Chocolate Mousse

During the month of March Dad decided to perfect a chocolate mousse recipe.  The first recipe was wonderful, and our favorite so far.  Here is that recipe:

Heavenly Chocolate Mousse
8 (1ounce ) squares semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup water, divided
2 tablespoons butter (no substitutes)
3 egg yolks
2 tablespoons sugar
1 1/4 cups whipping cream, whipped

In a microwave or double boiler, heat chocolate, 1/4 cup water and butter until the chocolate and butter are melted.  Cool for 10 minutes.  In a small heavy saucepan, whisk egg yolks, sugar and remaining water.  Cook and stir over low heat until mixture reaches 160 degrees F about 1-2 minutes.  Remove from the heat; whisk in chocolate mixture.  Set saucepan in ice and stir until cooled, about 5-10 minutes.  Fold in whipped cream.  Spoon into dessert dishes.  Refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight.

The second one we made tasted more like a pudding. We served it with strawberries and it tasted fine.
We'll keep you posted if we find a better recipe.  Enjoy!

Oscar party

To celebrate the academy awards we had a little party.  We started out the evening with pot roast and ravioli and filled out our ballots.  Dad went for True grit where ever he could, Joey went for Toy story,  the rest of us just winged it.
Than I passed out Bingo cards to fill out during the broadcast.  The spaces on the bingo card said things like...Orchestra cuts off winner speech...Gwyneth Paltrow sings....Tom Hanks sighting...Winner has a beard...etc...
I had prizes, movie candy and dollar bills.
Dad and Thomas tied for the first bingo.  Emma and Joey got a bingo.  Emma got the most right on her ballot and so she got to choose two prizes. I got the least amount right.

Our treats were "sweet hamburgers, and fries" 

They were made out of yellow cupcakes cut in half with a brownie in the middle. 

The fries were made from sugar cookie. 
We had popcorn balls, crackers and cheese, and sparkling cider.
Congratulations to all the winner!

Seattle

We started our midwinter break with a trip to Seattle.

We went to Pike's Place Market.

(Do you see the ferry in the background?)

They say when you go to the market you must see the gum wall.

I do not agree... I just think the wall is gross.

The hammering man is very big.  It was a beautiful day.  Seattle looked good.

We visited the troll under the bridge.  ( See the full size vw bug in his hand?)  Watch out when you drive over the Fremont bridge, he just might grab your car.

This was Joey's favorite place we visited because he could climb all over the troll.

We drove through the University of Washington campus.

This is the view down the the other way.  Looking toward husky stadium.  I can't figure out my camera so it is an overexposed picture so you can't see Mt. Rainer in the background.  The UW has a beautiful campus.

We went to Archie McPhee's in Wallingford.

We ended at UW village and had Chicago style stuffed pizza.
It was a great day!  During this trip we focused on some of the public art that Seattle is filled with.  I didn't take a picture of all  of it.  We can't wait to go back to Seattle  when the weather is warmer.