Strawberry Mousse and Whipped Cream

In case you’re not familiar with the strange looking white gadget behind the strawberry mousse, it's a Cream Whipper. It makes delicious whipped cream, mousses, flavoured toppings, garnishes or foams in seconds. Perfect for topping cakes, coffees, milkshakes and desserts. You can create the lightest, fluffiest whipped cream in an instant – leave it plain or add flavourings, from simple vanilla to whatever else you fancy! You can even make a dairy-free, healthier alternative to whipped cream using coconut milk.

You can also use a cream whipper to infuse alcohol with all kinds of flavours and herbs – ideal for cocktails!


Strawberry Mousse
Serves 3-4 depending on the size of the glasses

400g strawberries
75g icing (powdered) sugar
150ml double cream

1. Hull the strawberries and set aside 6-8 to decorate the mousse.
2. Whizz the rest of the strawberries in a blender or use a stick blender until you have a liquid strawberry puree. Sieve the puree to remove the seeds.
3. Add the sieved icing sugar and whizz again to blend.
4. Add the cream and stir together gently (do not blend)
5. Pour the mixture into the Cream Whipper, closing the top firmly, screw on the nozzle of your choice, then apply the gas as per the instructions that come with the whipper. 
6. Shake the mixture gently and fill glasses or bowls with the mousse by compressing the lever.
7. Top with the remaining strawberries.

Labels: cream, Cream Whipper, Discount Cream, infuse, Mousse, strawberry, Strawberry Mousse

posted by Janice @ 20:00 7 Comments

Heartbroken Valentine - A Hotel Chocolat Review

"Open your HEART to me. Feel the rush of true love as our milk chocolate heart opens up to reveal the dreamy chocolates hidden inside" 

The subtle and chic charcoal box decorated with graceful white feathers, revealing beneath a glimpse of  pillar-box red base, hinting at the passionate contents...I raised the lid with great anticipation and -  sharp intake of breath - my heart was shattered in a thousand pieces (gross exaggeration, but it was pretty smashed up) I was so disappointed, indeed heartbroken.



You may have noticed that some of the the chocolate is missing, there certainly isn't enough there to make up the two halves of the heart.  In my heartbroken state there was only one thing I could do...EAT IT!   In my defence, you wouldn't have been able to see the cute little chocolate hearts in the photo if I hadn't:  Dark Mousse, Lemon Berry Tart, Strawberry Swoon and Caramel Praline.  My favourite would have to be Lemon Berry Tart, lovely tart lemon taste against the sweetness of the white chocolate, it was just divine.

The milk chocolate shell
The milk chocolate of the heart shell was okay, but not the best milk chocolate I've tasted, and given that this little baby costs £25 for 255g of chocolate, I think it's time Hotel Chocolat upped their game on the quality of their milk chocolate.  Generally I prefer dark chocolate and any Hotel Chocolat dark chocolate products I've reviewed in the past have been excellent.

About the breakage
I was genuinely very surprised to find this chocolate was broken. As I said, I've reviewed a few different chocolate products for Hotel Chocolat and never had any problems with breakages.  The box was well packaged and there were no obvious signs of the package having been damaged in any way.  However,  if I was disappointed when I opened the box and found the heart all broken, just think how unromantic it would be to receive a damaged gift for Valentine's Day.

Overall
I think this chocolate gift is overpriced, the milk chocolate shell does not make me swoon and although the heart shaped chocolates are very nice, you could find similar quality for a lower price or more chocolates for the same price.  If you do like Hotel Chocolat milk chocolate and are determined to 'give your heart' to your loved one,  I would suggest you buy it from the shop rather than online, ask to check that it is intact before leaving the shop, to be sure that your lover 'feels the rush of true love' and you don't end up with a broken heart on Valentine's Day. 

I was sent these chocolates for review, I was not paid to give a good review, my opinions are my own.

Labels: chocolate, Hotel Chocolat, Mousse, Praline, review, tart, Valentine's Day

posted by Janice @ 08:00 4 Comments