chocolate has absolutely got to be the best invention in the world.. honestly i just LOVE LOVE LOVE chocolate..who doesnt? hehe..so i was super happy that the theme for my first sugar high friday was all about dark chocolate.. well to be honest, i used to be more of a milk chocolate kinda person, always felt that dark was much too bitter and white was well, err fake. haha but ever since el introduced cadbury old gold jamaica which is essentially dark chocolate with rum soaked plump raisins..ive been absolutely hooked and now i only eat dark chocolate..which can be a bad thing here, coz kj and zx both hate dark choc, so if i buy a bar..there is no buffer to help me finish it haha..which is terribly dangerous :p

so anyway, since kelli of lovescool challenged us to find something new or interesting to make..i was like bugger, i was just thinking of making my fave comfort dessert food, warm choc puddings with hot chocolate lava flowing out from inside the pudding..mm..BUT i decided to finally try something different. so i went the opposite from the dense and supremely rich chocolate pudding and decided for a chocolate souffle...well for those who dont know what a souffle is, its essentially a french dessert that is light and fluffy baked dish made with egg yolks and beaten egg whites and upon coming out of the oven, its risen and fluffy, which falls about 10-20 min later, so its best to eat it straight out of the oven (never a problem tho haha). Its usually baked in a ramekins, im not entirely sure why, but somehow baking it in other kinda baking equipment doesnt have the same effect..theres something abt those ramekins i reckon.

anyway.. i got the souffle recipe from epicurious, as it was my first time, i decided to stick with this relatively simple recipe, and used 63% nestle dark chocolate. haha i was kinda nervous coz i was so afraid it wouldnt rise and i plopped myself in front of the oven.zx thought i was pretty mad haha. and the first 10 minutes, there was virtually no movement, and i could just feel my heart sinking thinking i must have buggered it..all the hard work beating those egg whites by hand for nothing..and was just getting more and more depressed..WHEN THE THING STARTED RISING!!! YAY!!!haha..its funny..how my baking and cooking adventures just goes in tandem with my moods..haha anyway..here it is: ( i topped it with some orange zest..i just think citrus fruits and chocolate are like a match made in heaven mmm)


heres the recipe from epicurious:

Ingredients:
1/3 cup sugar plus additional for sprinkling
5 oz bittersweet chocolate (not unsweetened), chopped
3 large egg yolks at room temperature
6 large egg whites

Steps:

1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Generously butter soufflé dish and sprinkle with sugar, knocking out excess.

2. Melt chocolate in a metal bowl set over a saucepan of barely simmering water, stirring occasionally until smooth. Remove bowl from heat and stir in yolks (mixture will stiffen).

3. Beat whites with a pinch of salt in a large bowl with an electric mixer at medium speed until they just hold soft peaks. Add 1/3 cup sugar, a little at a time, continuing to beat at medium speed, then beat at high speed until whites just hold stiff peaks. Stir about 1 cup whites into chocolate mixture to lighten, then add mixture to remaining whites, folding gently but thoroughly.

4. Spoon into soufflé dish and run the end of your thumb around inside edge of soufflé dish (this will help soufflé rise evenly). Bake in middle of oven until puffed and crusted on top but still jiggly in center, 24 to 26 minutes. Serve immediately.