Monday, May 07, 2007
Make something chocolaty for Mom
Chocolate treats are enjoyable anytime, but they make an especially nice surprise on Mother’s Day. Whether you want to try something new and unique or something a little easier, you rarely can go wrong with chocolate.
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Chocolate Hazelnut Fruit Crepes
1 cup chocolate hazelnut spread, such as Nutella
4 crepes (recipe follows)
4 bananas, sliced
Whipped cream
Spread 1/4 cup of chocolate hazelnut spread onto each crepe. Arrange 1 sliced banana down the center of each one. Roll up, and place in a warm skillet over medium heat. Let them warm up for about 90 seconds. Transfer to plates, and serve topped with whipped cream. Makes 4 servings.
Crepes
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup water
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons butter, melted
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour and the eggs. Gradually add in the milk and water, stirring to combine. Add the salt and butter; beat until smooth.
Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium-high heat. Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 1/4 cup for each crepe. Tilt the pan with a circular motion so that the batter coats the surface evenly. Cook each crepe until the bottom is light brown, about 2 minutes. Loosen with a spatula, turn and cook the other side. Makes 4 servings.
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Chocolate Mousse Cake
1 18.25-ounce package chocolate cake mix
1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
2 1-ounce squares unsweetened chocolate, melted
1/2 cup cold water
1 3.9-ounce package instant chocolate pudding mix
1 cup heavy cream, whipped
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare and bake cake mix according to package directions for two 9-inch layers. Cool and remove from pans. In a large bowl, mix together sweetened condensed milk and melted chocolate. Gradually stir in the water, then instant pudding until smooth. Chill for at least 30 minutes.
Remove the chocolate mixture from the refrigerator, and stir to loosen. Fold in whipped cream and return to the refrigerator for at least another hour.
Place one layer of cake onto a serving plate. Top with 1-1/2 cups of the mousse, then cover with the remaining cake layer. Frost with the remaining mousse, and refrigerate until serving. Garnish with fresh fruit or chocolate shavings if desired. Makes 14 servings.
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Pantry Pointers
When melting chocolate to use as an ingredient in baked goods, cool the chocolate before adding to other ingredients unless the recipes specifies otherwise.
The Practical Pantry ©2007 Tammy P. Olson
http://www.practicalpantry.com