I'm not a big shopper nor do I take extravagant vacations, but when it comes to eating—whether I'm eating at home or going out—I am not shy about self indulgence.
I love going to restaurants by myself—you will often find me dining solo at the bar with enough plates in front of me to feed at least three people. The same principle applies to eating at home. Instead of making do with some week-old leftovers, more often than not I'll get something really good to eat: cheeses, charcuterie, a nice steak, and a bottle of wine. Since I find eating a pleasure, whether it's with a group of friends or by myself, I make sure that my solitary meals are never sad or lonely affairs. When I cook for myself I make meals that are not only delicious, but big enough to share.
Browsing through the pages of Deborah Madison's What We Eat When We Are Alone, I was struck by the fact that there were so many dessert recipes. As happy as I am to make a meal for myself, I have never taken the time to assemble a homemade dessert. I may buy a few pints of artisanal gelato or a perfect miniature pie or pastry from a reputable bakery, but to make a dessert just for me? The thought has never even crossed my mind.
But why not? I've made chocolate mousse many, and it takes less time than bringing a pot of water to boil for pasta. Making a dessert for you, and you alone, is a wonderful and simple indulgence. This Chocolate Mousse with Cardamom is a dessert that anyone would be thrilled to eat at a restaurant that has "special occasion" written all over it, yet you can make it at home in about an hour, and most of that hour is the time that is spent cooling in the fridge. The best part about making chocolate mousse at home is that you end up with a big bowl of chocolate mousse. The recipe advises to distribute it into four dishes, but I'll leave that up to you.
As always with our Cook the Book feature, we have five (5) copies of What We Eat When We Eat Alone to give away this week.
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