“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.”
Charles Dickens
Another year draws to a close, merging easily from 2011 into a spanking new 2012. A time-line crossed with celebrations, yet a day like any other. For me, a fulfilling year, one with challenges galore {read pre-teen and teen challenges}, minutes disappearing into days, always a lack of time, yet always time for good food! Raising a toast to a wonderful 2012 for all of you … with these delectable White & Dark Chocolate Desserts with Strawberries. These are on par with the chocolate covered strawberries that everyone loves to eat.I look back at my blog with satisfaction, with loads of retrospective thoughts, with knowledge that I could have done better, and with happiness at some stuff well done. I loved 2011 for macarons, for fruit like strawberries, for chocolate, for cakes, for bread, for #applelove … for friends galore, and for some small recognition in the local media.A fulfilling journey in every way, a happy learning curve as always but in the end a humbling feeling to hear from my readers. I am honoured to share a few of the words that came into my inbox from day to day this year, a peep at a few … This is what makes PAB so worthwhile for me. You have inspired me through the years.Some days I feel pressurised and suddenly want a blog break, and then ‘that mail’ comes as sunshine to my world, bringing a huge smile on my face. These are words that spur me on, the ‘fuel‘ for my blog, my inspiration …This post is for you dear readers, and for you, all you wonderful food bloggers, who keep my virtual world so inspired, so colourful and sinfully delicious. For the new year, I wish you all the happiness and peace in the world, good healthy food, loads of sunshine … and a goblet of sweetness, a dash of colour! THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart!No resolutions for me. This year I have tried to be more patient {have achieved it to quite an extent}, I have managed to train and tame a playful pup yet had less luck with taming the terrible teens, have enjoyed fruit of each season, have discovered a new found love for the humble aubergine, am still stuck on auto on the camera, have had less time on twitter … and am now ready for the new year!Clichéd as it may sound, hope the year brings more promise, more time as we have a full 365 days to begin with, better time management, yummy recipes and real time tête-à-têtes with my sweet blog pals. I traveled east quite a bit in 2011 {did Hong Kong a couple of times, Sydney, Tokyo}, and wish I can head to Nantes this year … maybe!Here’s wishing for another sweet year of good food, colour, inspiration, more savoury fare, more food for thought and maybe for the soul too! Hoping I have more time to bloghop and tweet … let the good times roll into the next year!Time for a little break, time to bake a cake as the ‘not so terrible anymore teen‘ turns 16 in a couple of days { the New Year is always busy here with her birthday on the 2nd of Jan}, a chocolate and strawberry cake for her is to be ‘produced’ on demand … and then I’ll be back!
Until then, I leave you with sweet wishes for a wonderful 2012! Usher in the year with a nice classy dessert, maybe like this, which is simple, delicious, eggless and can be made ahead. The white chocolate pairs beautifully with the dark, and the strawberries compliment the dessert beautifully. Serve it in fun individual wine glasses or goblets and ENJOY!!
[print_this]Recipe: White & Dark Chocolate Dessert with Strawberries
Summary: A classy combination of white and dark chocolate topped with a strawberry puree … easy and dramatic, leaves you asking for more! {Adapted from Divine Chocolate Desserts by Jose Marechal}
Prep Time: 30 minutes Total Time: 40 minutes Ingredients:
150gm dark chocolate, broken into pieces {55%+ couverture}
Strawberry Puree
300gm strawberries, chopped fine
2-3tbsp powdered sugar {increase/decrease as per tartness of strawberries}
Juice of 1 lime
1tbsp water
Method:
White Chocolate Mousse
Soften the gelatin in 1/4 cup water.
Bring 100ml cream to a simmering boil. Remove, stir in the gelatin mixture util dissolved and then pour over the white chocolate. Stir until the chocolate has melted. Cool to room temperature.
Whip the remaining cream to soft medium peaks, and gently fold into the white chocolate mixture.
Fill 1/2 of this in 6-8 serving glasses {less than half full} and leave to set in the fridge for an hour. Leave the remaining white chocolate mousse out at room temperature.
Meanwhile, make the Dark Chocolate Mousse.
Place the cream and dark chocolate in a heavy bottom pan and simmer until the chocolate has melted. Take off heat and whisk until smooth. Cool.
Distribute between dessert glasses and chill for 20-30 minutes, then top with the remaining white chocolate mousse.
Chill in the fridge for 1 hour, or until when required.
Make the Strawberry Puree.
Lightly crush the chopped strawberries with the powdered sugar with a fork until the strawberries release their juices. Mix in the rest of the ingredients and reserve in a bowl in the fridge. Distribute over the glasses before serving.
[/print_this]
#Welcome2012 Blog Hop. This virtual party is being hosted at Lite Bite.
