Tuesday, March 8, 2011

(H)ap(p)y B'day, Apy Cooking! Celebrating with Tiramisu



So I started my blog at this time last year, not realising what a huge influence it would have on my cooking.  And here I am, one year later, beaming at the knowledge I have garnered and happy about pushing the boundaries of my comfort zone and whipping up delicacies I hadn't dreamed I could ever make. I have all of you to thank, for encouraging me with your support, comments, and more importantly trying some of the recipes and giving me good feedback.

I'm particularly grateful to my husband who, without any hesitation has eaten all that I have made, tasty or not, thus encouraging me to carry on with my experiments. Heck, I'm no seasoned cook and most of the recipes here were attempted the very first time, so based on his facial expressions after eating the food, could I decide whether it was blogworthy or not. My son has been a great help too - there are many recipes included here which I made solely for him and a few others for his little friends in his playgroup. Whenever he even gets a hint that I have something in the oven, he peeks into it to get a look and waits for me to open the oven door.

I'm now waiting for him to grow up a little so we can have great fun in the kitchen - baking and decorating cookies and cupcakes.

I would also like to congratulate SS and wish her blog, SS Blogs Here, a Happy Bloggiversary! We started blogging on the same day and SS has constantly visited my site and unfailingly left me a nice comment on each post. Thank you, girl!

Coming back to my post, Tiramisu has been on my list ever since I attempted the Tres Leches cake (which incidently happens to be the first post and one of my most favourite posts in this blog, shall I also mention, my most favourite cake in the world!). The Italian word Tiramisu literally means 'Pull me up'  and you do want to do exactly that when you see one.


I did not use raw eggs because I wanted to sleep without  salmonella nightmares, specially since my son would be happily eating the Tiramisu. I cannot call this an eggless Tiramisu, since the lady fingers I used did contain eggs. If ladyfingers are not available, you can use a sponge cake. [Lady fingers, not to be confused with okra, are sponge cakes shaped like a finger].

The recipe is from Happy Home Baking, which I made a few changes to, since I used a larger spring-from pan (9"). I substitued alcohol with vanilla. Also, I did not border the cake with ladyfingers (or line it with foil/ parchment paper) and so the sides of the cake look tacky. I do need to learn the art of un-moulding the pan without damaging the sides. Any suggestions will be appreciated. [See update]

Ingredients:

Espresso Syrup:
1 cup boiling water
2 tbsp expresso powder [I used instant pure coffee powder]
4 tbsp sugar
1 tsp vanilla

Filling
1 1/4 cups heavy/whipping cream
12 oz (340 g) mascarpone cheese
1 1/2 tsp vanilla essence
6 tbsp sugar (add more if you like it sweeter)
2 tbsp expresso syrup


Other
Ladyfingers - Approx 30 count [depending on the size]
Grated chocolate - 2 tbsp
Cocoa powder - 2 tbsp

Method :
If you are using a springform pan, line the base with foil. [Since this is a no-bake cake, you can use any container and scoop out the tiramisu if you wish]. [See update].


If you wish to border the cake with ladyfingers, check the original recipe. [Make sure you have extra ladyfingers].

Prepare the espresso syrup by combining all the ingredients mentioned under it.

Prepare the filling. For this, with an electric mixer, beat heavy/whipping cream for a few minutes till soft peaks form.
In a separate large bowl take the mascarpone and mix well with vanilla, sugar and 2 tbsp of espresso syrup. Fold the whipped cream into the mascarpone mixture and mix.



Now start layering. [Remember lasagna?]
Dip either sides of the ladyfingers in the expresso syrup, very lightly for just a second [otherwise the lady fingers will be a soggy mess, I learnt it the hard way as you can see in the picture]. Place in the pan so that they fill the entire base, cutting them into shorter length if needed.
Layer with half of the mascarpone filling. Sprinkle grated chocolate.



 Make another layer of ladyfingers and the rest of the filling. Cover with a plastic wrap and refrigerate for atleast 4 hours [or overnight].

Just before serving unmould the cake. Dust cocoa powder on top...


...making some pretty design if you wish. Just cut out a shape on a parchment paper and place it on the cake before dusting. Remove the paper and voila!



This is a virtual piece for all my dear readers and blogger friends. Thanks for your support!


UPDATE :
I made tiramisu in a large glass dish and it was much faster since I did not have to worry abt foiling the pan. I just soaked the ladyfingers and placed them in the glass dish and went about with the layering. I then scooped out the yummilicious pieces and served them. Just make sure you have an extra supply of ladyfingers if you are using a really large glass dish, so that you don't run out of them.



Comments:


29 comments:

  1. conngrats on your milestone dear... beautiful clicks and marvelous cake...

    Dish Name Starts with F
    Learning-to-cook
    Regards,
    Akila

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  2. CONGRATS Apy !!!!! for the 1st yr bloggiversary !! and for all the treats that came on its way !

    wishing u many many more years of happy food blogging !

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  3. Congrats on your blog anniversary...A good reason to celebrate.. I like the click in which your son is curious looking into the oven..
    This is so beautiful.. Thanks for sharing a piece..
    I am bookmarking it rightaway, since I was bit skeptical about other recipes which used raw eggs...yummy.. yummy... yummy...

    http://krithiskitchen.blogspot.com

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  4. Happy Blog Anniversary, Aparna! And thanks for your wishes! I totally remember spotting your tres leches a year ago and thinking "ooh nice blog!" looking through archives and noticing the fresh birthdate! It's been fun reading your posts and having you around as a virtual blog-sister with the same birthdate! :) Cheers and wish you many years of 'appy blogging!

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  5. Congrats on reaching 1 year with your blog. Would love to follow you for many more years to come.

    Deepa
    Hamaree Rasoi

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  6. Hey Aps.. Congratulations on completing one year of your blog...happy anniversary :) It has been great reading your recipes, trying out at least few of them in my kitchen..great going girl! Wishing you many more anniversaries... :)

    Warm regards,

    Lavina....

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  7. Congrats on completing a year :) Keep it going and remember that you really rock :)

    Love the tiramisu and the pic with your son peeping through the oven door is so adorable :)

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  8. I was just wondering why .... why... why would u use lady fingers in a cake... lol.. hahahaah now i know..

    Congrats and keep ur blog going... for years to come..

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  9. Oh wow!! Now you've given me the craving for Tiramisu.

    Apy, try lining the side of the pan with a strip of greased wax paper. You can gently pull it off without ripping the sides of the cake. I do that when I need to keep the sides neat.

    Good going girl!!

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  10. Hey Aparna..long time ..how you been..
    Congrats n hugs on your milestone dear..keep up the good work!!
    Your Tiramisu looks fantastic..one of the most loved dessert in our household..

    Thanks a lot for linking this to bookmark event :)
    US Masala

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  11. Congrats on your blog aniversary, wishing many more years of happy blogging. Tiramisu looks delicious. your prince is cute.

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  12. Thanks fr the tip, Michelle. I was so disappointed when the sides did not come out clean. Will try lining the sides.

    Mich, have updated the post, thnx to yr comment :)

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  13. Congrats dear..tiramisu looks perfect and delicious..love it.

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  14. Happy anniversary to ur blog baby Apy, keep rocking gal..

    Tiramisu looks super yummy..

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  15. Congrats on this great Milestone...Perfect Tiramisu for the occasion...Keep Going..
    http://www.panchamrutham.blogspot.com/

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  16. Happy blog anniversary dear. Your Tiramisu looks lovely, perfect treat to celebrate.

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  17. Happy Blog anniversary and keep rocking !!! tiramisu is so perfect and yummy !!! Loved it !!

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  18. Congrats on turning one here. Wishing you many more fun filled years experimenting and blogging. Almost as momentous as your little one's birthday? :)
    Tiramisu is a lovely way to celebrate.

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  19. Wishing you a very Happy Blog anniversary..may you have many more.Tiramisu still stars in my dreams..yet to try.Looks delicious and tempting!!Love the pic of your kid peeping into the oven!!

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  20. congrats apy ...luved the tiramisu...looks super delicious !

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  21. congrats dear....tiramisu sounds perfect n mouthwatering....

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  22. Congrats on your milestone dear..
    Tiramisu looks awesome..perfect dessert for celebration..

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  23. Congrats on your blog aaniversary..tiramisu looks delicious..i never heard this recipe..thanks for sharing..

    http://womensera2008.blogspot.com/2011/02/ars-event-e2-announcement-b-for.html

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  24. Happy birthday Apy's blog. Perfect way of celebrating, your son looks too cute trying to peek in :)

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  25. happy blog anniversary thank you for linking this delicious looking tiramisu

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  26. Apy, drooling verily here! You must totally link this to my cake event dear - here is the link with details ---http://priyasnowserving.blogspot.com/2011/02/announcing-second-guest-event.html

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  27. Hello Aparna,
    I'm visiting you blog very late...but here's wishing you a Belated Happy Blogoversary(celebrated mine on Feb 24th!)

    Well,I must tell you Tiramisu is one of my faves and you have a lovely versio of it out here..looks absolutely delicious!I'm sure you had a lovely time gorging on it:)

    Cheers!
    Wit,wok&wisdom

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  28. Congrats sis......your food blog is amazing...
    Great presentation and your cakes especially make
    me drool;)))

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