Thursday, December 30, 2010

Tiramisu!

Hoppas att alla haft en fantastisk jul! Nu har det snart gått en hel vecka sedan julafton och jag tycker som vanligt att det är så tråkigt när julen är över. Imorgon är det iallafall nyårsafton och då måste man ju fira in det nya året med en lyxig dessert. Jag gjorde tiramisu till juldagen för att jag var så nyfiken på att testa, och den blev så uppskattad att jag blev ombedd att göra en till nyår också. Eftersom det bara fanns ett paket savoiardikex kvar i affären valde jag att göra en sockerkaksbotten istället och använda kexen runt om. Tårtan är som godast tillsammans med ett glas portvin!









Tiramisucirka 12-15 bitar
Sockerkaksbotten
•3 ägg
•2,5 dl socker
•1 tsk vaniljsocker
•3 dl mjöl
•1,5 tsk bakpulver
•1 dl mjölk
•50 gram smör


Kaffesirap
•2 dl starkt kaffe eller espresso
•0,5 dl kahlua
•1 dl socker


Mascarponekräm
•4 äggulor
•1 dl socker
•4 äggvitor
•2 dl grädde

•1 burk mascarponeost (250 g)
•2 tsk vaniljsocker

Garnering
•Kakao
•Riven mörk eller mjölkchoklad (cirka 100 gram)
•1 paket savoiardikex, cirka 200 g



Sockerkaksbotten
1.Sätt ugnen på 175°C. Smörj och ströbröa en form som är cirka 20 cm stor.
2.Vispa ägg och socker pösigt i en bunke. Värm mjölk och smör i en kastrull tills smöret har smält. Tillsätt den varma mjölkblandningen lite i taget. Blanda mjöl och bakpulver och rör sedan ner det i äggsmeten. Häll smeten i formen.
3. Grädda bottnen i nedre delen av ugnen i cirka 35-45 minuter. Känn med sticka att den är färdig.
4.Låt bottnen svalna 15 minuter. Lossa kanten med en kniv och vänd sedan upp den på ett bakplåtspapper. Låt kallna en stund.
5. Dela kakan i tre eller fyra bottnar.



Kaffesirap
1. Brygg 2 dl starkt kaffe eller espresso. Häll i en kastrull tillsammans med 0,5 dl kahlua och 1 dl socker. Låt sedan blandningen sjuda cirka 8-10 minuter. Låt svalna.



Mascarponekräm
1. Vispa ihop äggulor och 1 dl socker i en värmetålig skål över vattenbad. Vattnet ska sjuda. Rör hela tiden i blandningen tills den börjar tjockna. Var försiktig bara så att det inte är för varmt, då blir det äggröra! Ta bort från plattan och låt svalna.
2. Vispa under tiden upp äggvitorna i en ren skål till ett hårt skum. Vispa grädden hårt i en annan skål.
3. Blanda mascarponeosten med äggulesmeten. Blanda sedan i grädden och vaniljsockret. Rör sist ner äggvitorna försiktigt. Låt svalna en stund i kylen.


Sätta ihop tårtan
1. Använd en form, helst en springform, som är lite större än tårtbottnen, cirka 23-25 cm.
2. Pensla tårtbottnarna med kaffesirapen. Använd mycket sirap så blir bottnarna saftiga.
3. Lägg den första bottnen i formen, klä sedan hela insidan (alltså runtom tårtbottnen) med savoiardikex. Bred ut fyllning över den första tårtbottnen. Upprepa samma sak med alla tårtbottnar, och avsluta med ett lager fyllning överst.
4. Ställ in i kylen minst 4 timmar.
5. Pudra med kakao och garnera med riven choklad. Knyt gärna ett band runtom tills tårtan ska serveras.




In English:

Tiramisu cake

Sponge cake
•3 eggs
•2,5 decilitres (dl) sugar
•1 tsp vanilla
•3 dl all purpose flour
•1,5 tsp baking powder
•1 dl milk
•50 grams butter


Coffee syrup
•2 dl strong coffee
•0,5 dl kahlua
•1 dl sugar


Mascarpone cream
•1 tub of mascarponecheese (250 g)
•2 dl heavy cream
•4 egg yolks
•1 dl sugar
•4 eggwhites
•2 tsp vanilla

Garnish
•Cocoa powder
•Grated or chopped dark chocolate (about 100 grams)
•Savoiardi biscuits, about 200 grams


Sponge cake
1. Preheat oven to 175°C (350 F). Butter and flour a round 20 cm cake pan.
2. Whisk the eggs and sugar until white and fluffy. Heat the milk and butter in a sauce pan until the butter has melted. Gradually add the milk mixture to the batter. Mix the flour and baking powder in another bowl and then add it to the batter. Pour the batter in the prepared pan.
3. Put the pan on the lower rack in the oven and bake for about 35-45 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
4. Let cool on a rack for 15 minutes. Invert the cake onto parchment paper. Let cool for a while and then split the cake into 3-4 pieces.



Coffee syrup
1. Make 2 dl strong coffee or espresso. Mix with kahlua and sugar in a saucepan. Let boil until all the sugar has melted. Let cool.



Mascarpone cream
1. Mix eggyolks and sugar in a heat proof bowl in a double boiler over simmering water. Mix constantly so the mixture until the mixture starts to thicken. Be careful so you don't make scrambled eggs! Remove from heat and let cool.
2. In a dry, clean bowl, whip the egg whites until stiff. In another bowl, whip the cream until stiff peaks form.
3. Mix the mascarpone and the eggyolkmixture. Add the whipped cream and vanilla. Gently fold down the whipped egg whites. Put it in the fridge for a while.



Assembling the cake
1. Use a spring form which is a little bigger than the cake, about 23-25 cm.
2. Soak all the cake layers in coffee syrup.
3. Start by putting the first layer in the bottom of the spring form, then put savoiardi biscuits all the way around the cake. Evenly spread out the mascarpone cream on the first layer. Repeat the same step until you have used all layers. Finish off with a layer of mascarpone cream on top.
4. Put in the fridge for at least 4 hours
5. Before serving, powder with cocoa powder and garnish with grated chocolate.

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Christmas was here

It came, and even quicker.... it went. Leaving us a house strewn with paper, bows, new toys, a sugar high, and a warm fuzzy feeling after reflecting on another year gone by.
the weekend went a little like this:1 happy mother in a teeny tiny kitchen prepping for a Christmas Eve feast2 crazy kids bouncing off the walls and hanging from the ceiling (and myself joining them a few times)4000 pieces of

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Christmas Quiche



Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year.  We are having a wonderful white Christmas with Mr. Hungry's family and we had the most delicious quiche this morning.  Just wanted to share the recipe real quick in case you have a lazy day or a brunch coming up.  My sister in law shared this recipe and we prepped it on Christmas Eve and just reheated it the next morning.  Perfect breakfast to pop in the oven after everyone had opened presents.  Pretty darn good and I was especially excited because I've expressed my feelings on eggs (ew) and I actually loved this.  Once I participated in making quiche, I realized there's more cream and cheese than eggs,  so while this won't make you skinny, it's a special treat.

I got a few really fun, new things for the little kitchen that I can't wait to share...

See you next year!

Classic Quiche Lorraine
Ingredients
1 refrigerated pie crust (or frozen, thawed)
8 slices bacon, crisply cooked and crumbled
1 1/4 cup shredded swiss cheese (6 ounces)
1/3 cup finely chopped yellow onion
4 large eggs
2 cups heavy whipping cream (or half and half)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper (red pepper)
Step by Step
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Poke holes in botttom of pie crust and bake for 10 minutes.   Do not let crust brown.  Put an even layer of the onion, bacon and cheese into the pie crust.  In a separate bowl, whisk together eggs, whipping cream, salt, pepper and cayenne until well blended.  Pour egg mixture on top of cheese.  Reduce oven to 325 degrees and bake quiche for 50 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.  Cool for 10 minutes, slice and serve.

To make ahead, allow quiche to completely cool.  Wrap tightly and store in the refrigerator overnight.  Reheat in a 350 degree oven for about 10 to 15 minutes, until warmed through.

Friday, December 24, 2010

Merry Christmas!

It's here!! EEEEEEEEEEEEEEK!!!
Our tummies are stuffed from our Christmasy feast. Of taters, and cake, and giant roast beast.The yard has been glittered for reindeer to see-The children danced 'round the yard merrily.We read about Christ being born in the hay,a Star and the Angles showed shepherds the way.Twas the Night Before Christmas and then off to bed-(with a peek out the window, to see a

Merry Christmas!

" Christmas day is a day of joy and charity, may God make you rich in both."

-Phillips Brooks

I want to sincerely wish you all a very merry Christmas. Thank you for your interest in my blog. I've had so much fun sharing recipes with you all. Here's to fabulous things coming to us all in the upcoming year!




Every piece of the universe, even the tiniest little snow crystal, matters somehow. I have a place in the pattern, and so do you. Thinking of you this holiday season!


-T.A. Barron

"Nothing I can do will change the structure of the Universe. But maybe, by raising my voice I can help the greatest of all causes- goodwill among men and peace on Earth."

- Albert Einstein


"Christmas is doing a little something extra for someone." -Charles Shultz







This is my wish for you: peace of mind, prosperity through the year; happiness that multiplies, health for you and yours, fun around every corner, energy to chase your dreams, joy to fill your holidays! - D. M. Dellinger

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Christmas Letters

excited? yes.

Dear Christmas, we are now on an hour countdown. Yay!!
Dear Christmas with Children, you are one billion times better than Christmas without Children.
Dear Robby, remember our first Christmas--we had the TINIEST tree and propped it up in a saucepan. It had like five ornaments. 
Dear Time, slow down!!! I love all these exciting moments full of anticipation and wondering....it's all

Savory Rosemary Shortbread

" First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do." - Epictetus
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This post is part of a series, Handmade Holiday Gifts
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I'm on a savory shortbread kick. These I served with cheese and olives at a dinner last night. They are exceptional. I couldn't believe how much I liked them. Next year I will be sure to include them with other sweet cookies in baskets.
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The rosemary flavor is prominent, they are a touch sweet, but not too much, with a finish of salt. They are just right. I grow rosemary, so the fresh herb flavor is welcome in Winter. If you don't grow the herb, you can of course, use dried. Oh, and if it's too fussy to roll them into shapes, then don't. Go ahead and shape them into logs and refrigerate till firm and slice. Easy peasy.

ready for the oven
Rosemary Shortbread
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adapted from this recipe
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1 1/2 sticks (3/4 cup) unsalted butter -room temperature
1 tablespoon honey
1/4 cup powdered sugar (if you don't have powdered, go ahead and use granulated)
2 cups flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
2 tablespoons fresh rosemary chopped finely, (or use 3 tsp dried rosemary, chopped)
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Preheat oven to 350. In a bowl with an electric mixer beat butter, honey and sugar until light and fluffy. In another bowl whisk together flour, baking powder, salt and rosemary. Beat together flour mixture with butter mixture just until blended.
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On a lightly floured surface roll out dough, cut into shapes and bake on a Silpat or parchment paper lined baking sheet for 15 minutes or until lightly browned. Or instead of rolling them out, form them into 2 logs, refrigerate until firm, (about an hour) then slice with a sharp knife into cookies. Then proceed as instructed.