Yum Peaceful Cooking: Julie and Julia, and Chocolate Mousse

Monday, August 3, 2009

Julie and Julia, and Chocolate Mousse

Photobucket

Where to begin with this one.

Hm, I s'pose the beginning would be a good start. Back in December a bunch of BakeSpace buds got together online and started reading The Julie / Julia Project. I thoroughly enjoyed the book. So much so that before I finished the 2nd chapter, I began this blog. (yep...you can blame the whole mess on that book!)

We soon discovered that a movie was being made about the book. OMG....the excitement and anticipation. Seriously, I, and many others have been waiting since for ever, for the movie Julie and Julia to come to theaters!

THEEEEEEEEN!!! BakeSpace set up a Julie and Julia Kitchen with recipes and everything....and had a really awesome contest where people got to win tickets to the advance screening!!!! Ok...this is like a foodies Christmas!

So...to make long story not so long...I participated in the contest and WON!! Yeah BABY I won!!! Two tickets for July 30th to attend the advance screening of Julie and Julia in Hollywood at the Arclight Theater.

Photobucket

This foodies was walking on sunshine.

And I shared my sunshine with my oldest daughter....

Photobucket
Sorry the picture sucks. I only had my cellphone on me and well....thats how it came out. (This was taken inside the theater before the movie started)

We both had such a wonderful time. Loved the movie!! Even if you're not a foodie....go see the movie. Its funny, charming, endearing....and it will make you hungry.

Not only did we see a fantastic movie, compliments of BakeSpace and Sony....

THANK YOU!!!!!!

But we were given the VIP treatment. We got a couple of freebies, ya ya...schwag..whaaat ever!! (but you gotta LOVE that!!)

PhotobucketPhotobucket


And....we were invited to a party after the movie, out on the balcony. They served lovely platters of fruit, cheese and crackers. It was a gorgeous night out...and an all around wonderful experience.

Here's a couple of "cellphone" pics of the Arclight Theater

Photobucket
This is the entrance of the theater (picture taken from the balcony party)

Photobucket
And this is the lobby (picture taken from the upstairs bar...ya...they serve alcohol at this theater!!)

After 2 hours of laughing and relating and even learning a few things....we were seriously hungry. And for some reason, we both were craving breakfast food. Natalie was dying for eggs benedict and I wanted poached eggs.

Anyways, since August seems to be all about Julia Child, which it should be since her birthday is August 15th, I decided that this blog would include a Julia Child, Mastering the Art of French Cooking recipe....

Mousseline Au Chocolat

But first....lets "get in the mood"

Photobucket

How does it look? You know....it would be kinda fun to cook with just......errr.....never mind.

Anyways.....

Let me quote what I would have to say is the most understated sentence I've ever read in a cookbook:

"Among all the recipes for chocolate mousse this is one of the best....."

This chocolate mousse does things to your mouth....and your taste buds that should only be done in private. And thats all I'm going to say about that before I start talking about sex and orgasms and other sensual food porn-ish things.

Photobucket

4 eggs, separated
3/4 cup fine sugar (I used bakers sugar)
1/4 cup orange liqueur
6 oz semi-sweet baking chocolate (I used bitter-sweet by accident)
4 tablespoons strong coffee
6 oz unsalted butter, softened (I didn't have unsalted so I used regular)
pinch of salt
1 tablespoon granulated sugar

Beat the egg yolks and sugar together until the mixture is thick, pale yellow and forms a dissolving ribbon

PhotobucketPhotobucket

Beat in the orange liqueur. Set the mixing bowl over a not-quite-simmering pot of water and continue beating for 3 - 4 minutes until the mixture is foamy.

Then place the bowl over cold water and beat for another 3 - 4 minutes until the mixture is cool and forms the ribbon again. Julia says that it will have the consistency of mayonnaise.

Chop up all your chocolate

Photobucket
Combine the chocolate and coffee and melt in a double boiler or if you don't have one, (cuz I don't) put it in a bowl and put the bowl over a pot of simmering water ...

PhotobucketPhotobucket

Stir until melted

Photobucket

Remove the bowl from the heat and beat in the butter, a little at a time until smooth and creamy.....

Photobucket

Beat the chocolate into the egg yolks and sugar mixture...

PhotobucketPhotobucket

I was kinda digging the swirls and designs my mousse was making here

Beat the egg whites and salt until soft peaks are formed....

Photobucket
I think those look like pretty soft peaks, don't you? I mean, I'm not all that experienced with this egg peak thing...so I could be wrong.

Sprinkle in the sugar and continue beating until stiff peaks are formed.....

Photobucket
I'd say that's one stiff peak!!

Stir one forth of the egg whites into the chocolate mixture

Photobucket

Fold in the rest. Turn into a serving dish or dessert cups....

Photobucket

Refrigerate for at least 2 hours and then let your taste buds release their inhibitions and explode into oblivion!!

Photobucket


21 comments:

  1. I literally grunted and moaned as I read your blog. It was not pretty. I am so making this.

    ReplyDelete
  2. That looks incredible! I'm so jealous that you got freebies! LOL That's okay, we had such a great time, I'm glad you loved the movie too!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh my gosh Dani!!!!! That is sooooooo freaking awesome! I am incredibly jealous...congrats :D Glad to hear the movie turned out well and your mousse is making me drool...all over the place (huh, didn't even need alcohol, either)! You look so cute in your Julie & Julia apron ;)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Awesome. That looks a lot like the one my mom makes. Course, shes a teetotaler so there was never liquor in it. Could you taste the orange?

    ReplyDelete
  5. Awesome Apron!!!! Awesome Movie!!! Awesome Mousse!!! Awesome, Awesome, Awesome... OK, I have to stop now, cause I am drooling too much to continue...

    ReplyDelete
  6. You make me wish I still loved chocolate!

    ReplyDelete
  7. uh oh.....did someone have a foodgasm? LOL

    Congratulations on the win and nice job on Bullwinkle...errr...I mean the Mousse.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Cathy - is that what I heard? girl, you woke me up! LOL

    Michele - but you got to see the movie before i did LOL.

    girli - LMAO @ alcohol. I think we're due for a wine party. the kind where we can't type straight

    Bob - I tasted the mousse before I let it set (of course...im not THAT patient!!!) and I could totally taste the orange. After it set I could totally taste the coffee. A friend at work had some today and said she could taste the orange. so I guess it depends on your taste buds or something

    Shane - as long as the drool stays on YOUR side of the screen, it's all good! HAHAHAHA

    Spryte - what???? you don't like chocolate?? what do you do when you're pms'ing? LOL

    Chris - LMAO @ foodgasm (and I'm not the kind to taste and tell). So now that I've done the mousse, do I have to figure out rocky?

    ReplyDelete
  9. These look so good and easy to make too!!!! YEAH for Julia Childs!!!!!! (And BakeSpace rocks like nobody's business.)

    ReplyDelete
  10. I don['t think I've looked forward to seeing in movie in my life but I'm sure looking for to Friday. Two more days and I'll be watching the Julie/Julia movie..can't wait!

    The mousse looks fabulous and one thing I've never made. Have to try it soon!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Looks so good, sounds like you had a great time at the advanced screening and shwag too!!!! What more could you ask for. Babette really does great things for us, doesn't she. Congratulations on you win.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Sorry I could not locate your e-mail but you commented on being interested in Veal Stock on my blog. The recipe that I used is here: http://carolcookskeller.blogspot.com/2008/04/veal-stock.html

    Veal stock is so much better then beef stock..totally different yet luscious stock. You will not be disappointed.

    I could not find Veal Shank bones so I used Veal neck bones and they made a gorgeous stock.

    Good luck!

    ReplyDelete
  13. What a fun time with your daughter. The chocolate mousse looks awesome too!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Carolyn - Bakespace TOTALLY rocks!!!

    Michelle - I know what you mean about looking forward to a movie. It had been 2 yrs since I had gone. I know you'll really enjoy Julie & Julia! And thank you so much for the link to the Veal Stock recipe :). I've heard great thinks about the stuff and am looking forward to trying it out.

    Patti - Babs rules! I'm so glad you stopped by :) We hardly get a chance to chat in BakeSpace. Maybe I should stop by BC once in a while to say hello :)

    Angie - My daughter and I had such a nice time. It's always fun to have a little girls night out.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hey Dani...Love your Blog and the pics of you and your daughter. so glad you got the opportunity to see the movie and get the VIP treatment...you deserve it! Everyone that won did! Babette and BakeSpace are Awesome...so glad we all found it! About your Chocolate Mousse....it looks Awesome too, I coan almost taste it! Hugs, Debbie

    ReplyDelete
  16. How nice for you!! Great freebies. Happy to hear you had a wonderful time. Mousse looks tasty too!

    ReplyDelete
  17. I love chocolate mousse and yours looks amazing!

    ReplyDelete
  18. I am jealous!!!!! The chocolate mousse looks fantastic.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Deb - you're sooo right! BakeSpace is awesome. I just found out today that I won a cookbook AND a cutting board. I'm sooo excited!!!

    Hi Donna - thanks :)

    Karina and Eric - Thank you...I hope you get a chance to try the recipe. It really is worth it!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Hi there, I received your link to your blog thru Babette's Facebook. My girlfriend and I also won tickets. We took 2 of our friends with us. What is funny is we thought we (besides one other girl) were the only girls there. The movie was a blast and I went out and bought the book the next day, along with "My Life in France" and another Julie Childs book. Although we did not get a goody bag and I think we were #20 in line. I am now motivated to try 2 new things a week and so far I have.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Hi Darlene - I'm so glad you stopoed by. Thats so hilarious cuz my daughter and I thought WE were the only girls there! LOL. Isn't it fun how motivating the movie and/or the book are? Just makes you wanna do SOMEthing!

    ReplyDelete

I apologize for having to use the word verification but you know how spammers are. All comments with links will be treated as spam. Thank you for visiting. I will do my best to return the visit.
Cheers!