Moms Charlotte Russe Recipes

MOM’S CHARLOTTE RUSSE

Steps:

• Soften gelatin in 2T cold water. In saucepan, combine chocolate & ½ C water. Heat over low heat STIRRING CONSTANTLY 'til chocolate melts & is smooth. Remove from heat. Add softened gelatin & stir until dissolved. Beat cream in large mixer bowl. Put in another bowl. Beat egg yolks in this same big mixer bowl until thick and lemon colored. Gradually beat in ½ C sugar. Add salt & vanilla. Gradually stir choc mix into egg yolks. Cool. Then stir 'til smooth. Beat egg whites and cream of tartar in small mixer bowl 'til soft peaks form. Gradually add remaining ¼ C sugar, beating until stiff peaks form. Fold in chocolate mix. Fold in whipped cream (and nuts if adding). Set aside 10 lady fingers for center layer. Line bottom of spring-form pan w/ lady fingers (cut to fit) and along sides. Fill w/ ½ choc mousse, layer w/ lady fingers, top w/ rest of choc mousse. Chill 8 hrs or overnight.

LEMON CHARLOTTE RUSSE

Steps:

• Line bottom and sides of 9 inch springform pan with ladyfingers.
• Soften gelatine in lemon juice.
• On top of double boiler use an electric mixer to beat egg yolks together with 1/2 cup of sugar and 1/4 teaspoon salt.
• Gradually beat in gelatine mixture.
• Cook over boiling water, stirring constantly, until mixture starts to thicken, about 10 minutes.
• Pour into large bowl and add lemon peel. Refrigerate until mixture begins to thicken, about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• In the clean top of a double boiler stir together egg whites and remaining 1/2 cup of sugar.
• Beat egg whites over simmering water until soft peaks form.
• Remove from heat and let cool.
• Fold beaten egg whites and whipped cream into lemon-gelatine mixture.
• Spoon into ladyfinger-lined pan.
• Chill for 3 hours or overnight.
• Carefully remove sides of springform pan. Garnish as desired (thin lemon slices work very well).

CHOCOLATE CHARLOTTE RUSSE

Steps:

• Sprinkle gelatine over first amount of milk in medium saucepan. Let stand for 1 minute. Heat and stir until gelatine is dissolved. Bring mixture to a boil. Cool slightly.
• Stir first amount of sugar, cocoa and salt in small bowl. Add egg yolks, second amount of milk and vanilla. Stir into boiling milk until just thickened. Set saucepan in ice water. Stir mixture frequently as it cools. Chill, stirring and scraping down sides often, until mixture will mound slightly. This thickens quickly.
• Beat egg whites in medium bowl until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in second amount of sugar until stiff. Fold into gelatine mixture. Fold in whipped topping or whipped cream.
• cut 1 inch (2.5 cm) off 1 end of each ladyfinger. Stand enough ladyfingers, rounded or sugared side out and cut end down, around inside edge of greased 10 inch (25 cm) springform pan. Lay remaining ladyfingers and pieces in bottom of pan in single layer, breaking to fit. Spoon filling into pan, keeping ladyfingers from falling over. Chill for at least 4 hours.
• NOTE: You can purchase cream stabilizer which you sprinkle over the whipping cream prior to whipping. This will enable you to use whipping cream in this recipe, or also to frost cakes without fear of the whipping cream separating, or breaking after a few hours.

CHOCOLATE CHARLOTTE RUSSE

Steps:

• Line 8" springform pan with ladyfingers-rounded sides against pan.
• In saucepan mix gelatin, sugar & salt. Stir in milk, place over low heat, stirring constantly until gelatin & sugar are dissolved. Remove from heat & let cool to room temperature. Stir in vanilla. Fold in whipped cream & pour into pan.
• Chill until firm-about 2 hours.
• Remove pan & garnish with chocolate curls, maraschino cherries, whipped cream.