Tastes Like Summer!

The groundhog came out of his hole on February 2nd and declared an early Spring.  Sure he did, we have had snow just about everyday since Ground Hog Day!  WHY do we put so much trust, in a furry little animal, that doesn't use any kind of weather predicting devices?  I am tired, tired, tired of this cold, frosty weather, do ya feel my pain? I need some sunshine, please!

So, after a long bout of a flu like sickness last week, I'm back in the kitchen.  I gotta keep moving, trying to keep warm.  I made an after dinner dessert last night, hopefully to remind me of the warmer weather that will soon be in our forecast.  I needed a little of my own sunshine, and to refresh me a little, I made a Strawberry Tiramisu with a hint of lemon, that I know will get me thinking of Summer, the hot sun, being outside without a parka on, or bundled up with gloves, a blanket, scarf, boots, a hat........you get the picture, uh huh.

Recipe below.

To print recipe, click on it, highlight and print.

To view photos in a larger format, click on them.

A few of my ingredients.

 I used an 8 oz container of mascarpone cheese and 4 ounces of regular cream cheese.  Chopped a few strawberries for the cheese mixture.

 Made my own whipped cream, it's cheaper and you can flavor it anyway you like.  Used vanilla bean paste to flavor mine.

It only takes a few minutes, so be careful you don't want to churn it into butter by over mixing it.

 PERFECT!

 Gently fold half into the cream cheese mixture and reserve half for topping.

 Split the ladyfingers and layer in the bottom of a baking pan.  I used a palette knife to spread the cheese mixture it's much easier than a spatula.

 First layer of ladyfingers and cheese mixture.

I sliced up about 8 large strawberries to top the cheese mixture.  Another layer of ladyfingers, more cheese and any remaining strawberries.

 Used a pastry bag with a fitted tip and went all around the edges and in between all the berries, to top the whole tiramisu with whipped cream.  Garnished with a large sliced berry on top, as well as some grated lemon zest.

A slice of Summer, I feel better now!

 Strawberry Tiramisu

Ingredients

8 oz. container mascarpone cheese, room temp

4 ounces regular cream cheese, room temp
3/4 cup confectioner's sugar

1 teaspoon lemon juice

1/4 teaspoon lemon zest

1/2 cup chopped strawberries

2 - 3 oz packages ladyfingers

2 cups heavy whipping cream

1/2 teaspoon vanilla bean paste or 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 cup confectioner's sugar

8 large strawberries, sliced (see note)

1/2 teaspoon lemon zest

1 large strawberry for garnish

Directions

In a large mixing bowl, beat the mascarpone cheese and cream cheese until well combined.  Add the 3/4 cup of confectioner's sugar, 1 teaspoon of lemon juice, 1/4 teaspoon of zest, blend.  Fold in the chopped strawberries, set aside.

Split the ladyfingers in half, and make one layer of them in the bottom of an 8 x 8 baking pan, set aside. Reserve the other ladyfingers to complete the tiramisu. 

In a medium mixing bowl, pour in the heavy cream, vanilla and 1/4 cup of confectioner's sugar. Beat on high, until stiff peaks form, do not over beat, it will turn to butter, not good.  This should be light and fluffy with the consistency of whipped cream, not cream cheese. Reserve half of the whipped cream, put into a bowl and refrigerate. With a spatula, lightly fold the other half into the cheese mixture.

Layer half the cheese mixture over the ladyfingers, top with sliced strawberries.  Repeat with the remaining ladyfingers, cheese mixture and strawberries.  Right before serving put the whipped cream into a pastry bag and pipe onto the top of the tiramisu.  Top with the large strawberry and lemon zest to garnish. Makes 6 servings.

NOTE:  You could also use frozen berries, or frozen berries in syrup.  I used fresh berries for a fresher taste.

Simple Salmon

Browsing the aisles of Costco, I love that store.  You never know what you'll find, and EVERYTHING is always good.  I buy my salmon there and nowhere else, it's the best.   The fillets are huge, so when I get it home I cut it into equal size pieces and bag them separately.  My long fillet of salmon was about $16.00 but I got 2 meals for 4 people out of it, not bad.  If we went to a restaurant for this meal the cost would have been much more.  I made this simple salmon meal for my family the other night and it was delightful! Recipe below.

To print recipe, click, highlight and print.

Beautiful slices of salmon, butter, lemon, salt, pepper and a little fresh parsley for color, that was all it took. 

Pretty!

I started the veggies in the oven first.  Roasted fresh broccoli, carrots, mushrooms, yellow peppers and fennel with olive oil, salt and pepper as a side dish along with....

 Lemon Orzo - to make the Orzo follow directions on the box for the amount you will need.  Bring salted water to a boil, orzo is pasta so cook it how you like, soft or al dente.  Ingredients for making the Lemon Orzo - juice of one lemon, 2 tablespoons of butter, 1/4 tsp salt, 1/8 tsp pepper and 2 Tbsp fresh chopped parsley.

 Toss all in the pan after you drain it.

So, everything is ready for my meal to be served.  This is my Simple Salmon....

The Roasted Veggies and Lemon Orzo.

And for dessert, Apple Walnut Cake with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream and Caramel Sauce.   A scrumptious, healthy meal (oh, except for this dessert, it was over the top!) on the table in less than an hour.

SIMPLE  SALMON

Ingredients

1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil

2 boneless skinless salmon fillets

1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 tsp pepper

2 tablespoons butter

2 slices lemon, cut the slices then use the same lemon for the juice

juice of 1 lemon

1 tablespoon chopped flat leaf parsley

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Coat the area of a baking sheet, where you will place the salmon, with the olive oil.  Pat the salmon dry with paper towels, and place on the sheet.  Sprinkle fillets with salt and pepper, divide the butter between the two, squeeze the lemon over the fillets, top with sliced lemon and chopped parsley.  Bake for 15 -20 minutes, depending on your oven.  To check to see if it is done, flake at the thickest part to make sure it is cooked. Makes 2 servings. 

Cookie Mania!

I branched out a little last week, I baked cookies for someone to bring to a baby shower.  I have never done this before, the pressure was on.  I was doing it all myself, no help from anyone, was I up to the task?  I got all the cookie recipes out that were requested, and broke them down as to what days I would bake which cookie. I was a little nervous, would they turn out, would they like them, would they hold up.  It took four solid days of baking from morning to night to get them all done.  I baked 11 different kinds of cookies, decorated them and packed them up to be delivered. They don't look professionally baked or decorated, but they also don't look like they were commercially baked and full of preservatives, and that is what makes them unique and fresh.

Flour, flour everywhere and lots and lots of cookies to make and bake.

Cucidati - Italian Fig Filled Cookies

 Cranberry Orange Almond Biscotti

Lemon Pie Bowties

 Dark Chocolate Cake Cookies

 Lemon Butter Cutouts

 And more Lemon Butter Cutouts

Peanut Butter and Spritz.  Oops! Forgot to take pictures of Chocolate Chip, Butter Balls and Jam Filled Thumbprints, but they are there on the trays too.

 Linzer with Raspberry Filling

 All wrapped up in cellophane and ready to go.

Four trays of cookies, I hope they enjoyed them all!