No this is not a post about cows, their milk or their cream…at least not directly…it is a post about Tiramisu. Specifically, The February 2010 Daring Bakers’ challenge which was hosted by Aparna of My Diverse Kitchen and Deeba of Passionate About Baking. They chose Tiramisu as the challenge for the month. Their challenge recipe is based on recipes from The Washington Post, Cordon Bleu at Home and Baking Obsession.
Not the beauty I had envisioned!
Currently we are in the Lenten season and even though I am no longer a practicing RC, I think this is going to be a post of confessions.
Confession #1– I was not overly fond of this version of Tiramisu, forgive me Aparna and Deeba…it is not that there was anything wrong with this one, other than the fact it is not the version that I often make. In my version I do not combine the zabaglione, pastry cream and whipped cream but I alternate layers of lady fingers, zabs, lady fingers, pastry cream to the top, I then just put a small dollop of unsweetened whipped cream as a garnish and to help cut the richness of the entire dessert.
Confession #2– I had visions of grandeur as far as presentation, unfortunately that was all they were but visions. I did not end up with the gorgeous savoiardi rimmed dessert I saw in my mind.
Confession #3– I thought that this was going to be a fun joint endeavor with Ray, you may know him as my partner in life but now he too is a partner in the DB. So, I figured a joint effort and fun for all. Apparently not!! On baking day I overheard him say, “I am going to take you out”. When I called him on this he then said, “that is NOT what I said. I said, “I am going to BAKE you out!”” Rivals in the kitchen it shall be!!!!!!! He isn’t exactly kitchen savvy but can hold his own and if I figure out how, I will give him props on his non-blogging post of his Tiramisu.
Confession #4– This is the part where I actually learned something I didn’t really know but it is also something that could cause me to become an ex DBer…… I did NOT make my own mascarpone!! May the powers that be hear my defense, please!!!!! Apparently, there is a huge difference between Pasteurized and Ultra-Pasteurized dairy products. Pasteurization is a lower temp longer time method which kills off the “bad critters” but leaves beneficial enzymes still intact. Ultra- Pasteurization is a high temp quick time method which basically zaps everything in the milk, both good and bad. Well, here in the States, Federal regulations make it a difficult task to find any dairy that is not Ultra-Pasteurized. So, unless you are a dairy farmer or live damn close to one, finding only Pasteurized cream is almost impossible. Off to Sunseri Bros. I went for my ready-made mascarpone. I know I broke the rules but I confessed, so please, please, please Aparna, Deeba and the Powers that be forgive my indiscretion and let me remain a member of the fold!!!
Now that I have confessed and also sought absolution, let me tell you about the challenge. Despite the fact that it was not my Tiramisu, it was a very good one at that. I still prefer the separation of flavors as opposed to combining them. The zabs and pastry cream recipes were pretty much on course with what I am used to. The Savoiardi recipe is a little different from what I have used in the past but turned out stellar. So much so that I think I may never buy a store-bought lady finger again. If one actually breaks it down, especially in these times of tightened budgets, why purchase something pre-made when it can be done so easily and much more cheaply at home?
Final thoughts on the challenge would be to give it a go. Aparna and Deeba came up with a great challenge which encompassed different techniques which when combined truly do come together in a heavenly fashion. Thank You Ladies, Thank You Very Much!!!!
I will now leave you with an almost step by step pictorial on my making of the Savoiardi. You can find the recipe for the Savoiardi/Lady Fingers and all other components here.
- Starting the whites
- Finished Whites- looks like a snowball, appropriate considering the weather we have h ad.
Incorporating the yolks into the whites- Love egg yolk gold!!!!!
2 steps later the fingers are piped- Not enough hands to photograph the folding in of the flour or the piping.
An attempt at creative flair, I dusted some cocoa stripes onto the fingers before baking.
Lady Fingers fresh out of the oven.
The February 2010 Daring Bakers’ challenge was hosted by Aparna of My Diverse Kitchen and Deeba of Passionate About Baking. They chose Tiramisu as the challenge for the month. Their challenge recipe is based on recipes from The Washington Post, Cordon Bleu at Home and Baking Obsession.