Peanut Butter Oreo Mousse Torte

It has been way too long since a post without chocolate. 

It is time to remedy that.

I have a default and I'm pretty sure you all already know what it is.  But just below chocolate, I have another love.  Peanut Butter.

I could go on and on about peanut butter.  I can't eat chocolate all by itself.  I will eat in things, on things, swirled through things, and definitely with peanut butter.  But peanut butter, now there is a food  to be eaten straight up.  And if I'm not in the mood for that, on bananas, in ice cream, mixed with cocoa powder.  Believe it or not, a couple years ago, I could not stand peanut butter.  I know, right?  Turns out you can mature in more ways than one.

Peanut butter takes chocolate to the next level.  This torte takes that combo to an even higher level.  Words cannot describe and pictures cannot do justice to this torte.  It is so good.  Each layer is important.  Everyone likes an Oreos, but instead of being dipped in milk, these oreos create a crust that compliments a creamy peanut butter mousse layer topped with a rich chocolate ganache.  The ganache makes it look professional and finished.  And the filling is light, yet so rich and the mini chocolate chips and chopped peanuts add such a delicious cruch.  Each bite encompasses creamy and crunchy, peanut buttery and chocolatey.  In short, you must try this.  With Valentines coming up, you can show your family how much you love them by making this.  Trust me, they will love you back.

Peanut Butter Oreo Mousse Torte
Recipe Source: Adapted from Annie's Eats. 
Yield: 16-20 servings

Crust:
45 Oreos
1 stick of margarine, melted
Pinch of salt

Crunch:
1/2 cup salted peanuts, chopped
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
2 tsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. instant coffee
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
Dash of ground nutmeg

Filling:
2 cups heavy whipping cream
1-1/4 cup powdered sugar
12 oz. Neufchatel cream cheese, room temp.
1-1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
2 tbsp. 2% milk
1/4 cup salted peanuts, chopped

Ganache:
1/2 cup half and half
4 oz. semisweet baking chocolate
1/2 cup salted peanuts, chopped

Throw the Oreos in a food processor and process until fine crumbs.  Mix with butter and salt and press onto a greased 9 inch springform pan.  Freeze for 10 minutes and then bake at 350 for 10 minutes.  Cool.

Mix all the ingredients for the crunch and set aside.

Beat whipping cream until it holds medium peaks.  Add 1/4 cup powdered sugar and beat until peaks are medium firm.  Refrigerate until needed. 

In another bowl, beat cream cheese and remaining cup of powedered sugar.  Beat in peanut butter, milk, and 1/4 cup chopped peanuts.

Gently stir in 1/4 of the whipped cream just to lighten to mousse.  Stir in the crunch and then gently stir in the remaining whipped cream.  Scrape into crust and cover with plastic wrap.  Refrigerate for at least four hours or overnight.

To finish, melt the semisweet chocolate.  Bring half and half to a boil and pour over semisweet chocolate.  Mix until smooth and pour over torte.  Sprinkle with chopped peanuts and refrigerate until ganache is hard, about 30 minutes.  Remove sides of springform pan and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Notes:  We just bought salted peanuts and I put them in a Ziploc bag and pounded them into smaller pieces.

And even though this looks really complicated, its not.  It takes a while and a little extra work, but it is so worth it. 

Unfortunately, along with my peanut butter and chocolate default (seriously, does anyone have a carrots and broccoli default?) there is something else I constantly fall back upon.  My sin default is more unhealthy than any chocolate peanut butter overload I could create.  This default requires more than self control and good intentions.  Sin is not to be taken lightly and yet our world does.  These things may have been obvious to you, but I have gleaned a couple of things about our Enemy that were really encouraging.  Yes, sin is our default and Satan knows it.  God is constantly trying to help us go the opposite direction that we seemed programmed to do.  Sounds like a losing battle to me.  Satan seems to have the upper hand. 

But Satan is not God's equal.  That is a lie many people believe, consciously or not.  I was guilty of it until a couple of days ago.  How happy we must make Satan when we place Him in equal strength with God.  How delighted he must be when we view him as God's counterpart!  I forget that Satan has to ask God before he can do anything.  He is Michael's counterpart, not God's and is most definitely not as powerful as God is.

How encouraging it is to know that God can help our default by renewing our minds.  I view it as reprogramming.  Computers can be really confusing with all the different programs and shortcuts and back ups.  Unless someone is trained in that field, the computer can be a difficult thing to maneuver.

Even though Satan knows the ins and outs of our programming and does everything to keep it that way, if we let Him, God is constantly slowly changing our programs. We can go to this program instead of another. We can do right instead of wrong. All with the help of a Master Programmer.

Now if only He could help reprogram my chocolate default.  Wasn't I saying something about carrots?