Chocolate & Creamy Orange Mousse

Valentine's Day is this Friday so I thought I would post a dessert recipe to make for your sweetheart.  We are planning on staying in this year for Valentine's day dinner.  I'm looking forward to a rare steak and some red wine, eating in the dining room with candles lit and using the fine china.  Perhaps a late start time will work best AFTER I put my daughter to bed for the night.  I'm excited just thinking about it ...a romantic meal without a 3 year old on my lap, no wait time at a restaurant, no crowds, just the two of us sharing a delicious dinner and some wine.  And to finish the meal we'll be having Chocolate Orange Mousse for dessert.  I've made this recipe a few times before (we actually had this last year on Valentine's Day).  I think this dessert is great for special occasions, it looks fancy, tastes light and airy but at the same time has a richness from the orange liqueur and its the perfect serving size.

Just a few notes:  this recipe needs to be refrigerated for several hours so its best to make this in the morning, some ingredients say "divided" because you will use some of that particular ingredient at one point in the recipe and some later in the recipe.  Its best to read the instructions before starting to avoid mistakes.  Hope all of you have a wonderful Valentine's Day!!  Enjoy!

2 tablespoons butter or margarine

2 tablespoons cocoa powder

1/2 can of sweetened condensed milk, divided

1 tablespoon orange liqueur, divided (or orange juice)

1 teaspoon freshly grated orange peel, divided

1 cup whipping cream

1.  Melt butter in saucepan over low heat; add cocoa, then 6 tablespoons of the sweetened condensed milk, stirring until smooth and slightly thickened.  Pour mixture into a medium bowl; cool to room temperature.  Beat in 1/2 tablespoon orange liqueur and 1/2 teaspoon orange peel.

2.  Beat whipping cream in a large bowl until stiff.  Fold half of the whipped cream into the chocolate mixture.  In a second medium bowl stir together remaining sweetened condensed milk, 1/2 tablespoon orange liqueur and 1/2 teaspoon orange peel.  Fold in remaining whipped cream.

  

3.  Spoon equal portions of chocolate mixture into 4 dessert dishes, making a depression in the center of each.  Spoon creamy orange mixture into center of each.  Refrigerate until well chilled.  Garnish with orange peel if desired.  

Source:  Favorite All Time Recipes - Hershey's Holiday Collection