Tiramisu

Tiramisu is a dessert I can’t resist and I have waited a long time to make it at home. What kept me waiting was the high cholesterol level. As soon as I found out that my level of cholesterol had decreased quite a bit I went straight to the grocery store and bought all the ingredients, promising that this is the one time that I’ll be making it. But the fact that I bought double the quantity of mascarpone cheese hints otherwise. Promises are after all meant to be broken ;)

Ingredients:
Eggs – 3 large (yolks and whites separated)
Mascarpone cheese – 8 oz
Espresso – 1 ½ cups
Brandy – 2 tbsp
Sugar – 3 tbsp
Ladyfingers – 20
Cocoa powder

Procedure:
In a large mixing bowl beat the egg yolks, 1 tbsp espresso, sugar and brandy for 2-3 minutes. Now add the mascarpone cheese and beat for another 4-5 minutes until smooth.

In a separate bowl beat the egg whites with a pinch of sugar until the whites turn into stiff peaks. Gently fold this mixture into the mascarpone mixture.

In a flat dish pour the espresso and dip the lady fingers in it. Layer on bottom of serving dish. Spread half of the mascarpone mixture and dust the top with cocoa powder.

Continue layering finishing with a mascarpone layer. Dust cocoa powder on top.

Refrigerate 2-8 hours before serving.

Garnish with bittersweet chocolate shavings.

Sour Cream Pound Cake

Emboldened by my success of the cupcakes and the banana bread I decided to bake one more cake. I followed the measurements listed in a book I borrowed from the library and it turned out pretty well.

Ingredients:
Granulated sugar -- 1 cup + 2 tbsp; 2 tbsp (for topping)
Unsalted butter (room temp) -- 14 tbsp
Eggs (room temp) – 4 large
Vanilla extract – 1 tbsp
Sour cream – ¾ cup
All-purpose flour – 2 ¼ cups
Baking powder – 1 tsp
Baking soda – ¼ tsp
Salt – ¼ tsp

Procedure:
Heat oven to 325F. Grease a loaf pan and set aside.

Beat 1 cup and 2tbsp sugar, butter and vanilla until pale and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating after each addition.

Beat in the sour cream, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

Stir in the flour just until incorporated. Don't overmix.
Spread the batter in the pan.

Sprinkle 2 tbsp granulated sugar reserved for the topping over the top.

Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about an hour and 10 minutes.

Cool the cake completely on a wire rack.

(For best results, wrap the cake airtight and store 1 day at room temperature before serving.)

Zucchini Gratin

On my nth birthday my sis-in-law presented me a French Country Cooking cookbook with the request that I treat them to some recipes from the book. Zucchini Gratin or Tian de Courgettes (as the book says) was one of the easiest recipes I could detect at first glance and one with which I could play around a bit. To make matters easier I also had the ingredients at hand.
The original recipe used only zucchini although the book mentions that any combo of vegetables can be used. Along with the zucchini I used some bell pepper and shrimp and what I liked most was that it was very tasty without being too greasy!

Ingredients:
Cooked long grain rice – ½ cup
Zucchini – 1 (cut into ¼ inch thick slices)
Onion – ½ (thinly sliced)
Garlic clove – 1 (chopped)
Bell pepper (optional) – ½ (diced)
Precooked shrimp (optional) – 8-10 (coarsely chopped)
Chopped fresh parsley – 1 tbsp
Grated parmesan cheese – 3 tbsp (add more if you want)
Egg – 1 (beaten)
Salt & Pepper -- to taste
Olive oil

Procedure:
Preheat oven to 400F.

Sprinkle the zucchini slices with salt and pepper.

Meanwhile heat a pan with oil and sauté the zucchini until they are just tender. Drain on paper towel, chop coarsely and reserve in a bowl.

In the same pan (add oil if necessary) sauté the onion, garlic, bell pepper and shrimp (if using), and add to the zucchini. To the bowl add the rice, 2 tbsp cheese and parsley. Taste and adjust seasoning.

To the mixture stir in the beaten egg and spread it in individual oven proof dishes. Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top and drizzle slightly with olive oil.
(You can use one large dish also, in that case the baking time will be longer, about 25-30 minutes.)

Bake for 15-18 minutes or until set.

Now set the broiler on high and broil for 2-3 minutes until the top is browned to your liking.

Serve hot or at room temperature.