CHOCOLATE AND RASPBERRY MOUSSE

Makes: 6 servings Recipe from The Nature of the Feast by Louise Penny (Macmillan). Mentioned in The Long Way Home: “Armand Gamache looked down at his plate. Empty. All the wonderful food gone. He was sure it must have been delicious, but he couldn’t remember eating a single bite. After a dessert of raspberry and chocolate mousse they went home.” 10 oz (280 g) good-quality semi-sweet or extra bittersweet (about 70 per cent cocoa) chocolate 2 tbsp (30 ml) unsalted butter 4 large eggs, separated (see note) 1 cup (250 ml) heavy cream, very cold 1 tbsp (15 ml) raspberry liqueur, such as Chambord, or 1 tsp (5 ml) pure vanilla extract Additional whipped cream (optional) One ½-pint basket fresh raspberries

1. Break up or chop the chocolate into small chunks. Melt the chocolate and butter in the top of a regular or improvised double boiler: Set a heatproof bowl into a saucepan; the size of the bowl should be large enough to easily hold the chocolate, fit the top of the saucepan, and keep the bottom of the bowl at least 2 to 3 inches (5 to 8 cm) above the water). Stir occasionally until the chocolate has completely melted, about 10 minutes. Keep the water at a bare simmer.

2. Remove the chocolate mixture from the heat and beat in the egg yolks, one at a time.

3. Beat the egg whites in a separate bowl with an electric mixer just until they hold soft peaks. Fold the egg whites into the chocolate mixture, one-half at a time, using a rubber spatula. Fold gently, making sure to scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl. Stop folding when the whites have been halfway incorporated into the chocolate.

4. Whip the heavy cream with an electric mixer just until it holds soft peaks.

5. Add the liqueur to the chocolate mixture. Fold in about three-quarters of the whipped cream just until no white streaks remain.

6. Set 12 raspberries aside. Mash the remaining berries into the reserved whipped cream until the cream takes on a light pink colour.

7. Spoon about ⅓ cup (80 ml) chocolate mousse into a champagne flute or other tall, clear glass (a white ramekin will work in a pinch). Spoon in a tablespoon or so of the raspberry cream, and then top up the glass (or ramekin) with another ⅓ cup (80 ml) of mousse.

8. Cover each serving with a small piece of plastic wrap and refrigerate until completely set, at least 3 hours or up to 1 day. Serve with additional whipped cream, if you like, and a couple of the reserved fresh berries. Note: Eating raw eggs may lead to food-borne illness. You can reduce the risk of illness by washing the eggshells before cracking them. In any case, pregnant women and those with compromised immune systems should refrain from eating raw eggs