An awesome 'Pick me up'

No.. its not what you think. I'm not starting a blog on casual dating, coz that would be funny..specially since I dated the same man for almost 5 years before getting married to him.. and our idea of *dating* consisted of 20 min walks around kala ghoda and random run-ins outside various Court Rooms!

I made Tiramisu for my daddy's birthday. Tiramisu, as some of you would know, is an Italian Coffee flavoured dessert which means 'pick me up' in Italian. I'm presuming this is because of the strong coffee, but its Italian and they speak the way they eat- think of the stunningly beautiful phrase "Il bel far niente"(the beauty of doing nothing) also think of all the gorgeous food, gorgeous men (and women) and the Godfather.. and its probably just a pick up line..imagine someone saying.. "Il mio amore tiramisu" Cute in'it??

On a serious note, I need to go to Italy to find out why they would name a dessert as they have. (Husband, its a burning question that needs to be answered ASAP..I think we must go there and solve this mystery once and for all!! ;)

For now, the super easy recipe.

Tiramisu with Orange Truffle Baileys.
adapted from Nigella and tinkered a bit.

Ingredients
400 gms Mascarpone at room temp ( I used the Kodai Farms Mascarpone that I picked up from Coimbatore -the taste and texture were perfect.).
100 grms cream cheese at room temp (the recipe calls for 500 gms mascarpone, but I ran short, and I'm glad I did, as the salty cream cheese cut through the sweet mascarpone)
400 gms Savoiardi Biscuits or day or two old big sponge cake left outside so its dry (slice it lengthwise, the size of a fat finger). Or if nothing, sweet Rusk.
2 egg yolks
1 egg white (make an omelette from the second white like I did, or mix it with yogurt and put it in your hair-don't throw it! be healthy!!)
4 1/2 Tbs of Instant Coffee (I used Bru coffee as its really strong)
2 glasses of water
80-90 gms castor sugar (or normal sugar powdered in the mixer)
1 + glass Baileys (optional and according to taste.. I, obviously used +)
3 tbs cocoa powder and/or 1 heaped tbs coffee powder (optional)
8/10 hulled strawberries (optional)
Chocolate shavings (optional)
Fresh cream/cream cheese (optional)

Method

Warm water on the gas for about 2-3 mins, add the coffee powder and bring to a boil and take it off the gas. Pour this into a shallow platter (with raised edges) and let it cool.
Beat the egg yolks and add the sugar. At first it will all come together and thicken like maida atta ,but beat it some more and it will become a runny pale yellow liquid. Add about quarter glass of Baileys and mix it well. Add the mascarpone and cream cheese and mix it gently. Beat the egg white till its foamy. Fold it in the eggy mascarpone and gently mix it.
Once the coffee decoction has cooled properly, add 3/4 glass of Baileys and mix. Dip each biscuit/ cake/rusk in the coffee decoction till its slightly moist but doesn't crumble (just a quick dip) and place it  in your serving platter (which should be semi deep and preferably rectangle/square). Once you make the first row of  the biscuits, pour the mascarpone mixture and very lightly, smoothen it with a spatula/flat spoon. Repeat this (The top layer should be the mascarpone). To decorate, put the cocoa powder & or coffee powder through a seive- chai ka channi and sprinkle all over. Sprinkle Chocolate shavings, pipe fresh cream/cream cheese, add strawberries like I did. Do whatever.
Make it pretty...make it luscious and drool worthy. unlike me, who just doesn't do pretty food.

Cover it in foil/clingwrap and stick it in the fridge 3 to 12 hours before serving.

Layer One. Please notice the colour of the Biscuits before dipping.

Layer Two.After dipping.

Finished product. 

Serve it cold.

Attraversiamo baby!!!