Sunday, February 14, 2010

Strawberry tiramisu is amore

Happy Valentine's Day! I am in the midst, adrift, hither and yon and home again. Concocting herb-roasted ribeye roast, olive salad, asparagus Italiano, eating chocolates, writing articles, eating chocolates, gaining weight, eating chocolates and wondering how the bananas on the table would be covered in dark in chocolate (answer: pretty good). In between slicing and saucing and eating chocolates, I talk to myself in various fairy tale characters for my Brothers Grimm play. I am silly.

I didn't want to let Valentine's Day fly away in my giddiness without sharing with you the simplest of strawberry tiramisu recipes - one devised by my mother years before there was a tiramisu dessert.

My sister and I have summer birthdays and our cakes were always made with ladyfingers - a Grand Manier Cake, a Charlotte Russe cake and a Strawberry Shortcake.


Ingredients:
ladyfingers (12-18 depending if you are doing one big bowl or individuals)
one cup whipping cream
1 T sugar
1 t vanilla
4 oz mascarpone, room temperature
*2-4 T Kirsch (Cherry brandy) optional
1 cup seedless strawberry jam
1-1/2 quarts fresh strawberries, washed and hulled
Preparation:
Lay your ladyfingers in a decorative bowl. You can also use a highball glass and break a ladyfinger in half and lay it in the glass creating individual tiramisu parfaits. Add your sugar and vanilla to your cream and whip until soft peaks hold their shape. Fold or whip in your mascarpone.
Meanwhile, warm your strawberry jam (makes it easier to spread) and add your Kirsch if using. Simmer for a few minutes. Cool a tiny bit.
Brush 1/2 the jam over the ladyfingers. Add a layer of half the cream mixture. Layer another layer of ladyfingers ans repeat - the rest of the jam layer and then the cream. Top all with the strawberries. Let sit four hours or overnight. Serve.
Red and white, purity and love, heart and soul, winter-bright sweetness for you. And to close, a lovely ditty about love from friends to friends.
When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie
That's amore.
When an eel bites your hand and that's not what you planned
That's a moray.
When our habits are strange and our customs deranged
That's our mores.
When your horse munches straw and the bales total four
That's some more hay.
When Othello's poor wife, she gets stabbed with a knife
That's a Moor, eh?
When a Japanese knight used a sword in a fight
That's Sa...mur...ai.
As a theatre geek, I did wince a bit knowing Othello's wife was not stabbed by a knife but the charm of the poem got to me - yep - an arrow through the heart. Hope everyone has a day filled with winter bright love and a little giddiness.

33 comments:

Whats Cookin Italian Style Cuisine said...

oh boy this looks gorgeous

Ciao Chow Linda said...

Love your mother's tiramisu recipe but love the poem even more - I'm just a geek for puns too.

OysterCulture said...

I giggled at the poem and drooled over the strawberry tiramisu - what a yummy and beautiful dessert for this day.

Velva said...

Strawberry tiramisu looks delightful. Perfect for Valentine's Day.

CheapAppetite said...

I also talk to myself all the time. Though not in the brothers grimm characters:) I love your version of that's amore song. Very funny. The strawberry tiramisu cake is so yummy looking. It's a great twist from the regular tiramisu. Thanks for sharing:)

Anonymous said...

what a great dessert! I reckon even I that am hopeless at desserst could make this! Looks so good with the staws on top!!

P.s Have you had any chocolate lately lol

Wanda..... said...

Love how you pass your time, including talking to yourself! You've been eating well Claudia, I have too, since Thanksgiving. Time to get out and walk a little more, if only it would stop snowing or I would stop finding such great recipes! Strawberry Tiramisu I♥U.

Anonymous said...

So pretty and just delightful! I hope you had a terrific Valentine's Day!

Unknown said...

Wish I had seen this earlier! It looks delicious! Glad I'm not the only one who talks to herself!

Angie's Recipes said...

That looks very pretty and summery!

Vrinda said...

WOW..strawberries and tiramisu,both my fav ,looks really mouthwatering..hope u had a gr8 V'day

chow and chatter said...

oh wow what a great recipe

Kitchen Butterfly said...

Yummy....love Tiramisu and a change is always welcome....how amore!

gaga said...

Strawberry tiramisu, what a great idea! Perfect for Vday. I hope you had a great one!

La Bella Cooks said...

This recipe bring on memories of summer past and makes me look forward to a bit warmer weather. I've had a raspberry tiramisu but since strawberries are my favorite, this one would be perfect for me. I hope you had a wonderful Valentine's.

Sam Hoffer / My Carolina Kitchen said...

This is gorgeous. I think the Kirsch would make a difference and I wouldn't leave it out if it were me.

Did you see your picture on the Foodbuzz ads today? There you are. You're famous.
Sam

Debbie said...

I love tiramisu but have never had the strawberry one. It looks delicious and I know I will have to try this!

Table Talk said...

I love Tiramisu in all shapes and sizes...with fresh strawberries even better~!

Reeni said...

Love the funny poem! And this scrumptious tiramisu - what a nice twist with strawberies.

wine cellar said...

Hey Claudia!, Thanks for the comments over at my blog! I added you to my blogroll with the text "Italian Food Blog". Cheers~

Katy ~ said...

Yumm..cherry kirsch...just know this dessert is deee-lish!!

Love the poem, never knew the words to it, just the tune. What a howl. I do love a good pun.

Unknown said...

Wow, this is so much like something my late mum used to make using savoiardi and cherry brandy but with chocolate and vanilla pastry cream. I think each Italian family had it's own version of Tiramisu` way before it was ever on restaurant menus. I love your mum's version with this strawberries. Thank you for sharing.

Barbara GF said...

You are so witty, Claudia. Love that poem, but that strawberry tiramisu is divine. It looks so festive - perfect for Valentine's Day!

janet said...

Gorgoeus dessert! And the chocolate- yum! Lol, loved the poem :) And the chocolate- yum!
Did I mention the chocolate? Yum!

janet said...

Gorgeous dessert! And the chocolate- yum! Lol, loved the poem:) And the chocolate- yum!

Mary Bergfeld said...

You are very funny. I didn't know you could write comedy as well :-). Your valentine dessert looks wonderful. We love strawberries so this will appear on our table very soon. Have a great day. Blessings...Mary

Juliana said...

Oh! Strawberry tiramisu, absolutely gorgeous...so fruity!

joe@italyville said...

that was funny... and the tiramisu, YUM!!

Rhandi said...

Yum! I can't wait to share this with my mother in law, we are on a non conventional tiramisu kick, we recently made lemon tiramisu and it was divine- I forgot that I wanted to post it- thanks for the reminder and inspiration.

Katherine Roberts Aucoin said...

Hsnds down this has to be the best dessert in the world!

bonnie said...

This look so lovely, and strawberries I'm in!!

sweetlife

theUngourmet said...

My kids and I loved the fun plays on words. :)

Your tiramisu looks perfect for Valentine's day...or any other day, for that matter! Yum!

Sutapa said...

Strawberry tiramisu is delightful!
I want to celebrate one more V-day for such a wonderful dessert!