Chocolate Hazelnut Mousse

This is a fabulously easy dessert to make.  There are only two ingredients.  Unless you choose to top it with a spritz of whipped cream.  I chose.

The magic ingredient is Nutella.  I love Nutella and use it in a lot of dessert recipes.  I also love it in breakfast treats.

This recipe makes 4 desserts.  I got it from Tiphero.

   

Chocolate Hazelnut Mousse

1/2 cup Nutella
1 cup heavy whipping cream



It helps to chill the mixing bowl and beaters for about half an hour before you start.  I used a Kitchen Aid mixer but you can use a hand held mixer.  This would be difficult to do by hand.

   

Heat the Nutella about 15 seconds in the microwave so that it is pourable.  Stir.  If you need to, heat it a bit more.   It took me a total of 30 seconds, but it's winter.  I covered the Pyrex measuring cup with waxed paper in case it wanted to make a mess in the microwave.  Let it sit while you whip the cream so that it can cool a bit.  If it's too hot it can damage your lovely whipped cream.

   

Whip the heavy cream until it forms stiff peaks. Gently fold in the room temperature Nutella.

   

Keep mixing until there are no visible streaks.

   

Place the mixture into four small dishes.  Chill for at least two hours.

   

You can serve it as is or you can spritz a bit of whipping cream on top.  This mousse is delicious as is, but it is more festive with a whipped cream swirl!

   

This was a lovely dessert and our guests were impressed enough to want the recipe!

Royal Wedding Tea

I discovered Harney and Sons teas while staying in a fabulous B&B in Charleston.  My new favorite tea is their Hot Cinnamon Spice.  Lee found their website and surprised me by buying a large package of their sachets.  I need my coffee in the morning, but I drink tea all afternoon.

  

I finished the first bag of tea and Lee ordered me some more.  On their site he noticed they were carrying Royal Wedding Tea to join the celebration of the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markel.

This is a white tea, which is the least processed of all teas. It is loaded with antioxidants and provides many health benefits.  You can read about white tea here.

  

Royal Wedding Tea is a blend of white tea, with rose petals, blue cornflower, and marigold petals.  It has natural almond, coconut and vanillas flavors.  The tea has a wonderful scent, almost a chocolate flavor and smell.  It is quite nice and I really enjoy it.

It has been quite warm recently and I thought I would try making iced tea out of the wedding tea.  After all, we live in the South and we are all about the iced tea.

  

I put water that was almost boiling in a large heat proof container.   I used a one quart Pyrex measuring cup because of the pouring lip.  I placed six sachets in the hot water for about 5 minutes.  You don't want to leave them in longer than that. Tea can get bitter if it is left in the water for a long time.

While the water is still hot, add any sweetener you may like.  It isn't necessary, but the flavors really pop with some sugar.  I used Splenda.  Don't make it super sweet, unless you are one of those sweet tea types, but too much will overpower the delicate flavors of this tea.

When the sugar (or your favorite sweetener) has dissolved and the tea has cooled a bit, pour it over a 2 quart pitcher mostly full of ice.

  

This tea is a delicate and refreshing tea and strangely perfect for iced tea!  East meets South!!