Mon Cupcake

Since it started to rain.... again.... I decided to do something that I like a lot: baking cakes. I got a present the other day that contains a very nice cupcake recipe book, with 10 silicone cupcake molds and an icing syringe. It's a very cute giftset the only thing you need... is to understand French..... and luckily I do

I made their basic vanilla cupcake recipe (with a touch of cardamom) which is made only with egg whites, making the structure very light and fluffy. 

I still need to get used to using a syringe for decorative icing...but I think I did a nice job ....... 

for a beginner ;-) 

On top of the cupcake is a layer of pure chocolate and I made the icing with powder sugar and fresh raspberry juice giving its pink colour. Perfect to bright up a rainy day!

Time for dessert

And a dessert it is!
As you have already impressed your date with the delicious spare ribs, why not overly indulge him with this to good to be true chocolate mousse?

This is what you need:

250 gr dark chocolate
4 eggs
100 gr sugar
60 gr butter
4 tablesp. water

Start:
Chop the chocolate into small pieces. Then separate the eggs. In one bowl whisk the yolks, half of the sugar and the water into a foamy mixture. Put the bowl on top of a pan with slightly boiling water and whisk the mixture for about 3 minutes or till it reaches 55 Celsius.
Add the chocolate and the butter and mix till all the chocolate is melted and all is well mixed in. Take the bowl of of the pan.
In another bowl, beat the egg whites stiff and mix in the sugar while whisking. Keep whisking until all is stiff and shiny.
Stir one third of the egg whites into the chocolate mix. Then carefully blend in the rest of the egg whites until it is equally coloured.  Divide the mixture over 6 nice cups, bowls or glasses and leave it in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours.   Garnish with strawberries, raspberries or any fruit you think would be nice.

Enjoy!!!!

Chocolate Fondue

Last week I was happily surprised when one of my close friends (who lives in Spain) was in Amsterdam and invited me for a chocolate fondue at www.tazzina.nl  on the Brouwersgracht 139.
Not only did the quality of the chocolate (so pure and thick, yummy!!) put a huge smile on my face, also the amount of fresh fruits, marshmellows and home made (!) nougat made that smile even bigger.

This espressobar is very small yet very cosy. It has a small terrace where, in the summer,  you can sit for hours watching small boats passing by through the canal..... After my tummy was filled with all that chocolate, there was unfortunately no more room for me to throw in some other delicious looking sandwhiches/pastries/chocolates/coffees so I definitely have to go back soon!!!