How Do You Eat an Elephant.....er Mousse? One Bite at a Time!

I'm a supervisor in a 911 call center and I LOVE my job and the 4 other people I work with on my shift. Thankfully every single one of them is foodie just like me. We love to eat and we love occasions that allow us to really dig in and make something special. I've already posted my recipe for the Bacon Wrapped BBQ Chicken and they're always on our menu when we have our get togethers. For our Christmas party everyone decided that something decadent and chocolatey was a must so I made my Easy Chocolate Mousse. This stuff is R-I-C-H but don't let that stop you from grabbing a spoon and digging in! Most mousse recipes call for whipping egg whites and are pretty detailed and fussy. This one is super easy and doesn't take long to set up....plus you probably have all the things on hand in your pantry so it's a great dessert to make when that chocolate craving hits.

Easy Chocolate Mousse

1 1/2 C mini marshmallows
4 T soft butter
1 11oz bag semi sweet chocolate chips
1/4 C hot water
1 C heavy cream
1 tsp vanilla
pinch of salt

In a pan over low heat, heat the marshmallows, chocolate, butter, salt and water and stir until smooth and glossy. Remove from heat, add vanilla and allow to cool. In a stand mixer or in a bowl with a hand mixer, whip the heavy cream until it forms soft peaks. Add the chocolate mixture to the cream and fold it together with a rubber spatula, being careful not to stir. You don't want the air to deflate from the cream. Spoon mousse into individual glasses or into a large bowl. Refrigerate and allow mousse to set. Adorn with whipped cream and any crushed cookies or fresh fruit and serve.