Really easy mousse, served in espresso cups, ramekins or fancy glasses, that can be made the day before, and kept in the fridge, covered with clingfilm.

600g good quality chocolate, broken into small pieces
3T brandy (or a brandy based liqueur)
1/4 cup water

300ml cream
6 eggs, split into whites and yolks

12 strawberries for garnish/125ml whipped cream

1. Place the chocolate, brandy, and water in a heatproof bowl over a pot of hot water. Warm on a low heat until chocolate has melted, stirring from time to time, but not allowing the water, or mixture in the bowl to boil. Leave to cool for 5 minutes.
2. Once the chocolate has cooled slightly (you should be able to hold your finger in the mixture to the count of 20), add egg yolks one at a time, beating well after each addition.
3. In a small clean dry bowl, beat cream until just stiff (do not overbeat, or it will turn to butter!!).
4. Using a metal spoon, fold the cream into chocolate mixture.
5. In another small clean dry bowl, beat egg whites until stiff peaks form.
6. Mix 1 heaped spoon of the egg whites into the mixture to loosen it up, then slowly fold in the remaining egg whites, with a metal spoon.
7. Divide the chocolate mousse among serving cups or glasses, and place in fridge until set. Garnish with a strawberry/whipped cream before serving.

Makes12-14

Wickedfood Cooking School

Sunninghill – (011) 234-3252 sunninghill@wickedfood.co.za

Wickedfood cooking school runs cooking classes throughout the year at its purpose-built Johannesburg cooking studios. Cookery classes are run in the mornings and evenings 7 days a week (subject to a minimum of 12 people). The venue is also popular for corporate events and private functions – team building cooking classes, birthdays, kitchen teas, and dinner parties with a difference.

Our cooking lessons are hands-on, where every person gets to participate in the preparation of the dishes. They are also a lot of fun where you not only learn new skills, but get to meet people with similar interests. For corporate groups and teambuilding cooking classes these events are a novel way of creating staff interaction or entertaining clients.

In Desserts James Martin (renowned TV chef) indulges his sweet tooth, providing an irresistible selection of more than 100 hot puddings, cold desserts, cakes, bakes, ice creams and sorbets.

Following the very successful BBC series Sweet Baby James, this book features classic desserts including tarte tatin and pavlova, comfort food such as sticky toffee pudding and chocolate chip cookies and old favourites including spicy plum crumble and lemon meringue pie, as well as many new ideas destined to become classics in their own right. An illustrated basics chapter explains different techniques and the book’s illustrated throughout with mouthwatering photographs. Desserts is the book James Martin’s fans have been waiting for.

Most cookbooks have a section for starters, fish and seafood, meat, poultry and so on but for those of you who quickly page through to the desserts section and are disappointed with the small display of tarts and sponges this book is for you. It has a detailed look at many of your favourite desserts with easy-to-follow recipes and detailed pictures. It is a desserts’ lover’s must have book. It starts with the basics ie: short crust pastry and Victoria sponge to interesting ideas on how to make more advance things like cinder toffee honeycomb (the stuff you find in Crunchy chocolates) and how to spin sugar. This is a book that any dessert lover would be kept busy with for weeks.

Wickedfood Cooking School

Sunninghill – (011) 234-3252 sunninghill@wickedfood.co.za

Boksburg – (011) 823-5365 boksburg@wickedfood.co.za

Runs cooking classes throughout the year at its purpose-built cooking studios. Classes are run in the mornings and evenings 7 days a week (subject to a minimum of 12 people). The venue is also popular for corporate events and private functions – team building cooking classes, birthdays, kitchen teas, and dinner parties with a difference.

Our classes are hands-on, where every person gets to participate in the preparation of the dishes. They are also a lot of fun where you not only learn new skills, but get to meet people with similar interests. For corporate groups and teambuilding cooking classes these events are a novel way of creating staff interaction or entertaining clients.

SUNNINGHILL – Information & bookings (011) 234-3252 sunninghill@wickedfood.co.za

Hi all,

We hope you are having a good week so far. This weekend I’m sure everyone’s eyes will be on the Currie Cup final (coverage starts at 16:30). There are only  one or two individual classes left this month as we wind down to the end of the year, but keep an eye out on the blog as we are updating recipes as often as possible.

Also follow us on Facebook and Twitter – just search for Wickedfood and you will find us.

Please contact the school should you wish to make a booking:

Wickedfood Cooking School, Sunninghill

A great quick and easy sweet chilli sauce to make, if you find it is to hot/ not hot enough take away/ add some chilli’s.

4 serrano chillies, minced
4 Thai (birds eye) chillies, finely chopped
1 cup Sugar
1/2 cup Water
1/2 cup Rice vinegar (White Vinegar)
2 tablespoons Finely Minced Garlic
1/2 teaspoon Sweet paprika
1 teaspoon Salt
1 tablespoon Thai fish sauce
1 tablespoon Fresh lime or lemon juice

1. Remove stems from peppers and prepare as specified – (take the necessary precautions when handling hot peppers)
2. In a small, heavy saucepan, combine the chillies, sugar, water, vinegar, garlic, paprika and salt.
3. Bring to a rolling boil over medium heat.
4. Stir to dissolve the sugar and salt and reduce the heat to low.
5. Simmer until the liquid reduces slightly and thickens to a light syrup.
6. Remove from the heat and stir in the fish sauce and lime or lemon juice.
7. If you want a thicker sauce still you can stir in a 1/2 teaspoon of flour mixed in with some water towards the end of the simmer.
8. Cool to room temperature before serving. Transfer the cooled sauce to a tightly sealed jar and store at room temperature for 2 to 3 days.

Wickedfood Cooking School

Sunninghill – (011) 234-3252 sunninghill@wickedfood.co.za

Wickedfood Cooking school runs cooking classes throughout the year at its purpose-built Johannesburg cooking studios. Cookery classes are run in the mornings and evenings 7 days a week (subject to a minimum of 12 people). The venue is also popular for corporate events and private functions – team building cooking classes, birthdays, kitchen teas, and dinner parties with a difference.

Our cooking lessons are hands-on, where every person gets to participate in the preparation of the dishes. They are also a lot of fun where you not only learn new skills, but get to meet people with similar interests. For corporate groups and teambuilding cooking classes these events are a novel way of creating staff interaction or entertaining clients.