Tiramisu

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...with tomorrow being Christmas Eve, you can only imagine all the hustle and bustle the holiday brings to homes everywhere. For tomorrow's Christmas Eve dinner with my grandmothers and uncle plus my mom, dad and brother we will have Tiramisu for dessert. This recipe was given to me by my aunt and it's always a huge hit whenever it's made!

TIRAMISU

INGREDIENTS

4 large eggs

6 Tbs sugar
1 container (475g) Mascarpone cheese
1 Cup whipping cream
1 Cup espresso
1/2 Cup Kahlua Liqueur
1 package Lady Finger Cookies
2 Tbs Coca

DIRECTIONS

Beat eggs and sugar until light in colour. Beat whipping cream until thick. 
Add cheese to egg and sugar mixture until smooth.
Fold whipping cream into cheese.

Combine cooled espresso and Kahlua in a bowl and quickly dip the lady finger cookies. Place in the bottom of a pan. 

Cover cookies with 1/2 of the whipped cheese topping and sprinkle with cocoa. 
Repeat for second layer of cake.

The Julie/Julia Project

I watched the movie Julie and Julia last night and I found it to be sweet and quirky. I thought to myself that my baking blog is somewhat similar to what Julie Powell did, but by cooking every recipe that Julia Child had in her cookbook. I am not following a cook book, nor do I have a deadline, but I did wonder if having a blog like this would lead to agents, publishers and editors contacting me in the same way they did Julie. I highly doubt it, but it's a nice thought. Plus, I don't think there are many followers. I just know of one person that reads my recipes and gets to indulge in my creations. Christmas is just one week away, and I will be whipping up some treats for the holidays. Also, I celebrate Christmas in January, so there will be more desserts for me to make for family dinners. If you have any suggestions/comments they are always welcome. Until next time...stay warm!

Meringue Kisses

The first snowfall of winter inspired me to make these fluffy white clouds a try. The first time I attempted to make them, I didn't beat the egg whites long enough and the meringue didn't turn out, so I gave it around shot and it worked! If you don't have a piping bag (like myself) use a plastic ziploc bag and cut a small tip off the corner and insert a nozzle if you have. If not, simply spoon mounds onto baking sheet and call them clouds.

MERINGUE KISSES

PREP TIME 10 minutes

BAKING TIME 1 hour

MAKES 36 kisses

INGREDIENTS

4 egg whites

1/2 cup (125mL) granulated sugar

1/2 tsp (2mL) vanilla extract

1 cup (250mL) icing sugar, sifted

DIRECTIONS

1. Beat egg whites until soft peaks form. Slowly beat in granulated sugar. Continue to beat about 3 minutes until egg whites are thick and shiny.
2. Beat in vanilla.
3. Gently fold icing sugar into meringue mixture in 3 or 4 batches.
4. Place meringue in a piping bag, fitted with a medium-sized star nozzle, and pipe kisses onto baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Bake for 1 hour (or until dry on the outside, but not at all coloured) in a preheated 175F/80C oven (or as low as your oven goes). Rotate backing sheets halfway through baking time. Turn off oven and allow cookies to dry for a few hours.