At last, something useful! Please continue..........
All righty then.
I will now reveal the secret of
Chocolate Paradise, formerly available only to the highest initiates:
Truffle Layer:
1/2 cup of Crème Fraîche (or regular heavy cream if you don't want to be all fancy)
12 oz. Dark Chocolate (use very high quality, 70% cocoa, chocolate
3/4 cups Cocoa Powder (the highest quality you can find) (this is optional. If you put this in, it will be very chocolatey but not very sweet at all.)
2 tbsp. Butter
How to Make It:
1. Break chocolate into small pieces and put in a large bowl.
2. Bring cream slowly to an almost-simmer. WATCH CAREFULLY!
3. Pour cream over chocolate and keep stirring until all the chocolate has melted and the batter is nice and even. You can also do this entire thing over a double boiler, and it might be a better idea.
4. Add butter.
Pour truffle layer into a pan. A sacrificial golden platter dedicated to the Mayan Goddess Ixtab, the goddess of the Hanged, She who receives their souls into paradise, would be most appropriate. A glass Pyrex baking dish also works. Put in the fridge.
Chocolate Mousse Layer:
4 to 8 ounces semisweet chocolate, finely chopped. Use the BEST chocolate you can find. 6 oz. can be a good amount.
2 tablespoons butter, diced
Add 2 tablespoons espresso or very strong coffee if you like. You may want to sweeten this if you do use it.
1 cup heavy cream, separated-- make sure it's cold.
3 large eggs, separated. Use organic eggs if you like.

1 tsp. vanilla.
A few tbsp. of powdered sugar, optional
.5 Have eggs at room temperature. Separate yolks and whites. Put whites in metal bowl (copper is best).
1 Whip the cream to soft peaks, then refrigerate.
2 Combine the chocolate, butter, and espresso in the top of a double boiler over hot, but not simmering, water, stirring frequently until smooth. Add 1/2 tsp of the vanilla here. Remove from the heat and let cool a bit. Not too much.
Whip the egg whites to soft peaks. You can whip in a tablespoon or so of sugar if you like, but I don't like this mousse too sweet.
Stir the yolks into the chocolate and stir in about a fourth of the whipped cream. Stir in part of the egg whites without worrying about folding them in too much, then fold in the remaining whites more carefully, and then the remaining whipped cream. Whip the additional 1/2 cup of cream at this point and keep in the fridge. Many people like to add a couple of tablespoons of powdered sugar to this, and a 1/2 tsp. of vanilla.
Take out the truffle pan, murmuring invocations to the gods, and pour in the mousse mixture. Chill for at least a few hours, covered with plastic wrap.
Remove from fridge. Top with more whipped cream and chocolate shavings, if desired. Serve with raspberries and dedicate to the Goddess Innanna in an integral part of sacred temple ceremonies involving mystical fertility rites. Alternately, serve as a snack while watching the season finale of
Jersey Shore with friends.
Either way, you will see visions of truth and enter new realms of consciousness.
