Tiramisu

I've tried a few Tiramisu recipes before and this one is the best!

Ingredients (serves 4)

1 cup strong coffee, cooled to room temperature
1/2 cup  + 1/3 cup Baileys Original Irish Cream liqueur
1 pack sponge finger biscuits
2 eggs, separated
50g brown sugar
250g mascarpone
chocolate powder

Method

1. Beat the egg yolks and sugar in a bowl until thick and creamy. Add mascarpone and 1/2 cup of Baileys and beat until well combined.

2. Use a clean electric beater to whisk the egg whites in a bowl until soft peaks form. Use a metal spoon to fold half the egg white into mascarpone mixture. Fold in remaining egg white until combined.

3. Combine coffee and 1/3 cup of Baileys in a bowl. Dip biscuits, one at a time, into the coffee mixture and use them to line the bottom of the serving bowl.

4. Spoon one layer of mascarpone mixture onto the biscuits. Line another layer of biscuits, and add on a second layer of mascarpone mixture.

5. Put the Tiramisu in the fridge to chill (about 4 hours).

6. Sprinkle with chocolate powder to serve.

Pistachio and Lemon Yoghurt Cake with White Chocolate Buttercream

This is the birthday cake I made for my husband this year. I got the cake recipe from my friend (thanks Madonna!), and added to it lemon curd and a delicious white chocolate buttercream.

Recipe for Pistachio and Lemon Yoghurt Cake
(it tastes great on its own, or you can add lemon icing if you like)

Ingredients
130 g softened unsalted butter
240 g caster sugar
4 egg yolks
400 g self raising flour
370 g plain yoghurt
90 g chopped unsalted pistachio nuts
grated zest of 2 lemons

Method
1. Preheat oven to 170C.
2. Beat together butter, sugar and lemon zest till light and fluffy.
3. Add egg yolks one at a time until combined.
4. With a spatula, fold in the flour and yoghurt alternatively until combined, then add the pistachios.
5. Place into a baking pan and bake for approximately 35-40 mins or until firm to touch.

Recipe for Lemon Curd
 
Ingredients
grated zest and juice from 2 lemons
2 eggs
caster suger (to taste)
60g unsalted butter
1 tsp cornflour
 
Method
1. Whisk egges in a medium-sized saucepan.
2. Add the rest of the ingredients and heat the mixture over medium heat. Whisk continuously until the mixture thickens.
3. Lower the heat and gently simmer the curd for about a minute, continuing to whisk.
4. Remove from heat and cool it in the fridge.
 
Recipe for Lemon and White Chocolate Buttercream

Ingredients
300g cream cheese
60g unsalted butter
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 tsp lemon extract
1/4 tsp salt
100g white chocolate chips
4 egg white
grated zest of 2 lemons

Method
1. Beat egg white until soft peaks form.
2. Beat together cream cheese, butter, vanilla extract, lemon extract, lemon zest and salt until light and smooth.
3. Melt white chocolate in a water bath. Add to the cream cheese mixture and beat to combine.
4. Fold in the meringue. Beat until fully combined and smooth.

Asembling the cake
1. Cut the cake into half.
2. Spead the lemon curd onto the first layer of the cake.
3. Put back the top layer of the cake.
4. Spread the buttercream on the top and the side of the cake.
5. Decorate your cake the way you like it!

And I just realised how much I have improved when I looked at some of the cakes I made in the past! :D

2011 快樂生辰

今年的生日，過得很充實。

首先，還了一筆稿債。（其他債主請見諒，欠你們的，我會盡力盡快歸還！）

在面書、SMS、What's App等收到很多祝福和禮物，感到非常幸福。也藉面書推行我去年開展的生日禮物行動，收到了一些美麗的回應。

每年生日，為免與人潮擠在一起，吃昂貴的情人節大餐，我和老公都會在家享用寧靜的自家製情人生日節晚餐。今年試了一些新的食譜：


Tuna Ceviche with Coconut Milk, served with Sprouts and Avocado

French Onion Soup

Duck Wellington (a recipe modified from Wellington Steak)

Inside: duck in cherry sauce

是日亮點：老公親手製作的Tiramisu！

話說年前他在為創作做資料蒐集時，得悉了Tiramisu的做法，告訴我「原來很容易做的！」「那你做給我吃吧！」我說。他一口答應，卻一直未有機會兌現這個承諾，終於在昨天，處女下海，弄了他第一個親手為我製作的生日蛋糕。

好吃得不得了！