Best Chocolate Mousse for a Camper's Homecoming

My 11 year old daughter returns from summer camp today.  This was her first foray into sleep-away camp, and I believe it was a huge success - at least from her end.  From my end, I missed her somethin' awful.  Pined for her, in fact.  I didn't completely lose it with the sad, sitting-on-her-bed-staring-at-her-empty room thing, that's so MTV 80's video.   No....instead, I just wrote her a letter everyday, sent her random stuff, and checked the camp website for any evidence of her face.

But before she left, I asked her what sort of homecoming she would like.  She responded with two requests, "w a g a m a m a" (a family fave in Harvard Sq.) and "homemade chocolate mousse".

or mousse au chocolat, as they say.  I can do that.  Seems easy enough - dangerously so, as a matter of fact.  And since I don't own an electric mixer, this was made old school-style- my hand whipping, like a fury.  Pretty funny, actually.  Couldn't talk to a soul while I was concentrating so hard on this ridiculously simple recipe.

Handmade, homemade mousse au chocolat

(from la tartine gourmand)

Ingredients:

• 150 g dark chocolate
• 1/2 cup (100 ml) cold heavy cream
• 10 g sugar
• 5 egg whites

Steps:

• Melt your chocolate using the bain-marie technique, or double boiler.
• Heat the cream until boiling.
• Add the cream to the melted chocolate and mix well together. It should thicken.
• Beat your egg whites firm.
• Before they are fully firm, gradually add the sugar and continue to mix.
• Then very carefully, add the egg whites to the preparation, making sure you do not “break” the eggs. Use a wooden spoon for best results.
• Place in individual cups or a large bowl.
• Chill for at least 1 hour before serving.

(image from epicurious)