CHOCLAT SIN #16

SO MARCH IS FINISHED...that was fast!  Here we had the whole enchilada of weather..snow, a heat wave..yes really!! Into the 70's, I actually peeled off my scarf, gloves, hat, winter bundling..went semi-delirious , flung myself into springtime..really saw an overheated young thing wearing a strapless dress..they do that (the young) because nature calibrates them.  I'm long since on a chillier thermastat, so I can either sneer at her or just be envious.

And then the torrents of rain sloshed the Eastern seaboard, and cars and pups and lawns bobbed along as if they were born to float.  And I decided to not ever go out again, at least until I'd eaten my last strand of pasta and had noticable chocolate withdrawal.  Now, today...brightness sailed in through my window..so we had endured the wettest March EVER!!  Not exactly 40 days and 40 nights, but enough to attract me back to prayer. And now out of chocolate..uh oh..time to venture forth...this is what I'll be preparing, the reward for having survived March!! And it is Wednesday, my chocolate day... because!  So please join me...


CHOCOLATE SOUFFLES/ FUDGE SAUCE

Souffle

cooking spray
1/2 cup plus 2 tbls. sugar, divided
3 tbls. all-purpose flour 
3 tbls. unsweetened cocoa
1/8 tsp. salt
1 1/4 cups fat free milk
3 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 large egg yolk
6 egg whites

SAUCE

1 tbls. butter
1/3 cup sugar
2 tbls. unsweetened cocoa
1 tbls. all purpose flour
1/2 cup fat free milk
1/2 ounce bittersweet chocolate, chopped

Preheat oven to 425 deg..  Position oven rack to the lowest position.

For souffles, lightly coat 6 (8 oz.) souffle dishes  with cooking spray.  Sprinkle with 2 tbls. sugar and set aside.

Combine remaining 1/2 cup sugar, 3 tbls. flour, 3 tbls. cocoa, and salt in a med. saucepan over med.-high heat, stirring with a wisk.  Gradually add 1 1/4 cups milk, stirring constantly with wisk.  Bring to a boil.  Cook 2 min. or until slightly thick, stirring constantly.  Remove from heat.  Add 3 oz. chocolate, stir until smooth.  Transfer mixture to a large bowl, cool to room temperature.  Stir in vanilla and egg yolk.

Place egg whites in a large mixing bowl, beat at high speed with a mixer until stiff peaks form.  Gently fold 1/4 of egg whites into chocolate mixture.  Gently fold in remaining egg white mixture.  Tap dishes on counter to level mix.  Place dishes on a baking sheet, place baking sheet on the bottom rack.  Immediately reduce temp. to 350 deg. Bake 40 min. or until a wooden pick inserted in the side of the souffle comes out clean.

To prepare sauce, melt butter in a small saucepan over med. heat.  Add 1/3 cup sugar, 2 tbls. cocoa, and 1 tbls. flour, stir with a wisk.  Gradually add 1/2 cup milk, stirring well, bring to a boil.  Cook 1 min. or until slightly thick, stiring constantly.  Remove from heat.  Add 1/2 ounce chocolate, stirring till smooth.  Serve warm with souffles.


http://www.minblu.blogspot.com/
http://twitter.com/lynxny

Dream...

DREAMING
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Some dreams seem real,
a landscape where I blithely walk.
I had such a vision last night,
someone knocked at my door,
itself a gilt rococo rhombus,
splintering from age,
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its scrolls and cliche' angels interwoven
and my friend Mary beckoned for me
to follow her to the door down the path,
which I did.
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I found a portal, not too embellished,
knocked and waved to my friend
Jim, whose undulating tresses
flowed seductively
as the hair of a satyr should.
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A real surprise,
but it was he, true enough
and not symbolic,
with a stance imperial,
like an ambassador-at-large
for mischief.
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I should have known all along.
In my real life he's gone for good,
and my question is,
is my dream about yearning?
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Wednesday's dream was another story,
all symbolic.
I had no form,
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I seemed to be a sliver of paper,
scribbled upon
then crunched in a clenched fist
and thrown to the ground
where a gust of wind sent me airborne.
x
And my question is,
is my dream about longing?
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http://www.minblu.blogspot.com/
http://twitter.com/lynxny

CHOCLAT SIN..#1

I WAS BORN ON A WEDNESDAY, AND HEARD AT A VERY EARLY AGE THAT WEDNESDAY'S CHILD IS FULL OF WOE. I've tried to dispel this image by acting as if I were Saturday's child instead. And for my own gratification, I've gone overboard in the matter of chocolate. Reliable , never failing chocolate. I have rewarded myself for having been born on a Wednesday in the best way I know.
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I intend to devote Wednesdays to chocolate recipes, and I'll call these posts "Choclat Sin". I hope you try and enjoy the recipes I post!
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Chocolate Bread Pudding
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4 cups milk
4 eggs
1 /2 cup sugar
6 tbls. butter or margarine
12 ounces semisweet chocolate chips
1 tbls. vanilla extract
1 loaf white bread, crusts trimmed
pinch of salt
1 cup coarsely chopped pecans
1 pint heavy cream, whipped
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Whisk the milk, eggs, salt and sugar in saucepan. Add butter and 1 cup chocolate chips and heat over low heat, stirring till chocolate melts. Stir in vanilla. Cut the bread into 1 1/2 inch cubes. Lightly coat 13 x 9 in. baking dish with cooking spray or butter. Place bread in dish and pour sauce over. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or more, until all is absorbed. Heat oven to 325 deg. F. Remove plastic, sprinkle remaining chocolate chips and chopped pecans on top and bake for 45-50 min. or until set. Let stand 10 minutes. Serve warm with whipped cream. Serves 8.