Ingredients:

o 2 cups milk

o 5 Tbsp sugar

o 2 Tbsp cornstarch

o 1 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa

o Pinch salt

o 1 bar (250 g) dark chocolate with espresso, broken up

o 1 tsp vanilla extract

o Garnish: lightly sweetened whipped cream, espresso beans, cinnamon

Method:

1. Whisk milk, sugar, cornstarch, cocoa and salt in a medium saucepan to blend. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Stir often with a whisk, going into corners of saucepan.

2. Boil 1 minute, whisking, until thickened. Remove from heat; stir in chocolate and vanilla until chocolate melts and mixture is blended.

3. Scrape into a bowl. Cover surface directly with plastic wrap. Chill at least 2 hours or until cold. Spoon pudding into small cups or bowls and garnish.

Ingredients:

(Yields about 6 dozen 3-5 cm triangles)

For the crust-

1-1/2 cups  all-purpose flour

3/4 cup  confectioners’ sugar

1/4 tsp. table salt

12 Tbs  cold, unsalted butter,cut into 10 pieces, more for the pan

1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract

For the filling-

500g  semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, broken into squares or very coarsely chopped

3/4 cup whole or 2% milk

8 Tbs.  unsalted butter, cut into 6 pieces

4 large eggs

2/3 cup granulated sugar

2 Tbs. Kahlúa

Method:

Make the crust-

Position an oven rack in the center of the oven and heat the oven to 180°C. Line the bottom and sides of a baking pan with foil, allowing foil to overhang the long sides of the pan to act as handles for removing the cookie later. Lightly butter the foil.

In a food processor, combine the flour, confectioners’ sugar, and salt.  Process the ingredients briefly to combine, about 15 seconds.  Scatter the cold butter pieces and the vanilla over the flour mixture and process, using short pulses, until the dough begins to form small clumps, 1 to 1-1/2 minutes.  Turn the dough into the prepared pan. Using lightly floured fingertips, press the dough into the pan in a smooth, even layer.  Bake until pale golden, especially around the edges, 22 to 25 minutes. Do not overbake or the crust will be hard and crispy. Transfer the pan to a cooling rack and lower the oven temperature to 160°C.

Make the filling-

In a medium bowl, melt the chocolate, milk, and butter together over a pot of barely simmering water or in the microwave. Whisk until smooth and set aside to cool slightly.

In a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment or in a large mixing bowl, using a hand-held electric mixer, beat the eggs, sugar, and Kahlúa on medium-high speed until foamy and lighter in color, 2 minutes. Reduce the speed to low and gradually add the chocolate mixture. Stop the mixer and scrape down the bowl and beater. Beat on medium speed until well blended, about 30 seconds.

Pour the chocolate batter over the baked crust and spread evenly. Bake until the sides are slightly puffed and a toothpick inserted near the center comes out wet and gooey but not liquid, 30 to 35 minutes. Transfer the pan to a rack. As it cools, the center may sink a bit, leaving the edges slightly elevated. While the filling is still warm, use your fingertips to gently press the edges down to the level of the center, if necessary.

When completely cool, cover with plastic and refrigerate until very cold, at least 12 hours or up to 2 days. To serve, using the foil as handles, lift the rectangle from the pan and set it on a cutting board. Tipping the rectangle, carefully peel away the foil. Using a hot knife, cut the rectangle lengthwise into 3cm strips, wiping the blade clean before each cut. Cut each strip on alternating diagonals to make small triangles. Let sit at room temperature for about 5 minutes before serving.

Note: You can bake these up to 1 month ahead: Wrap the cooled baking pan in heavy duty plastic wrap and freeze (no need to cut them into triangles first).The baked truffles can also be refrigerated, wrapped in plastic, for up to 2 days.

(recipe by Abigail Johnson Dodge)

Note:  Suitable to freeze. Not suitable to microwave.
Marsala is an Italian fortified wine. Kahlua, Tia Maria or Galliano could be substituted, if desired. Mascarpone is a fresh, thick, dairy product made from the heavy cream of cow’s milk, strained through a finely woven cloth. With the consistency of soft cream cheese, it has a delicately sweet, slightly sour taste.

This classic Italian dessert literally means ‘pick me up’, and it certainly does what it claims to do.

Ingredients:

• 4tbsp Marsala vine
• 150ml strong black coffee, cooled
• 2 eggs, separated
• 3tbsp caster sugar
• 250g mascarpone cheese
• 150ml double cream
• Grated dark chocolate or cocoa powder for dusting
• 3/4-1 packet of savouardi biscuits
  

Method:

Using an electric hand mixer, beat together the egg yolks and caster sugar until thick and pale. Beat in the mascarpone until it is smooth. In a separate bowl, whisk the cream, and then fold into the mascarpone mixture. Whisk the egg whites until they form soft peaks. Using a metal spoon, gently fold into the creamy mascarpone mixture.

Place the liqueur and coffee in a bowl. Dip each biscuit into the coffee liqueur for a few seconds, to soak up some of the liquid.

Place in the base of 6-8 glass dishes.

Cover with a layer of creamy mascarpone, and then repeat. Scatter over the grated chocolate or dust with cocoa powder. Chill for for 2 hours before serving, but should be consumed the same day.

HANDY TIP: This can easily be made into one large dish.