place chocolate in metal mixing bowl. Place bowl over, not in, basin of simmering water. Let stand, stirring occasionally, until chocolate melts.
• Combine sugar and water in a saucepan, and bring to a boil. Cook about 4 minutes or to the soft-ball stage (see note).
• Meanwhile, put egg whites into the bowl of an electric mixer and start beating. When eggs are fairly stiff, reduce speed and gradually add sugar syrup while beating. Continue beating until the bottom of the bowl cools to room temperature.
• Pour and scrape melted chocolate into the mixture and blend thoroughly.
• Blend rum and vanilla. Add to chocolate mixture, and beat well to blend.
• Whip cream until stiff. Add about a third of the whipped cream to the chocolate mixture and stir to blend. Add remaining cream and fold it in. Spoon or pour the mixture into 6 to 8 serving dishes or parfait glasses, and chill until set. Garnish each serving with berries or candied violets or chestnuts.