After snowing on Friday, the weather here in New England is finally turning around. Birds are chirping, leaves are budding and most of the snow has melted. It’s beginning to warm up in the afternoon but evenings are still cold. It’s definitely chocolate weather and this decadent chocolate mousse cake is the perfect complement to the seasonal transition.
Last night we snuggled up with hot tea and the chocolate cake and began watching Colin Firth in Pride & Prejudice. The film is several DVDs in length but so far it’s excellent. I love the sets, the costumes, the dialogue and the scenery. It makes me wish I could visit the English countryside.
It’s sort of funny but this morning I picked up the book, “The Making of Pride and Prejudice” which was included in boxed DVD set and began reading.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining about being from the United States and I love living in New England, but every once in a while I read something about American behavior that makes me cringe. When the population of ones country exceeds 300 million, someone is bound to do something to make one cringe (and of course, it’s publicized).
Instead of talking about it, I’ll simply share what I read with you. Hopefully you will cringe too.
When the producers of Pride & Prejudice were working on the film, many Americans offered to invest. One potential backer called from New York. This is the conversation as described by producer Susan Birtwistle (in the Making of Pride & Prejudice (1995) p. 12.)
“We’re very interested in putting 1 million pounds into Pride & Prejudice. Can you tell me who’s written it?”
Assuming that, if they were prepared to invest so much money, they would have already read the book and just wanted to know who had adapted it, I said: “Andrew Davies,” and then added as an afterthought: “from the novel.”
“Novel? What novel?”
“Er…the novel. By Jane Austen.”
“How are you spelling that?”
“A.U.S.T.E.N.”
“Is she selling well?”
“Er…yes. Very well.”
“How many copies has she sold?”
“You mean altogether?”
“Yeah. Since publication.”
“Since…er…1813?”
There was a long pause. “You mean she’s dead?” (Another pause.) “So she wouldn’t be available for book signings?”
It’s like the time I found out they had to change the name of the film “King George III” to “The Madness of King George” because the Americans they surveyed thought it was a sequel.
Cake anyone?
Decadent Chocolate Mousse Cake
I. Dark Chocolate Ganache
1 cup heavy cream
2 tsp. corn syrup
1 tb. butter
12 oz. bittersweet chocolate
1/2 cup of crushed chocolate cookies, your choice
Combine cream and corn syrup in a small saucepan and bring to boil.
Pour over chocolate and stir.
Let sit for 2 minutes. Add butter and stir.
Pour half of the ganache into a bowl and mix with the crushed cookies.
Pour the ganache/ cookie mixture into a bottomless rectangular mold on a silpat lined tray, spread out evenly and refrigerate until firm. Save the other half for the mousse recipe below.
II. Once recipe for pate a bombe found here.
III. Dark Chocolate Mousse (adapted from Cannelle et Vanille)
Remaining chocolate ganache, warm and melted.
3 oz. pate a bombe
2 sheets gelatin soaked in cold water
1 3/4 c cream whipped into stiff peaks
Rigorously stir 3 oz. of the bombe into the remaining melted ganache until thoroughly incorporated and set aside.
Use hands to gently squeeze the water out of the softened gelatin. Place in tiny dish and microwave for about 7 seconds until just melted.
Slowly add melted gelatin to the warm mousse/bombe mixture stirring very rigorously with each addition. Use a metal spoon. You need to do this so that the gelatin does not get stringy in the mousse mixture. When done give the mixture the once over with a whisk until perfectly smooth.
Add 1/2 cup of whipped cream to mousse/bombe/gelatin mixture and stir well. Return to whipped cream bowl and push the whipped cream off to the side leaving a space at the edge of the bowl. Pour the chocolate mixture into the space and gently fold the chocolate into the whipped cream until no streaks remain.
III. Milk Chocolate Mousse
The recipe is the same for the Dark Chocolate Ganache and Mousse. Simply substitute good quality milk chocolate.
IV. Chocolate glaze from Martha
V. Assemble the cake. On top of the now firm bittersweet ganache add a layer of milk chocolate mousse. Chill until set. Add a layer of dark chocolate mousse. Chill until set. Add a layer of milk chocolate mousse. Chill until set. Carefully remove the mold. Glaze with chocolate. Garnish with dark chocolate shavings and cut into rectangles.
Bon appetit!
Diana
3 April
Wow – that cake (and Jane Austen) is divine! MUST make this.
Mimi
3 April
PBS did a series The Complete Austen, it was really fabulous like your chocolate mousse cake.
Mimi
Liz
3 April
I think a lovely slice of your mousse cake is completely needed after reading about the ineptitude of some of our fellow Americans.
Fresh Local and Best
3 April
I’m smirking at the ridiculousness of the phone call. I’ve decided that there is no escape, idiots exist everywhere and in every stratosphere of economic class. And the popularity of reality TV has not only revealed how common this ineptitude is, but has encouraged it.
I love the layers of decadence combined in this chocolate mousse cake. I am hoping that the weather continues to warm up. I’m itching to get out, who knows I might do cart wheels over the next few weeks. 😉
Asha @ FSK
3 April
LOL LOL.. I know it’s really sad.. especially as a book lover, I find there exist people who do not even know the real classics, even with all the plastering that B&N does.. nevertheless, thanks for the laugh!!:-))) I got cramps laughing LOL LOL
on a completely different note, that cake… simply beyond words! stunning and crazy gorgeous!
Janet
3 April
I laughed so hard when I read this. I did cringe. It’s shameful and embarrassing but there are idiots everywhere!!! Stunning cake and pics!
Confessions of a Gourmand
3 April
Your pictures are so cool. I love the styling and approach you took. The cake looks fabulous too.
Here’s my secret. I absolutely love Colin Firth. I ordered the dvd after reading this because would you believe I’ve never seen it??!!!! Your reaction was spot on. I cringed too!!!
Anonymous
3 April
wow. Your photos are incredible!
Xiaolu @ 6 Bittersweets
3 April
Wow I’m loving the dark setting and tones of these photos (especially the 3rd one). The cake looks amazing and so satisfying.
Rosa's Yummy Yums
4 April
That cake looks magnificent and so divine!
Cheers,
Rosa
Sylvie @ Gourmande in the Kitchen
4 April
Oh yes please, I need a slice after reading that! Really?! I guess we shouldn’t be surprised, if you aren’t a celebrity or a reality TV star now days no one’s heard of you. So sad.
Meeta K. Wolff
4 April
you are a temptress! I have been drooling over this all morning! I love the BBC series and own the DVDs – have seen it about 100 times! Colin Firth maker the perfect Mr. Darcy! Jane Austen is one of my favorite authors and I have ready all of her books many times over! perfect way to spend the evening!
My Little Expat Kitchen
4 April
I can’t believe there are so many ignorant people out there. It’s sad actually.
Your cake looks absolutely amazing El. A chocoholic’s dream!
Magda
Elisabet Figueras
4 April
Delicious cake for an amazing film. I love Jane Austen too!
Tadeja
4 April
I’m so very glad I found your blog. Beautiful recipes, stunning photos and interesting stories that accompany them.
And about Jane Austen and Pride and prejudice, Americans do not have a monopoly on ignorance and stupidity, every nation has its own 🙂 but money allows many good and bad things, among others, that the voice of someone’s stupidity comes before, faster and farther. : D
Chocolate mousse are one of my favorite sweet and yours , inspite of a touch of decadency, leaves without a word.
Debugcooking
4 April
woooo drooling all over looking at the cake and the tht of colin firth LOL ;-)Gorgeous clicks!
Sarah
4 April
Now that cake is a piece of art!
Anna
4 April
That cake looks gorgeous, rich and amazingly delicious. I am always so impressed with your mouth watering recipes, so beautiful.
SavoringTime in the Kitchen
4 April
It’s funny, I was just watching my precious DVR’d movie Sense & Sensibility last night. I never saw Colin Firth in Pride and Prejudice and will have to look for the DVDs.
What a stunning mousse cake! Just beautiful.
Nuts & Berries
4 April
I had to laugh when I read this post. Yes, I did cringe but I have tears streaming down my face from laughter especially over the sequel part. Your cake is gorgeous and dreamy just like Colin Firth!!!
Lindsay @eat,knit,grow
4 April
Oh wow! That looks insanely delicious!
Sharon
4 April
OMG. LOL. I totally get where ur coming from. Hilarious, embarrassing and clueless at the same time. Incredible cake photos too El!
veron
4 April
that cake looks definitely decadent! Oh my goodness, I cringed too. I’m from the Philippines and I know who Jane Austen was and about Pride and Prejudice.
Lynn @ I'll Have What She's Having
4 April
That conversation is hilarious. I can’t believe that really happened.
Your cake looks amazing. I can just taste the chocolate!
Irene
4 April
Omg…. yes, so cringeworthy!!!
That’s why I prefer never to read interviews with actors or “making ofs” because it just destroys the nice illusion! I read an interview with Matthew McFayden and he said that he never even read P&P. 🙁 I was never really motivated then to watch the 2005 version, knowing that he had no idea who his character was.
Yadi I.
4 April
Chocolate Mousse is my favorite. This one looks like a ‘must make’.
Juliana
4 April
Wow, this chocolate cake looks fantastic…what a torture not being able to taste it…perfect pictures as well. Have a great week!
lostpastremembered
5 April
It is a sad comment indeed but one that will become more frequent as students are forced more and more into specialized laserfocused study programs and away from liberal studies that open the world up.
This guy lives in the blindered world of numbers (as a film biz alum I know his type well). This is why we get remakes of cartoons. Half of the educated in US doesn’t read and doesn’t know anything that’s not new. I had an art department intern from Columbia U. who was a lit major who had never read Shakespeare!
However, your cake and divine photos are taking me away from all those bad thoughts to chocolate and the brilliant Colin Firth… I am feeling better already!
GrafixMuse
5 April
Oh Dear!! I cringed. Although your lovely photos made the unfolding story more bearable.
Dar
5 April
Love you photos and can’t wait to try that cake, maybe I’ll curl up too as I’m from Cape Cod. I have watched Pride and Prejudice a million times, Colin Firth never gets old to look at.. that story is hilarious, never knew.. I just told my american husband.. I like to rub it in a little.. 🙂
Nom!
5 April
This looks amazing! Everything thing you do with chocolate is increible~
Merisi
5 April
You had me chuckle about George II, “The Sequel”! Hilarious. 😉
The cake sounds delicious. And it looks so good, I wished I could just reach through the screen and …..
RamblingTart
5 April
Oh no! I’m laughing so hard. 🙂 What a hilarious and cringe-worthy letter. I remember my Canadian friends moving to Arizona for the winter, and the Americans really truly thought we all lived in igloos in Canada! 🙂 This cake is divine and how I love Pride and Prejudice. 🙂
Jen
5 April
I love Jane Austen novels and I love this cake.
Barbara
6 April
OMG. How discouraging is that conversation? I worry about us.
But not about this fabulous cake! Decadence personified!
Tina V.
6 April
Oh, my… The photos left me speechless…
Beautiful, beautiful dessert 🙂
Samantha
6 April
How I love your cake creation! P&P is really a fabulous movie. I bought the DVD and love it! I completely get your mortification about the comments and cringed myself. Oh well, stupid people are everywhere…… I only wish they weren’t so loud!!
ABowlOfMush
7 April
This looks so amazing! A mousse cake to die for!
Suzanne
7 April
Yum….beautiful and delicious!
Delish Dish
7 April
beautiful as always! I’ll have to find that DVD too.
Sara L.
7 April
Love it El! I’m drooling over the cake!!
for the love of a house
8 April
ohhh, that is painful. and sad.
now, the cake….that looks like perfection and would make me forget all about the silly Americans;)
happy weekend!
joan
elle marie
9 April
Decadent indeed!! I just adore those tags, they are cute, cute, cute… haha Laughing at FLB’s comment… idiots exist everywhere.. haha
Lisa
9 April
Each time I think I can no longer be shocked, something shocks me. Wow. Well, we know that the distribution of wealth is in no way tied to intelligence. : )
Indie.Tea
10 April
Imagine not having read Pride & Prejudice! Or Sense and Sensibility! What a shame…
On the other hand, the chocolate mousse looks divine.
Rebekah
10 April
Yikes, that is totally cringe-worthy! but your cake looks AMAZING! 🙂
Al Dente Gourmet
11 April
Oooh, This Cake look absolutely Heavenly, El. And I want to eat that slice right now :)What a great way to spend the evening–Wonderful shots 🙂
Have a great day,
Aldy.
Quay Po Cooks
11 April
This cakes look so yummy. Makes me drool. Lovely photos.
Jo
12 April
Gorgeous, gorgeous and definitely .. I want a slice!
Meredith
13 April
Yummy chocolate cake. Scary transcript!
Viviane Bauquet Farre - Food and Style
14 April
Decadent and stunning – as always dear El!
Rachael @ Tokyo Terrace
14 April
This is so beautiful! There is something so elegant about the layers and the rich mousse- lovely! And your STORY- oh my goodness. People amaze me…
Danielle
16 April
Oh. My. Both at the cake and your story, of course I much prefer the former. It looks like a daunting cake to make – I’ve yet to try making layered cakes – so I’ll just dream about yours for now 🙂
Also love the rough-edged paper/cardboard you used in these shots. Very cool!
Damaris @Kitchen Corners
19 April
hahaha what a great story and my goodness what a beautiful cake. I’m tempted to make it with white chocolate honey mousse. Should I or is white chocolate a foodie sin?
Have a lovely rest of your week