Sunday, November 4, 2007

Together For Dessert / Ensemble Pour Le Dessert

Coconut and Chocolate Mousse


Men and women are completely different.

While it would take hours to outline what set us apart, from the emotional part to the every day life part, I thought I would only highlight this typically masculine aspect that can sometimes drive a lady crazy: Not paying attention to details; at least when we want them to.

Men can’t understand how details are important to us. Take telling a story for instance: ladies attach more importance to details than to the main story.
You would more likely draw our attention if you said how your cousin’s daughter met her soon to be husband then by just saying that she is getting married.
And you would more likely get a sweet hug if you have noticed how fresh we are after our facial then by saying: “You look pale. Is everything all right?”

Men, on the other hand go from the main story and pause for a minute, leaving you jaw dropped to your counter top and begging him to turn off that TV and go on with the story. They then continue and finish the story suddenly without warnings. And you are here waiting for something juicier to happen, something he might have forgotten: “And…?” “And what? That’s it!”

But what men never seem to overlook and what they always rave about for hours and hours is The Dessert. You can make them a mean roasted chicken with some delicious roasted vegetables, he would always say at the end of the meal: “you know what would be perfect after this? A nice chocolate mousse.”

After all, dessert is supposed to be what everyone would remember after a nice dinner, even when you are a man.

Coconut


Chocolate and Coconut Mousse

Recipe: Serves 4
- 8 oz Bittersweet chocolate (62%), chopped
- ½ cup unsweetened coconut milk
- 2 egg yolks
- 4 egg whites, at room temperature
- 3 tbsp granulated sugar
- 2 tbsp sweetened coconut flakes

In a saucepan, melt the chocolate with ¼ cup of the coconut milk following the Bain Marie technique.
Beat the egg yolks with the sugar until pale and thick. Add the remaining coconut milk and the melted chocolate, and whisk until well incorporated.
Beat the egg whites to a medium peak.
Using a rubber spatula, fold one-fourth of the beaten egg whites into the chocolate mixture to lighten it. Then gently fold in the remaining whites just until no white streaks remain.
Heat a small sauté pan. Add the coconut flakes and toast them until lightly golden without stopping stirring. Invert into a small plate.
Divide the mousse evenly among the prepared ramekins or pots. Sprinkle the coconut flakes on top of each pot and chill for at least 3 hours before serving it.

Choco, Coco Mousse


Mousse au Chocolat et Noix de Coco

In francais please: Pour 4 personnes
- 200g de chocolat noir à 62%
- 125ml de lait de coco, non sucre
- 2 jaunes d’oeuf
- 4 blancs d’oeufs
- 3 c.s de sucre en poudre
- 2 c.s de flacons de noix de coco, sucre

Dans une casserole, faites fondre le chocolat, avec la moitié du lait de coco au bain-marie.
Battre les jaunes d’oeuf avec le sucre jusqu’a ce que le mélange devienne pale et mousseux. Ajouter le reste du lait de coco et le chocolat fondu et continuer a mélanger.
Battre les blancs en neige. Eviter de trop les batter ou ils deviendront graineux.
Faites chauufer une petite poele. Ajouter les flacons de noix de coco et faites dorer sans cesser de remuer. Retirer du feu et mettre dans une assiette.
A l’aide d’une maryse, incorporer le quart des blancs en neige au chocolat pour l’alléger. Puis incorporer légerement le reste des blancs en neige jusqu’a ce que les blancs soit bien incorporés.
Mettre la mousse dans des ramequins ou des coupes et saupoudrer de flacons de noix de coco au centre des mousses. Mettre au frais au-moins 3 heures avant de servir.

22 comments:

Anh said...

Rose, about men and women, I can talk (complain) all days. But you know, the differences make life more interesting :)

Your chocolate mousse look really nice. I like the coconut mixture on top - very pretty!

Anonymous said...

pragmatism ... when we're waiting for a little poetry :)
Well, they're able to appreciate this perfect mousse, so ... ;) let's appreciate as well !

Cheryl said...

I was intrigued the minute I read your first sentence in this post. Aren't they just a lovely creature (I'm trying to be nice here).
Gorgeous mousse too.

winedeb said...

Men...well at least my SO will see me in the kitchen all day and know I am making something new. But no matter what I make, he always says, "gee Deb, that was great". Sometimes if I am trying something new on him he will say "gee Deb, that was great, but do we have to have it again?" I get the hint after that comment.
Your presentation is lovely Rose!

Anonymous said...

ah la fameuse mousse au chocolat !!comme tu le dis si bien le dessert favori des bonhommes ...why?? çà reste un mystère.elle doit ètre meilleure la tienne avec du lait de coco;je ne pourrais pas l'essayer;tant pis pour moi....je vais ètre obligée de venir la déguster sur place..eh oui;à bon entendeur salut!!!biz

Nora B. said...

Ho Rose, it's interesting that you say that. Before we started going on a no-dessert after dinner diet, my man always used to say something about dessert after a nice meal. Usually, he wants either crumble or molten choc fondant.

This mousse looks like a perfect sweet ending to a lovely meal.

Anita said...

Beautiful dessert! I find it interesting too that many guys will claim they are not fans of sweets, yet will complain if there's no dessert:)

virtual chef said...

Things do not always happen like this, but if everything ends in a mousse of chocolate...better!

Warda said...

- Anh, like the saying: "we can't live with them and can't live without them!"

- Marion, I am sorry if you were expecting poetry... I will make it up for you in my next post my dear friend. Have a wonderful week!

- Cheryl, I got the "nice" vibe from you the inute I read your comment. Glad you like the mousse.

- Deb, hahaha. You're funny. Your husband sure knows how to please a woman by always saying "that was great". And thanks for the mousse. You should try it on him some day.

- Mima, maintenant tu sais ce qu'il te reste a faire. Prendre le prochain billet et venir gouter a ma mousse au lait de coco.

- Nora, we try the no-dessert after dinner for time to time but he is always the first one to throw the towel. Crumble and molten choc isn't bad too. No wonder he misses them.

- Anita, that is absolutely right my dear.

- Virtual chef, I ask to see!!! If they aren't all the same, they all love a luscious mousse at the end of the meal.

Nabeela said...

lol...my husband would be just as happy if I made him a nice roast chicken and skipped dessert. Me, on the other hand, can't wait for dessert...and often eat it before dinner!

Anonymous said...

you know, can't speak for other guys out there, but my problem is just short-term memory. i just tend to remember the last thing that was consumed. then again, i also start some meals with ice cream so..

Deborah said...

Don't even get me started about the differences!! Although I'm sure that both my husband and I would agree that finishing a meal with a dessert like this would be a perfect ending!

Claude-Olivier Marti said...

Aie aie aie, ces hommes ;-) Les pires n'est ce pas ? En attendant, je comprends ton homme qui te réclame un dessert quand on voit comment tu les réussis ^^! biz

Aimée said...

I had to laugh at your oh-so-true after dinner comment about a nice dessert. Guys!
This mousse looks fabulous...now if only my hubby liked coconut!

Eva said...

That looks so tempting! Whilst I have a sweet tooth, I've got a real savoury man. However, something chocolaty always catches his attention. Gonna try this soon!

Warda said...

- Danny, you're funny. I recognize some habits familiar tome, like the ice cream part. But it's mostly me who does it.

- Deborah, yeah! dessert always tends to bring people together. Thanks.

- Claude, merci gentil Homme! n'allons pas a dire qu'ils sont les pires mais assez charmants a etudier. Specialement mon homme.

- Aimee, My husband just loves coconut. In fact you would give him anything with cocnut he would eat it.

- Eva, here I am the savory one while he has a sweet tooth. So I understand why "sweet sins" for your blog. I hope you will like it. Keep me informed please.

Patricia Scarpin said...

My husband is an alien, Rose - he doesn't like sweets!!!

I can make these for myself, anyway. ;)

Warda said...

- Patricia, you made me laugh...An alien? he sure is . I've never met a man who doesn't like sweets.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful, absolutely beautiful...This dessert could be my stimulent.

Anonymous said...

Hahaha, too true! My boyfriend once came back from dinner with his friend Brad, who had announced that he was "shopping for an engangement ring." But in terms of a story, that was IT! No details, nothing. I was like, "Give me something to work with!!" But at least we both would agree that this mousse looks delicious!

Warda said...

- Lydia, thank you very much. I am glad you like it.

Dana, see!! this is the kind of situations that would drive me crazy. But at least there is the dessert to ease our frustration. And to get the word out of their mouth too.

Anonymous said...

oh làlà j'adore ce mélange!
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