Easy Chocolate Mousse

Preparation 1 Sprinkle the gelatin on the liqueur in a small bowl and set aside. 2 Combine the milk and 1/4 cup of the sugar in a small saucepan and whisk to mix. Place over medium heat and bring to a simmer. 3 Meanwhile, whisk the eggs in a small bowl. When the milk boils, whisk about a third of the milk into the eggs. Return the remaining milk to a boil over low heat then whisk in the egg mixture. Continue whisking until the mixture thickens slightly. Don't let it boil or the eggs will scramble. Remove from the heat and quickly whisk in the gelatin mixture. 4 Whisk in the chocolate and continue whisking until the chocolate is melted and the mixture is smooth. Scrape it into a medium bowl and cool it to room temperature. 5 To make the meringue, half-fill a medium saucepan with water and bring it to a boil over medium heat. Regulate the heat so that the water simmers gently but isn't boiling violently. Combine the egg whites, salt, and the remaining 1/2 cup sugar in the heatproof bowl of an electric mixer, whisking by hand just to mix. Place the bowl over the pan of water and whisk gently until the egg whites are hot (140 degrees on an instant-read thermometer) and the sugar is dissolved. Place the bowl on the mixer with the whisk attachment and whip on medium speed until the meringue is cooled (it doesn't have to come all the way down to room temperature) and increased in volume. 6 Fold the meringue into the chocolate mixture. 7 Divide the mousse among the prepared glasses and refrigerate until set, 3 to 4 hours. SERVING: Serve the mousse alone or with some Maida's Skinny Whipped Cream. You can also decorate it with a few berries or some chocolate shavings. STORAGE: You can prepare the mousse the day before. Keep it covered with plastic wrap if it needs to stay in the refrigerator any more than a few hours after you prepare it.null Nutritional analysis provided by Perfect Light Desserts Per serving: 279 calories, 10 g total fat (32% of calories), 5 g saturated fat, 8 g protein, 41 g carbohydrates, 1 g fiber, 71 mg cholesterol, 80 mg sodium Reprinted with permission from Perfect Light Desserts: Fabulous Cakes, Cookies, Pies, and More Made with Real Butter, Sugar, Flour, and Eggs All Under 300 Calories Per Generous Serving by Nick Malgieri and David Joachim. Photographs by Tom Eckerle. Copyright © 2006 by Nick Malgieri and David Joachim. Published by William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.

Preparation 1 Sprinkle the gelatin on the liqueur in a small bowl and set aside. 2 Combine the milk and 1/4 cup of the sugar in a small saucepan and whisk to mix. Place over medium heat and bring to a simmer. 3 Meanwhile, whisk the eggs in a small bowl. When the milk boils, whisk about a third of the milk into the eggs. Return the remaining milk to a boil over low heat then whisk in the egg mixture. Continue whisking until the mixture thickens slightly. Don't let it boil or the eggs will scramble. Remove from the heat and quickly whisk in the gelatin mixture. 4 Whisk in the chocolate and continue whisking until the chocolate is melted and the mixture is smooth. Scrape it into a medium bowl and cool it to room temperature. 5 To make the meringue, half-fill a medium saucepan with water and bring it to a boil over medium heat. Regulate the heat so that the water simmers gently but isn't boiling violently. Combine the egg whites, salt, and the remaining 1/2 cup sugar in the heatproof bowl of an electric mixer, whisking by hand just to mix. Place the bowl over the pan of water and whisk gently until the egg whites are hot (140 degrees on an instant-read thermometer) and the sugar is dissolved. Place the bowl on the mixer with the whisk attachment and whip on medium speed until the meringue is cooled (it doesn't have to come all the way down to room temperature) and increased in volume. 6 Fold the meringue into the chocolate mixture. 7 Divide the mousse among the prepared glasses and refrigerate until set, 3 to 4 hours. SERVING: Serve the mousse alone or with some Maida's Skinny Whipped Cream. You can also decorate it with a few berries or some chocolate shavings. STORAGE: You can prepare the mousse the day before. Keep it covered with plastic wrap if it needs to stay in the refrigerator any more than a few hours after you prepare it.null Nutritional analysis provided by Perfect Light Desserts Per serving: 279 calories, 10 g total fat (32% of calories), 5 g saturated fat, 8 g protein, 41 g carbohydrates, 1 g fiber, 71 mg cholesterol, 80 mg sodium Reprinted with permission from Perfect Light Desserts: Fabulous Cakes, Cookies, Pies, and More Made with Real Butter, Sugar, Flour, and Eggs All Under 300 Calories Per Generous Serving by Nick Malgieri and David Joachim. Photographs by Tom Eckerle. Copyright © 2006 by Nick Malgieri and David Joachim. Published by William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.