Chocolate Devastation (part 1)

Servings: 12
Ingredients:

CHOCOLATE RAISIN ICE CREAM
2 c  Raisins                             1 c  Half and half
1/2 c  Jack Daniel's whiskey               2 oz Unsweet chocolate
8 oz Semi-sweet chocolate                8    Egg yolks
2 c  Heavy cream                       1/4 c  Sugar

-MOCHA MERINGUE-
1/2 c Powdered sugar 3/4 c Sugar
1 tb Cornstarch 2 ts Instant espresso
1 tb Unsweetened cocoa powder 1/4 ts Cream of tartar
8 Egg whites 1/8 ts Salt

—BITTERSWEET GANACHE—
2 c Heavy cream 8 oz Semi-sweet chocolate
2 tb Unsalted butter 4 oz Unsweetened chocolate
2 tb Sugar

Combine the raisins and whiskey in a plastic container with a tight fitting
lid. Allow to stand at room temperature for 6 hours or overnight. Heat 1
inch of water in the bottom half of a double boiler over medium heat. Place
8 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, 1/2 cup heavy cream, and 2 ounces
unsweetened chocolate in the top half of the double boiler. Tightly cover
the top with ilm wrap. Heat for 10 minutes, then remove from the heat and
stir until smooth. Transfer to a stainless steel bowl and set aside until
needed. Heat the remaining 1 1/2 c heavy cream and the half-and-half in a 2
1/2-qt. saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring the cream to a boil. While
the cream is heating, place 8 egg yolks and 1/4 cup sugar in the bowl of an
electric mixer fitted with a paddle. Beat the eggs on high for 2 to 2 1/2
minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Continue to beat on high until
slightly thickened and lemon-colored, about 2 1/2 to 3 minutes. (At this
point, the cream should be boiling. If not, adjust the mixer speed to low
and continue to mix until the cream boils. If this is not done, the egg
yolks will develop undesirable lumps.) Pour the boiling cream into the
beaten egg yolks and whisk to combine. Return to the saucepan and heat over
medium-high heat, stirring constantly, until the cream reaches a
temperature of 185~, 2-4 minutes. Then pour into the melted chocolate
mixture, and stir to combine. Cool the mixture in an ice-water bath to a
temperature of 40-45~, about 15-20 minutes. Line 2, 8′ cake pans with
enough film wrap to cover the insides of the pan. Set aside until needed.
Fold the whiskey-soaked raisins and any residual liquid into the cooled
chocolate custard mixture. Freeze in an ice cream freezer following the
manufacturer’s instructions. Transfer the semi-frozen ice cream to the 2
cake pans, evenly dividing the ice cream between the two pans. Use a rubber
spatula to spread the ice cream evenly to the edges of the pans. Tightly
cover the tops of the pans with film wrap, then place in the freezer for at
least 12 hours before assembling the cake. See part 2 for rest of
directions.