Mmmmm, turtle.

The aforementioned humongous chocolate tart did in fact get made last night, and turned out to be the Chocolate Turtle Torte from Caprial's Desserts. It was not vegan, in fact with 6 separated eggs, two sticks of butter, some half and half and heavy whipping cream it was anything but, but as the person being honored by the turtle specifically requested squishy super-chocolatey non-vegan-ness, that's just the way the cow tips.

While I don't think it'll become an everyday occurrence to make desserts of this magnitude, it is fun every once in a while to go whole hog--or cow--and make the sort of thing that uses every pan in the cupboard, every mixing bowl, every non-metal utensil in existence. And while I am a devotee to the art of clean-as-you-cook, last night after I had finished making this beast my kitchen was utterly destroyed. Every counter was covered with dessert detritus: chopping boards, pecan crumbs, wooden spoons stuck to spoon rests, sticky measuring cups, blender parts everywhere. It was like someone had come through and had sex with every major appliance I own.

A word to the wise, though: egg whites whipped to hold stiff peaks cannot be whipped in the blender. If you do this, they will not so much fold into the chocolate mousse as flop, and the resulting mass, even refrigerated overnight will not be light and fluffy. It will however, be sticky and uber-chocolatey, and everyone in the office will have seconds. Physicians will naturally have thirds.

Better luck next time. Which is next week. Although this time the baking honoree has requested vegan fare, specifically with chocolate and coconut. Luckily there's a perfect fit from Sinfully Vegan, and no egg whites in sight.