Tiramisu(Italian dessert)

This is a very easy dessert and a very delicious one too..I first tasted it in one potluck and have been a big fan of this ever since. I make two versions of this-one for adults and one for kids. Kids love them too..

Ingredients

1. 2 packets of italian lady fingers
2. 1 mascarpone cheese
3. 1 to 2 tsp vanilla essence
4.1 to 2 cups whipped cream
5. 2 cups brewed coffee(just warm the water and mix 1 or 2 tbsp of instant coffee powder if you are not able to get brewed coffee)
6. 1/4th cup rum(optional)- when making for kids ,you can skip this.
7.1/2 cup sugar(you can vary according to the sweetness you want)

8.cocoa powder, drinking chocolate powder(kids)
9. A square cake pan or a glass dish where you can assemble and arrange Tiramisu

Method

1. First mix the coffee and rum together.  Then in a mixing bowl, take the mascarpone cheese, whipped cream,sugar and vailla essence and mix very well. Use a whisk.

2.Separate the lady fingers. Take one by one and slighly dip it in the above mix. If u dip it more it becomes soggy. After dipping in the coffee, keep it in the cake pan. Do it till the bottom of the pan is covered. This is the first layer.
I havent covered the entire pan since I was making it for the first time and i didn't have enough lady fingers.

3. Spread half of the cream mixture over the lady fingers. This is the second layer.

4. Then using a sieve spread cocoa powder over the cream mixture. I use a mix of cocoa powder and drinking chocolate powder for the kids.

5. Repeat the 2,3.4 steps one more time. i.e one top of this chocolate layer, again arrange one layer of lady fingers, then spread cheese mixture, and spread  chocolate powder.

I took this picture when I made it the next time :-)

6. Now cover this with a foil or a plastic wrap and refrigerate for 4 to 6 hours. Then cut it nto square pieces and garnish with nuts or fruits of your choice while serving. Keep it refrigerated till serving.

you can see the layers and texture in this picture. Hope you enjoy making it.

Vegetable Lasagna(Italian)

Hi
This is my first post. I tried this veg lasagna with the recipe ,which i got from my friends and some websites ,with lot of variations from my side. It turned out to be a hit in my house. My kids loved it. So I am posting it.






Ingredients

1. Lasagna sheets-9
2. 1 or 2 cups of vegetable(I used brocolli,spinach,carrot and peas)
3.pasta sauce
4.tomato ketchup
5. 2 onions and 2 tomatoes(for the sauce)
6.ricotta cheese(i used about half of 15 oz bottle)
7.shredded mozarella cheese,parmesan cheese
8.dried italian herbs(basil,oregano,etc)
9.fresh basil or parsley(if you can get)
10.olive oil.
11. 1 egg(optional)
12.crushed chilli flakes.
13.sugar 1 or 2 tsps
14.nonstick cooking spray-to coat the pan

Method:
step 1.

Boil some water and cook Lasagna sheets according to the instructions on the packet. Drain and keep it.                                                            

                                                                                                                 

  Step 2.

Making the tomato sauce.

Heat some olive oil and saute some italian herbs. saute the onions,garlic,tomatoes and crushed chilli flakes till they are cooked and you get a gravy. Add the sugar and salt to taste.you can add some water to make it a gravy.

In a bowl mix this gravy, pasta sauce and tomato ketchup and keep. you can use tomato gravy alone also if you dont have pasta sauce and ketchup. Or you can use pasta sauce alone. It is upto you.

Step 3.

Heat the olive oil and some butter. Add some italian herbs,chopped garlic and saute it. Then add brocolli and mix well. Add some salt. take it out.

Repeat this step for other vegetables.

No need for the vegetables to get cooked fully.

Step 4.

Making the cheese mixture.

In a bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, a cup each of mozarella and parmesan cheese, chilli flakes, chopped garlic, chopped basil/parsley, dried italian herbs and salt.mix well. Add the egg and whisk well.(If you are a vegetarian you can omit this step.)

Step 5.

Take a 9 x 13 baking pan and spray with nonstick cooking spray.

Spread the tomato sauce mixture.(This is the first layer). spread it evenly. Then keep 3 lasagna sheets side by side. Again spread the tomato sauce mixture. Then spread the cheese mixture. Then spread the brocolli,carrot and peas.

Again repeat these steps starting from 3 lasagna sheets, tomato sauce,cheese mixture,and spinach.

Finally keep the last 3 lasagna sheets on top. And spread the remaining tomato sauce mixture on top evenly. spread some shredded mozarella cheese on top.

Now bake this in oven for 25 to 30 mts (350 F) and broil for 5 mts. Make sure that cheese doesnt get burnt while broiling. Keep checking.

Take it out. Cut it into square pieces and serve. while serving you can sprinkle some grated parmesan cheese on top.

Enjoy!!!!!