I'll eat anything with lime

Seriously, limes are the most versatile fruits. What else works just as well with chicken as it does with pie as it does with tequila? Oh little lime, what a wonder you are.

Inspired by DH's desire for orange and chocolate, I felt that chocolate and lime would be equally as delicious. Probably even more delicious. The richness of the chocolate, the coolness of the lime, and both are just so sweet! I knew I needed something really chocolatey for this idea to work. I thought of my molten chocolate cakes, because I like individual servings, but I didn't want the molten middle to detract from the lime. I wanted the flavors to waltz together - no showboating.

When Jon and I would take a weekend up to Santa Barbara we'd eat at this great place called "The Palace Grill" which is one of our all time favorite restaurants. Its one of those places that you have to "know somebody" to get on the list because its always booked. Sure you can walk in off the street, but the wait is ridiculous, and its kinda cool to be snuck in the back way. At least once during your dinner, the song "That's Amore" will come on and waiters pass glasses of wine to ensure everyone has one before the entire restaurant joins in the song.

The food is great, but the highlight of our meal is always dessert - the dark chocolate souffle. Dark chocolate souffle is the perfect complement to my limey idea. Just add a little lime sugar to everything (and use the leftovers to rim your next margarita!) and its a match that will make you ponder if there's anything the little lime can't do.

Chocolate lime souffle

1/3 cup sugar
1 Tbsp grated lime peel
3 oz bittersweet chocolate, chopped
2 large eggs, separated
1/8 tsp salt
1/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/3 cup heavy whipping cream
1/2 Tbsp fresh lime juice

1) Preheat oven to 400. Place 2 ramekins on baking sheet. Mash sugar and lime peel in small bowl.
2) Place chopped chocolate in double boiler, stir until melted. Remove from heat.
3) Stir in egg yolks, salt, and 2/3 Tbsp lime sugar.
4) Beat egg whites in large bowl to soft peaks.
5) Add 2/3 Tbsp lime sugar and beat until stiff but not dry. Whisk 1/3 of whites into chocolate mixture to lighten. Fold in remaining whites in 2 additions.
6) Fold in chocolate chips. Spoon mixture into ramekins, dividing equally. Bake until softly set and puffed, about 10 minutes.
7) Whip cream, fresh lime juice, and 1 1/3 Tbsp lime sugar to peaks in medium bowl. Top souffles with whipped cream mixture. Sprinkle with additional lime sugar.

Serves 2.
Each serving has:

Calories		476.2
Total Fat		31.6 g
Cholesterol		54.3 mg
Sodium		21.6 mg
Potassium		252.3 mg
Total Carbohydrate		54.8 g
Protein		3.3 g