Shockingly Simple

When I think of rich decadent desserts like chocolate mousse, I assume there must be some complicated work required to make it. Usually, I'm totally wrong.

Last night I made chocolate mousse in about 15 minutes while watching clips of Tina Fey on SNL. Incredibly easy. I just left it in the fridge over night and it was amazing. Try it. I swear, it's a cinch.

CHOCOLATE MOUSSE

• 8 oz dark chocolate
• 3 eggs
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 2 tsp rum
• 1 cup of cream, whipped

1.) Melt chocolate in a small pot over boiling water.

2.) With electric beaters, beat eggs and sugar for 5 minutes.

3.) Fold chocolate and rum into eggs and sugar.

4.) Fold in whipped cream.

Spoon into ramekins or glasses and let chill in the fridge for at least 2 hours.

Unrelated

We went to the Italian Festival a few weekends ago. I was looking forward to cute children, happy people, funny stuff, gnocchi, tiramisu, and espresso. Unfortunately, the festival was pretty lame. The thing that saved it: I convinced Sam to join the pasta eating contest! Very amusing.

Yummy in my tummy. That's right. I said it.

It's been a while. Does anyone still read this?

Anyway, I just made a glorious pizza. Basic pizza dough, with homemade pasta sauce on top, a slices of fresh mozzarella, followed by chopped spinach that had been sauteed with garlic, and topped with a whole container of feta. Yum.

Dessert: I'm whipping up a batch of gingerbread people. I made soft gingerbread cookies a while ago and LOVED them but the hubby prefers a harder ginger snap or ginger person, so I'm giving this recipe a go. The dough is sitting in the fridge until morning, so we'll see what happens then.

While cooking, you should listen to archived episodes of This American Life so you're never left waiting for the next week's episode to come out as a podcast. Wonderful public radio.

Enjoy your weekend, mystery readers!

Bicycles, Aubergines, and Lounging

Sam was making eggplant parmesan for dinner. YUM. A baked version. Baked is almost always better than fried.

Anyway, he didn't have the parmesan, so I hopped on my bike and rode to the grocery store to stock up on produce, spices, and the always essential orange juice. SO much better than sitting in traffic. The weather was great; very pleasant ride overall. I think it's funny that now that gas is always on the rise people act like it's not so crazy to ride your bike. The idea that a young adult would ride her bike for the sheer joy and convenience would still seem crazy to most... I think.

Anyway, eggplant parmesan, Moosewood Cookbook Page 132 style: Yummy.

Don't be fooled by the gross Olive Garden version. This was a million times better than what you'd get in most restaurants. Try it!

Someone typed out the recipe here if you don't already have this cook book.

Fall is now official!

...and that means acorn squash.

Acorn squash is the most delicious squash on earth. You can stuff it with anything and it will taste wonderfully. Usually we make a filling of bread crumbs, cheddar, celery, onions, sunflower seeds, and some stuff that I'm forgetting at the moment. This time, I tried a variation of apples, brown rice, sauteed onions, garlic, cinnamon, allspice, honey, and almonds. Yum. I like our classic version better but this is still very savory and satisfying.

Cut the squash in half, place it upside down on a greased baking sheet, and cook for 30 minutes at 350. Take it out, fill the squash, bake again for 20-30 minutes.

And for dessert, it doesn't get more autumnal than pumpkin pie!

Magazines Motivate Me

I have been feeling a little ornery and off-kilter the last few days.

How will I deal with this? Magazines.

1.) I subscribed to Vegetarian Times because I WANT IT and it will hopefully make me happy repeatedly and provided recipes for good food that will make me happy.

2.) Look at Runner's World Online. Be inspired to get my but in gear. I need endorphins to make me happy. The left-over birthday pizza I just ate will not accomplish the same feat.

Today's run of choice: Bike ride the mile from home to Hermann Park and run at least the 2.5 mile loop. Now I feel accountable and will actually follow through...

Disasters and Successes

I am in love with this cookbook. That is decided.

However, I have had one disappointment with it so far. After an exhausting day at work on Thursday, I was excited to try another new recipe. I waited in Houston traffic to get to the grocery store to get fresh spinach, stayed on my feet when I got home so I could clean the kitchen, diced and spiced, and made Spinach Rice Casserole (Pg 135). When I took the first bite, I wasn't a big fan. By the fourth bite, I no longer wanted dinner. When Sam packed the left-overs in my lunch on Friday, I ended up eating a lunch of brownies and apple slices instead.

Even though I disliked that recipe, I ADORED another. There's this darling cafe down the street where you can get heavenly white chocolate bread pudding for $7. I've often wondered if I could pull off the same divinity at home. Yesterday, I did! The oatmeal raisin bread that I didn't eat fast enough transformed into one of the easiest and tastiest desserts that I have made to date. And please, realize that when I say easy, I mean it. All I had to do was cut up the bread, put it in a pan, mix together eggs milk and some spices, and pour that stuff over the bread. I think it took 5 minutes total. Glorious. Plus, all the ingredients together for an entire pan probably cost me about $2. Good savings and great food.


WHITE CHOCOLATE BREAD PUDDING

3 to 4 packed cups cubed bread (OK if stale or frozen)
3 eggs
3 cups skim milk
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 cup white chocolate chunks

Preheat oven to 350. Have ready a 9x13 inch baking pan.
Spread the bread in the pan. Sprinkle white chocolate in along with the bread.
Beat together remaining ingredients. Pour the custard over the bread.
Sprinkle with nutmeg and cinnamon.
Bake about 35 minutes.
Eat warm with vanilla ice cream and/or strawberry slices.