Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Chocolate Peanut Butter Souffles


We had to travel to Southern California this weekend for a cheer competition.  After listening to the Boom-Boom Pow of the competition for hours on end, it was late and we were starving.  There was this really nice looking steak place down the street from our hotel, and we decided to have dinner there.

One look at the menu and the prices and I about fell over.  I actually told my husband I wanted to leave, he didn't, so we stayed, and I tried to enjoy a salad and a petite steak complete with old lettuce and overly garlicky dressing I might add.  He just gave me the look he always does,;you know that "really" look.  I never thought I'd say this, but would a little salt on the food have killed them. Despite our waiters' best sales effort to push dessert on us, I said, "No thanks".  Why, because the dessert I really wanted was a chocolate souffle and after not loving my food I told my husband, "I can make a better one at home"! He hates when I do that, just thought you might want to know that.

Besides I needed an excuse to use the super cute teaspoons my sister gave me as a hostess gift at her birthday party!


Chocolate Souffle
8 ozs. Milk chocolate, chopped (I buy big bars of it at Trader Joe's.)
1 tbsp. unsalted butter
1 tbsp. all-purpose flour
1/2 cup whole milk (I was out and used 1% and it worked fine.)
1 tsp. vanilla extract
Pinch of salt
4 large eggs separated, put the 4 whites in 1 bowl and 3 yolks in another and set aside 1 yolk
1/4 cup granulated sugar
8 mini peanut butter cups (optional)

1. Heat oven to 375 degrees F.

2. Butter 8 (6 oz.) ramekins and put a little sugar inside and swirl it around and dump out excess, set all the ramekins on a baking sheet.

3. In a clean mixer bowl, whip the 4 egg whites on medium speed until soft peaks form, then pour in 1/4-cup sugar and beat until stiff.  Set aside.

4. Melt the chocolate in the top of a double boiler.  Which is just a heatproof bowl over a pan of simmering water.

5. Melt butter in small saucepan, add flour and whisk well.  Cook 1 minute, then add milk and cook for 1 minute or so until thickened.  Add this to the melted chocolate.

6. Add egg yolks to chocolate mixture.  Whisk well.  Then fold in beaten egg whites.

7. Pour the chocolate batter into ramekins about 2/3 full.  I dropped in a surprise, some heart shaped peanut butter cups I had on hand.  Then prepare peanut butter souffle mixture.


Peanut Butter Souffle
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1/2 tbsp. unsalted butter
1/2 tbsp. all-purpose flour
1/4 cup whole milk
2 large eggs separated
1/8 cup granulated sugar

1. In a clean bowl of mixer, whip the 2 egg whites on medium speed until soft peaks form, then pour in sugar and beat until stiff.  Set aside.

2. Melt the peanut butter in the top of a double boiler.  Which is just a heat proof bowl over a pan of simmering water.

3. Melt butter in small saucepan, add flour, whisk well.  Cook 1 minute, then add milk and cook for 1 minute or so until thickened.  Add this to the melted peanut butter.

4. Add egg yolks to peanut butter mixture.  Whisk well.  Then fold in beaten egg whites.  I found whisking in part of the whites first works better because the peanut butter is denser and then fold in the rest.

5. I spooned this mixture on top of the chocolate mixture and it sunk down, creating an upside down effect, because the peanut butter souffle mixture is heavier.

6. Bake for 15-18 minutes. You can eat these warm or put them in the fridge, just pop them in the microwave for a few when you are ready for one.


In my own defense, I'm not a bad dining partner or a food critic when I go out!  (Well at least not all the time anyways.)  You will have to try these for yourself and give me your food critic opinion.  Does paying a lot of money for so-so food bother you?

Enjoy,

Gina

34 comments:

  1. Your souffles look fantastic. And yes, paying good money for mediocre food really bothers me, especially when it's steak. I hope your hubby realized that you do rule over restaurant food in a big way.

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  2. Looks awesome! I can imagine how good these must taste with the great combinations of flavors:) Yes, I'd feel cheated if I have to pay a large sum of money and yet get only so so kind of food!

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  3. This looks so good Gina!
    I love those spoons so cute, and your photos are amazing!!!!

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  4. You are a temptress. This must have been heads above what you would have found at your restaurant! Your souffle is perfect. And the spoons are so sweet - makes cooking and baking even more enjoyable.

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  5. Heck yeah paying good money for blah food bothers me! My rule in restaurants is to never order something I could easily make myself. Your PB souffle sounds incredible!

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  6. I'd bake anything just to try those cute spoons. They are adorable.
    And the souffle, oh my, looks and sounds so good, oh, how I wish I had some right now.

    i get really angry when i have to over pay for my dishes at the restaurant, and if i don't get fresh cut veggies in my salad I kindly ask the waiter to take it off the bill.

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  7. Oh your souffle looks so good.THAT is something I would pay money for. Bla on the poor dining experience. My husband gives me the look too - especially when I look at the dessert menu and think about how I could make half (all?!) of the things better and cheaper than 6.99! ♥- Katrina

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  8. Sorry Claudia, you are being so good on your diet.
    Jenn, I agree, but being out of town, we took a chance.

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  9. You know, I'm starting to become like you! I still order dessert when we go out for dinner but I'm becoming over-critical: "I could have done better" "I'm paying so much money for this little piece?" "the cream is really not amazing" I hate myself when I do that lol! I have yet to make souffle' myself though...so I still can order it :)
    Btw, those measuring spoons are simply adorable!

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  10. Gina - these souffles look absolutely DIVINE!!! I love going out to eat and sometimes my husband will say, you are better than the restaurants. I take it as a compliment, but I actually love to go out and eat. I am book marketing this recipe!!! Have a great week!

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  11. Thanks Sara, maybe I was being to critical.
    Lisa, I love eating out too, who doesn't like having someone else fawn on them, them do the dishes too! Your husband sounds sweet, and from what I've seen of your food, I'd have to agree.

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  12. Are you a cheer captain? I was a cheerleader in high school! We were in a lot of competitions... Esperanza High School. We were all girls though, and in the small squad category - so i think that was like 10 girls or less? Maybe 15. I have the best memories from it! Were you at the anaheim convention center for nationals?

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  13. In answer to your question, YES it does! And it bugs me for quite a while that I hardly ever return to that same restaurant if I can make the same meal taste much better at home, for so much less. Your chocolate and PB soufflé looks amazing, but you know what? We're all mad about those measuring spoons! :-)

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  14. The souffle look scrumptious! Love the peanut butter in it.

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  15. Your Chocolate PB souffles look divine, so much better than you would have gotten in a restaurant.

    Yes, it bugs me to over pay for mediocre food. My husband sit there and say that we could have made it better at home. We very rarely order dessert anymore, because of that reason!

    Love your little spoons! My neighbor gave me new ones recently, and they are so much fun to use.

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  16. I so want it to be worthwhile when I'm eating out...esp if the price tag is on the high end. ;)

    Beautiful souffles. I love the peanut butter version.

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  17. I am so sorry to hear about your bad experience at that restaurant, that is always a mood killer.

    Those souffles look so good though

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  18. I'll have to see if I can get my sister's secret source for the spoons out of her and share it.
    Roxan, I'm a cheer mom, my daughter is the talented one and yes that's where we were.

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  19. that looks utterly wonderful.

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  20. Gina! These sound amazing.. would you mind sending one or two to Texas?? Mountain Man makes a mean steak if it's any consolation!

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  21. These sound heavenly!! And I love when a overpriced dessert can be made in the comforts of home...and turn out 100 times better!

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  22. This looks amazing! I love all things PB & Chocolate and this is a winner in my book!

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  24. Gina, I bet your dessert at home was WAY better than anything at that restaurant. I don't mind paying big bucks for extraordinary food, but not a mediocre dinner.

    I love that you added a peanut butter cup to your souffles :)

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  25. Oh my you came to Southern California...sorry you had a bad experience at that restaurant, next time you come out let me know and maybe I can recommend, or cook for you ;) Your souffles look fantastic!

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  26. Gosh, I love your measuring spoons!!
    I am sorry that you didn't enjoy that pricey dinner at all. Your souffles look great!

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  27. wow you said it right you can make a better dessert looks divine :-)

    Rebecca

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  28. Those soufflés looks so so tasty.
    I know what you are talking about with your experience at the restaurant; so maddening and not much we can do about it.GRRRRR
    Love your spoons.
    Rita

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  29. I have those cute little measuring spoons too and have fun using them! Listening to boom boom pow for hours on end would send me over the edge but these delicious looking souffles would cure that! I am dying to give these a try.

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  30. We never order dessert out because I always end up saying the same thing (and for the most part...it is true!) I know I certainly would have preferred your souffles over anything that restaurant could have offered. Thanks for sharing with me tonight. Enjoy your weekend...take time to rest, laugh and eat some great food!

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  31. PS! I got so distracted that I forgot to say that these souffles look amazing!!! Sorry!

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  32. We really only have two or three restaurants at this point that we enjoy going to and spending the money on. Other than that, my boyfriend and I pretty much agree that my home cooking is better. I think its really sad though. When I was little going out was special and it meant something. We got dressed and went "out." Now it's like you said, your late, tired and are picking between the least of the evils. Makes me sad. :(

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  33. Hahaha I do the same thing when at restaurants. My husband just looks at m like ugh it's a diner or chain what do you expect! They need to hire Miss. Gina on their staff, these souffles looks amazingly delicious!! The peanut butter one is right up my alley. Love the measuring spoons, too!

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