My New Favorite Dessert

Is Pots de Creme! It is baked around the edges and runny, rich loveliness in the middle. It is relatively easy to make and can be made a day ahead. I found a simple recipe on line and added a couple of my own tweaks to make it certifiably kick-*ss. Here is the recipe, try it you'll love it!

Pots de Creme

2 cups whipping cream

4 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped

1 teaspoon instant espresso powder or coffee powder

6 large egg yolks*

5 tablespoons sugar

fleur de sel to make it awesome

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preparation

Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 325°F. Arrange six 3/4-cup custard cups or souffle dishes in roasting pan. Combine whipping cream, chopped semisweet chocolate and instant espresso powder in heavy medium saucepan. Bring almost to simmer over medium heat, whisking until chocolate melts and mixture is smooth. Whisk egg yolks and sugar in large bowl to blend. Gradually whisk in hot cream mixture.

Sprinkle fleur de sel on the bottom of cups (because it's awesome). Divide custard equally among cups. Pour enough hot water into pan to come halfway up sides of cups. Bake custards until just set around edges but still soft in center, about 25 minutes. Remove cups from water. Refrigerate uncovered until cold, at least 2 hours. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and keep refrigerated.)

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*I learned from Jacques Pepin that if you crack the eggs into a bowl and then scoop out the egg yolks from the bowl, it's much easier than trying to separate them with the shells of the egg. You can save the egg whites for a healthy egg scramble the next day (although Head Chef says they look disgusting in the refrigerator).

I also top the Pots de Creme with whipped cream, which I make by whipping heavy whipping cream, sugar to taste and a dash of vanilla extract all together. I pretty much DYI ingredient amounts, and if you've never made your own you'll find it's very easy. Use an electric beater if you don't want to end up ripping your eyeballs out. You'll know when it's done--don't overbeat it or it will become butter!