I always seem to want what I don't have or can't have....like when my foot was in a boot for 4 months all I wanted to do was go outside and walk...now that it's out of the boot I've yet to set foot outdoors - strange how that happens. My oven is still dead and all I want to do is bake. I'm starting to pity the Maytag Repairman if he can't fix my oven....
Fortunately, Jacques Pepin came to my rescue...by way of his wonderful book, Cooking With Claudine, and his Creme au Chocolat which does not require an oven. 
This is a fast and easy dessert to make - yet it's creamy and rich and definitely "company worthy" - a little goes a long way and it's sure to satisfy even the nastiest sweet tooth.
Just in case you think I lead a dull life and have nothing better to do than blog about oven issues and sweet tooth fantasies....the Mister and I went out to dinner tonight where inbetween bites of hot spinach salad and French onion soup I was able to witness an PDA that almost took my appetite away...(public display of affection, mom)...there was this OLD guy who wore a half unbuttoned Hawaiian shirt, sported a gold chain around his neck and a Rolex the size of an egg timer - but all of that was secondary to his two-tone comb-over and white patent-leather shoes...his "squeeze" was easily 40 years his junior - yet she was no spring chicken...she looked like she'd been rode hard over 40 miles of bad roads and that was her good side! I tried not to stare but it's not everyday that a Dolly Parton look-a-like-from-the-neck-down saunters into the local watering hole! As Dolly herself likes to say - it takes a lot of money to look that cheap - and this gal was definitely working on getting her next plastic surgery installment....it was fascinating! I wasn't the only one trying not to stare - when their smooching got too disgusting I would turn away only to see everyone else watching them! The mister's back was turned to these two and he couldn't see them - he just saw me smiling and I'm sure he thought I was thoroughly entertained by his rapier wit and charm...so I let him think it - afterall it's our anniversary and that was probably the best gift I could give him!
Creme au Chocolat - Adapted from Jacques Pepin's Kitchen, Cooking With Claudine
1 1/2 cups whole milk
1 tablespoon instant coffee granules (regular or decaf)
1 whole egg, plus 1 egg yolk
3 tablespoons sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons all purpose flour
6 ounces bittersweet chocolate chips
Cookies, optional
Bring milk and instant coffee granules to a boil in a saucepan. Meanwhile, place the egg, egg yolk and sugar in a bowl, and mix well. Add the flour, and mix it in well. Whisk about 1 cup of the hot milk and coffee into the egg mixture in the bowl, and combine well. Then, pour the contents of the bowl back into the suacepan, and bring the mixture to a boil stirring constantly with a whisk. Transfer the hot mixture to a bowl, add the chocolate chips, and stir gently until the chocolate has melted and is mixed in well. Cool, then refrigerate until serving time. Serves 4.
"There is no sincerer love than the love of food." - George Bernard Shaw
