The elusive chocolate mousse recipe

You may recall my two posts on the two smorgasmeous chocolate mousses that I've had the pleasure of tasting in recent months....both times I asked for the recipe but forgot to follow-up so a few weekends ago when we went to visit my parents-in-law, I mentioned the elusive chocolate mousse recipe that all french women seem to know but choose-not-to or forget-to share. My mother-in-law, Fanny, looked at me and laughed....she went over to her cupboard and took out a 'tablette' of Nestle dessert chocolate, I looked at her puzzled... She turned the packet over and on the back is a recipe for 'Mousse au Chocolat'....duh of course, very subtle...

Ingredients:

• 1 Tablette of Chocolate, Nestle Dessert 200g, Chocolate Noir (I checked out the ingredients and it has 52% cacao)
• 6 Eggs
• Pinch of salt
• Makes 6 portions, Prep time 20 mns, Refrigerate for 3 hours

1. Melt the broken pieces of chocolate in a big pot or over low heat. When it is completely melted, stir gently until smooth. Remove from heat and let cool.

2. Break the eggs, separating the yolks from the whites. Add salt to the whites and beat them until stiff.

3. Slowly pour melted chocolate over the egg yolks, stirring vigorously.

4. Stir gently 1 / 3 of beaten egg whites with a spatula and then add the rest gradually lifting the preparation from the bottom up to evenly distribute the chocolate without hitting the white.

5.  Let the mousse sit for at least 3 hours in refrigerator.  Serve chilled (Servez bien frais).

Recipe courtesy of Nestle Desserts - for more great recipes visit the Nestle Dessert site