or chocolate chips. You've now pictured your own desserts. FLOURLESS CHOCOLATE TORTE 12 oz. bittersweet or semisweet choco- late (not unsweetened), chopped (or about 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips) 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter or mar- garine, cut into pieces 7 large eggs, separated 3/4 cup sugar 2 t. vanilla extract Preheat oven to 350F. Use butter or margarine to grease a 9-inch-diameter spring-form pan. Place the pan on a sheet of parchment or wax paper and trace a circle around the pan with a pencil. Use scissors to cut the paper just inside the line and place the circle of paper in pan. Butter the paper. Combine chocolate and butter in a microwave-safe bowl. Cook on high, uncovered, for 2 minutes. Remove from oven and stir until smooth. If the choco- late is not completely melted, cook for 30 seconds more. Alternately, cook the chocolate and butter in a medium saucepan over low heat until melted, stirring constantly until smooth. Set aside. Meanwhile, beat egg yolks and half the sugar in large bowl with an electric mixer until mixture is very, thick and light in color. Beat in the vanilla. Use a rubber spatula to fold in the chocolate mixture. Set aside. In another bowl, beat the egg whites until soft peaks form. Slowly beat in the remaining sugar and continue beating until the whites are stiff Use a rubber spatula to fold the egg whites into the chocolate mixture. Transfer the mixture to prepared pan and bake for 50-60 minutes (the cake will rise, then sink as it cools — this is normal). Run a knife around the edge of the pan and remove the collar from the spring-form pan. Chill the cake until ready to serve. Sprinkle the cake with cocoa powder before serving. Alternately, turn the cake over onto a serving plate and carefully pry off the metal bottom and peel off the wax paper. Makes 12 servings. MERINGUE CRUST OR NESTS 3 egg whites 1/8 t. salt 1/2 cup sugar Preheat the oven to 250F. For round crust: Use butter or mar- garine to grease a 9-inch-diameter spring- form pan. Place the pan on a sheet of parchment or wax paper and trace a circle around the pan with a pencil. Use scissors to cut the paper just inside the line and place the circle of paper in pan. Butter the paper. Set aside. For piecrust: Grease a 9-inch pie dish. Set aside. Beat the egg whites until frothy. Add the salt and beat the egg whites until stiff Gradually beat in the sugar. Spread the meringue into the prepared pan or pie dish. Bake for 75-90 minutes, until dry and hard to the touch. Cool completely before filling or topping with your favorite topping. Makes 6-8 servings. CHOCOLATE FROSTING 10 oz. bittersweet (not unsweetened) or semisweet chocolate, chopped 3/4 cup sugar 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) cold margarine, cut into pieces (or butter for dairy) 3 large eggs, lightly beaten 1/2 cup nondairy creamer (or half- and-half for dairy) Combine all ingredients in a medium saucepan over medium heat, stirring fre- quently until mixture is smooth. Chill for 1-2 hours, until cool and thickened. Whip with a whisk or electric mixer until fluffy. Makes 2-1/2 cups of frosting. DARK CHOCOLATE MOUSSE 1/2 cup whole milk or nondairy creamer 2 large egg yolks 4 large egg whites 1/4 cup sugar 3/4 cup bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, chopped (or use chips) 1 t. vanilla extract 1/8 t. salt Whisk milk, egg yolks and 2 table- spoons sugar in small saucepan over low heat and stir constantly until mixture is thick, about 7-10 minutes. Remove from heat and add chocolate, stirring until melted and smooth. Set aside. Beat egg whites in a large bowl until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in the salt and remaining sugar until stiff. Fold chocolate into the whites and transfer the mixture to a serving bowl or into 8 small individual dessert cups or wine glasses. Chill for 3 or more hours, or up to a day ahead. Makes 8 servings. PECAN CRUST Use for cheesecake, tarts, bars or pies. 1 1/3 cup matzah cake flour or meal 2/3 cup finely chopped pecans 3 T. sugar 1/2 t. salt 1/2 cup butter or margarine 1/4 cup ice water Make crust: Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 375F. Combine all ingredients except butter in the bowl of a food processor and pulse until crumbly and combined. Pesach Cream Puffs- With the motor running, add water, a drop at a time, until the dough is just combined (do not overprocess). Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill for 1 hour, up to 2 days. Pinch off pieces of the dough and press into a pie dish or individual tart pans. Add pieces of crust to the edge and pinch or crimp into thicker edge. Use a fork to make several holes in the crust. Bake crust until edge of crust is beginning to brown, 15-20 minutes. Remove from oven and fill with filling of choice and bake as any other piecrust, or bake until about dry and golden. Cool completely before filling with your favorite unbaked filling. PESACH CREAM PUFFS 1 cup water 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine, cut into pieces 2 T. sugar 1/2 t. salt 1 cup matzah cake flour or meal 4 large eggs Preheat oven to 400E Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or nonstick cooking spray and set aside. Combine water, margarine, sugar and salt in medium saucepan over medium- high heat. Bring to a boil. Add cake meal and stir with wooden spoon until the mixture is very thick, about 1 minute. Remove from heat and transfer the mixture to a medium bowl. Mix in eggs 1 at a time, beat until smooth after each egg. Use a spoon to form 8-12 mounds on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes. Turn the trays around and bake another 20-30 minutes, until puffed and firm to the touch. Remove from the oven and pierce the pastry with a sharp knife (this allows the steam to escape). Can be made up to a week ahead and frozen until ready to eat and reheated at 375F to re-crisp. Cut the puffs in half horizontally and fill with ice cream, sorbet, fresh fruit, whipped cream or filling of choice. Makes 8-12 cream puffs. RASPBERRY SAUCE 1/4 cup sugar 1/4 cup water 2 cups fresh or frozen raspberries, thawed (not in syrup) Combine sugar and water in a small- saucepan over medium-high heat and bring to a boil. Stir until the sugar is dis- solved. Allow the syrup to cool for 10 minutes or more. Place the raspberries in food processor or blender. Pour the sugar syrup over and process or blend until smooth. Strain, if desired, to remove seeds. Chill until ready to serve. Makes 1 1/2 cups of sauce. ❑ 4/ 4 2003 97