Daring Bakers’ Giugno: Pavlova al cioccolato

Eccomi! No tranquille, non mi hanno rapita gli alieni e nemmeno ho vinto la lotteria e sono scappata alle Hawaii… semplicemente non ho avuto connessione internet a casa per un lunghissimo e rilassante fine settimana! All’inizio ero piuttosto *infastidita* (eufemismo) da questo *piccolo* inconveniente, ma poi ho deciso di godermi questo weekend vecchio stile come si deve, cucinando, fotografando e giocando con una bisnipotina meravigliosa e cicciotta. Il risultato è un post del Daring Baker in enorme ritardo – scritto in Inglese, per di più, scusate – e corto come non mai, ma anche un sorriso più ampio del solito! Quindi,  godetevi e indulge yourself (vi ricordate?) in questa meravigliosa pavlova al cioccolato: sono ben felice di dividere con voi un assaggio di questo ma anche del mio stato d’animo rilassato, abbastanza insolito di lunedì mattina!

Ultima cosa, prima di lasciarvi con la ricetta, andate a vedere il mio guest post da Ilva di Lucullian Delights sui food props, tutti quei piattini, bicchierini, tovaglioli, chicchere e tazzine che si usano quando si scattano foto di cibo! Mi son davvero divertita ad andare a fondo su questo argomento, e per questo voglio ringraziare Ilva! Inoltre, come lei ha anticipato nel suo post, stiamo cercando di organizzare qualcosa per settembre, qualcosa legato alla fotografia… per il momento non vi dico altro, ma rimanete con le antenne attente!

The June 2010 Daring Bakers’ challenge was hosted by Dawn of Doable and Delicious. Dawn challenged the Daring Bakers’ to make Chocolate Pavlovas and Chocolate Mascarpone Mousse. The challenge recipe is based on a recipe from the book Chocolate Epiphany by Francois Payard.

Recipe 1: Chocolate Meringue (for the chocolate Pavlova):

3 large egg whites
½ cup plus 1 tbsp (110 grams) white granulated sugar
¼ cup (30 grams) confectioner’s (icing) sugar
1/3 cup (30 grams) cocoa powder

Directions:

1. Place a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 200º F (95º C) degrees. Line two baking sheets with silpat or parchment and set aside.
2. Put the egg whites in a bowl and whip until soft peaks form. Increase speed to high and gradually add granulated sugar about 1 tbsp at a time until stiff peaks form. (The whites should be firm but moist.)
3. Sift the confectioner’s sugar and cocoa powder over the egg whites and fold the dry ingredients into the white. (This looks like it will not happen. Fold gently and it will eventually come together.)
4. Fill a pastry bag with the meringue. Pipe the meringue into whatever shapes you desire. Alternatively, you could just free form your shapes and level them a bit with the back of a spoon. (Class made rounds, hearts, diamonds and an attempt at a clover was made!)
5. Bake for 2-3 hours until the meringues become dry and crisp. Cool and store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Recipe 2: Chocolate Mascarpone Mousse (for the top of the Pavlova base):

1 ½ cups (355 mls) heavy cream (cream with a milk fat content of between 36 and 40 percent)
grated zest of 1 average sized lemon
9 ounces (255 grams) 72% chocolate, chopped
1 2/3 cups (390 mls) mascarpone
pinch of nutmeg
2 tbsp (30 mls) Grand Marnier (or orange juice)

Directions:

1. Put ½ cup (120 mls) of the heavy cream and the lemon zest in a saucepan over medium high heat. Once warm, add the chocolate and whisk until melted and smooth. Transfer the mixture to a bowl and let sit at room temperature until cool.
2. Place the mascarpone, the remaining cup of cream and nutmeg in a bowl. Whip on low for a minute until the mascarpone is loose. Add the Grand Marnier and whip on medium speed until it holds soft peaks. (DO NOT OVERBEAT AS THE MASCARPONE WILL BREAK.)
3. Mix about ¼ of the mascarpone mixture into the chocolate to lighten. Fold in the remaining mascarpone until well incorporated. Fill a pastry bag with the mousse. Again, you could just free form mousse on top of the pavlova.

Recipe 3: Mascarpone Cream (for drizzling):

1 recipe crème anglaise
½ cup (120 mls) mascarpone
2 tbsp (30 mls) Sambucca (optional)
½ cup (120 mls) heavy cream

Directions:

1. Prepare the crème anglaise. Slowly whisk in the mascarpone and the Sambucca and let the mixture cool. Put the cream in a bowl and beat with electric mixer until very soft peaks are formed. Fold the cream into the mascarpone mixture.

Recipe 4: Crème Anglaise (a component of the Mascarpone Cream above):

1 cup (235 mls) whole milk
1 cup (235 mls) heavy cream
1 vanilla bean, split or 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
6 large egg yolks
6 tbsp (75 grams) sugar

Directions:

1. In a bowl, whisk together the egg yolks and sugar until the mixture turns pale yellow.
2. Combine the milk, cream and vanilla in a saucepan over medium high heat, bringing the mixture to a boil. Take off the heat.
3. Pour about ½ cup of the hot liquid into the yolk mixture, whisking constantly to keep from making scrambled eggs. Pour the yolk mixture into the pan with the remaining cream mixture and put the heat back on medium. Stir constantly with a wooden spoon until the mixture thickens enough to lightly coat the back of a wooden spoon. DO NOT OVERCOOK.
4. Remove the mixture from the heat and strain it through a fine mesh sieve into a bowl. Cover and refrigerate until the mixture is thoroughly chilled, about 2 hours or overnight.

Assembly:
Pipe the mousse onto the pavlovas and drizzle with the mascarpone cream over the top. Dust with confectioner’s sugar and fresh fruit if desired.

Io non ho usato la crema al mascarpone in questa pavlova al cioccolato (l’ho usata in una pavlova bianca, altrettanto buona e golosa). Questo è stato l’unico cambiamento fatto, per il resto ho seguito le indicazioni alla lettera, e davvero la mia pavlova è risultata impressionante, troppo buona!Altro risultato è stato quello di farmi passare la paura delle meringhe, quindi celebriamo la nuova vita post meringhe!!! 😀

Related posts:

Mousse di cioccolato e peperoncino Tea Tiramisù – Tiramisù al tè nero Daring Bakers Challenge Agosto: Baked Alaska per un’amica (di penna) Oh la la, la mousse al cioccolato