Need mousse help

[Hello Kitty]

So I want to make this (http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,,FOOD_9936_31505,00.html) mousse recipe. I like it because it seems very authentic and uses whole eggs and cream for thickening :D

However, I really want to omit the grand mariner because I don't like chocolate and orange. In the 'reviews' section, people posted that they omitted it, but they didn't say if they replaced it with anything. Do you think I would add water in place of it? If not water, I suppose I could do Khalua, but I really just want it to be nice plain chocolate mousse. Suggestions?

[KarenS]

Just leave it out entirely. You really don't need to add anything if you don't want to. Do NOT add water. You'll change the texture of the mousse.

Karen

[Hello Kitty]

Okay, thanks, I wasn't sure what value the liqueur added to the recipe (moisture, flavor, both?) as I'm not familiar with the structure of mousse.

I'll just stick with the amount of water they have in there, then.

[tlew12778]

I would add Godiva liqueur :p.

[Hello Kitty]

Oh, duh! I thought there was a chocolate liqueur, but I couldn't remember. However, I'm furiously trying to stay on budget, so I may have to pass, unless I can get one of those airplane sized bottles. Good suggestion.

[bookworm]

You could also go a little Barefoot Contessa and use espresso or strong coffee. I've done that when making her truffles and you don't taste coffee but she insists it adds to the flavor :).

[Hello Kitty]

That's why I was thinking the Khalua liqueur would be a good choice - I could always halve it. I know that salt and coffee both enhance chocolate's flavor. I think I'll see how it melts without it first, and then mabye add a bit.

I'm so excited to make and eat this!

[Jennifer]

You could also add vanilla extract instead - I often add it instead of liquoer to chocolate dishes with good success and it enhances the chocolate flavor IMO.