Chocolate with Francois Coconut Rochers

Swimming:  Monday was such a burn out day, I went for a 30 minute swimming workout at the Community College to try to get some energy flowing. Swimming is a tough sport! Just because you can run so many miles doesn’t mean swimming one lap of the pool comes easy! I had to rest after every 25 meters. 

First, I used the kick board to practice my kicking.  Then I tried the one arm stroke where you have one  arm at your side and swim only with the other arm then switch after 10 strokes.  That’s super tiring!  I alternated breathing sides and then tried to swim underwater as long as I could.  That was the extent of my water workout. Doesn’t sound like much but it was.

Ted and I are scheduled for a 30 minute lesson tonight but it’s at 7:30 pm and that’s getting a bit late for my schedule.  We’ll see if I make it.  I sure could use more practice, that’s for sure.  At least when I swim continuously, I don’t get so cold.

Do any of you swim?  How often do you practice?

Running:  A total of 7 running miles outside with a chest and arm weight workout to start.  

Started the run off slow. My legs were heavy and I kept thinking how I really didn’t want to run anymore.  Instead of focusing on my run, I tried to disassociate myself from the activity and let my mind think about other things: Christmas, gifts bought and gifts yet to buy, swimming, going out to dinner…anything but running.  It worked. By the time I refocused, I was ready to speed it up.  The wind was against me on the way home so even though it wasn’t a high mileage run, it was tough due to the wind resistance.   End result: mission accomplished.

The Special of the Day:   Chocolate with Francois Coconut Rochers!

Rocher means “boulder” in French.  That should be the description of these cookies from Francois’ Payard’s book “Chocolate Epiphany”. 

My cookies don’t look like boulders but more like tepees. Still, just as delicious.

This month the Chocolate with Francois group is baking up my choice found on page 45 of Payard’s book.  I cut the recipe in half because all his recipes seem to make so much.

The ingredients for 25 rochers

• 5 large egg whites
• 3/4 cup sugar
• pinch salt
• 4 1/2 cups dried unsweetened shredded coconut
• 2  1/2 TBS Dutch-Processed cocoa powder
• 1/3 cup plus 2 TBS semi sweet mini chocolate chips

*I used sweetened coconut and regular chocolate chips.

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 F with the rack in the center.

Line a baking sheet with parchment and put a bowl of cold water right next to it. You will need it to form your cookies.

Combine the egg whites, sugar, and salt in a bowl with an electric mixer.

Fill a pan about 1/3 full with water and bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat. Reduce heat to low and HOVER the egg white mixture over the top. DON’T LET IT TOUCH THE HOT WATER – your eggs will cook. 

This is the hardest part:  You need to beat the whites – sugar mixture over the water for about 5 minutes without letting it touch the hot water.  The whites- sugar need to form a meringue. 

Set that bowl aside.   In another bowl, mix the coconut, cocoa powder, and chocolate chips. Now with a silicone spatula (or wooden spoon) *make sure there is NO GREASE on whatever mixing utensil you use, gently fold the coconut mix into the meringue just until combined.

Scoop out mixture, about 1 1/2 to 2” diameter on your baking sheet. Dip fingers in water and pinch the top of the mounds to form pyramid shapes.

Bake for 10 – 12 minutes or until outside of cookie becomes crunchy. Center will remain moist.

Remove to cool on a wire rack and store in an airtight container, in a cook, dry place for up to 4 days.

These would make delightful little gift cookies but obviously, I enjoyed a few too many with a hot cup of tea hence, not enough for gifts. I’ll just have to make some more!

Just like Francois promised, crisp outside, moist inside

Hope everyone else enjoyed making this months recipe.  I thought it was definitely one of the easier one.