My Favortie Dessert....Tiramisu

 I can’t tell you enough how much I enjoy this dessert. I had gone to and Italian Restaurant many years ago and ordered their Tiramisu. It was totally wonderful. I have never found Tiramisu that tasted like that again. They were either to sweet, to soggy or made with cream cheese. A few years ago I decided to make my own recipe. It took me three tries to get this to perfection.

1-1/2 lb. Mascarpone cheese
1 pint of heavy whipping cream
6 eggs
2 packages lady fingers
3 Tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons of powdered sugar
3 shots (3 oz) Cognac or Brandy
8 espresso sized cups of coffee (about 14 oz)
4 Tablespoons powdered unsweetened cocoa.

Dipping:
Combine the ingredients in a bowl. Espresso, two shots of cognac, one teaspoon cocoa. Allow to cool to room temperature.

Pour 1/8 inch of espresso mixture into a shallow flat-bottomed bowl. This step is very important because you don’t want to over soak your Lady finger so it becomes soggy. Set bowl aside.

Mascarpone cheese mixture:
In mixing bowl beat egg while tempering them, add sugar until creamy white. Let cool completely then add mascarpone, 1 shot of Cognac or Rum and mix until blended. Refrigerate until you are ready to assemble.

Prepare your heavy whipping cream by beating until it becomes stiff and then add powdered sugar. Fold in the mascarpone mixture and set aside.

Important tip: Quickly dip the lady fingers in the 1/8 inch espresso. Get the right amount of espresso on the cookie. Do not let the cookie stay to long in the Espresso mixture. If you soak the cookie in the espresso mixture to long you will end up with soggy cookie instead of it being firm & moist.

Assembly: Build a layer of dipped Lady Fingers across the bottom of the Glass pan. Spoon a layer of mascarpone mixture across the layer of cookies. Use about 1/3 of the mascarpone mix. The layer should be about (3/8in.) thick. Dip another layer of cookie in the espresso mixture and lay on top of the mascarpone cream. Spoon a second layer of mascarpone mixture across the second layer of cookies. Use the remaining mascarpone mix for a total of three layers. Sift cocoa on top of the final mascarpone layer. Hold the sieve over the tiramisu and tap the sieve on the side with your finger. The cocoa should sprinkle down in an even layer. Use this technique to cover the tiramisu with a very thin layer of cocoa. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours before serving. serves 12 to 15

The Mad Scientist is at work

The Cisco Kid decided what he wanted to be for Halloween.

He has been a fireman two years in a row for Halloween. I really wanted him to be something else this year. I know if I would have asked him what he wanted to dress up as, he would have said.....Fireman... again!

I knew that the costume he was going to wear had to be his idea. He really loves a few things besides being a fireman. He loves his laboratory and he loves his trains. Since he has been a fireman two years in a row and the train conductor costumes don't come in his size anymore. That left....Mad Scientist. I loved the idea!!! Now to convince The Cisco Kid!!!!! I came up with three costumes he might be interested in. Swamp monster, Mummy and the Mad Scientist. I showed him some pictures of all three and he picked, Mad Scientist. He didn’t like the scary masks for the other two. He liked the idea so much he started telling me how he wanted it to look. He said….mom I want it to look like one of my experiments blew up. That’s all it took for my creative mind to start oozing creepy Halloween ideas. This is what I have so far.

The Lab jacket. It's on order.

The safety gloves to conduct the experiments The Mad Scientist has to look mad. What better way than to have these crazy teeth. This is the oozing creepy part. These are going to be sewn all over his lab coat with some red splats, to look like his experiment blew up and parts went flying. My Challenge is going to be, finding a good pair of Mad Scientist Steampunk Goggles. These are really cool. If I can’t find a pair of Steampuck Goggles, I will have to improvise and get creative with a plain pair of goggles When we are done with the costume, I will post it.

Thank you so much for participating in "What would your children say?" Wednesday.

Decisions, Decisions, Heaven or sugar!!!

Here it is again... The weeks just fly by. It's another "What would your children say?" Wednesday.


I have made several posts about how much The Cisco Kid loves his sugar. This boy will do back flips for cake, chocolate and ice cream.

Over the past two or three months The Cisco Kid has been very curious about haven. He is asking lots of questions. This is how our sugar and heaven conversation went.

Him: When I go to heaven will I be able to come back home?
Me: No, baby once you go to heaven you will never be able to come back home.
Him: Can I see in heaven?
Me: Yes, you will be able to see.
Him: Will I know anyone in heaven?
Me: Yes, you will know Rex (our dog of 13 years).
Him: What’s in heaven?
Me: God, Jesus, Angels and all good people.
Him: What is an angel?
Me: A very special and extra good person who died.
Him: Am I a special extra good person.
Me: Yes, you are a very special and extra good person.
Him: What else is in heaven?
Me: That’s it. That’s all you will need.
Him: Really, that’s it.
Me: Yes, that’s it.
Him: Mom I never want to go to heaven.
Me: Why?
Him: There is no sugar in heaven.

See what I mean!!!!!

Crisp Sugar Cookies

This is the fifth of twelve posts on my Family Heritage Christmas cookies. Every Monday from now until Christmas I will share my full collection of Christmas cookie recipes with you. My Christmas cookie collection consists of twelve different kinds of cookies. Every year I bake over 500 cookies and give them to our family and friends.

I have already posted about my Almond Crescents, no cook S’mores, Almond cups and Coconut Macaroons.

These cookies are crispy and almost taste like a sugar cookie with a butter taste.


1/2 cup butter softened
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1-3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 tea. Baking powder
1/4 tea salt.
1 container of colored sprinkles.

GLAZE:
1 cup confectioner’s sugar
1 to 2 tbs. milk
Red, Green, Yellow Blue Past or liquid food coloring

Cream butter and sugar. beat in egg and vanilla. Combine dry ingredients: gradually add to the creamed mixture. Cover and chill for 1 hour. On a lightly floured surface, roll out to 1/8- inch thickness. Cut with 2-1/2 in. cookie cutters. Place 1 in. apart on Parchment paper. Bake at 350 degrees for 8 to 1- minutes or until lightly browned. Cool on wire rack.

GLAZE:
In small bowl, combine confectioners sugar and milk until smooth. separate sugar into smaller bowls for individual colors. Stir in desired food coloring. Lightly spread onto cooled cookies. Let stand until glaze is set. Makes about 3 doz. You can also coat with melted bark chocolate coating

Chicken Gnocchi Alfredo. From start to table in 15 minutes.

I always love to participate in sharing recipes. Kelly, from Kelly's Korner is asking for great go to recipes. It quick. easy and real good.

Chicken Gnocchi Alfredo: This is from my 15 minute meal collection. Chicken Gnocchi Alfredo can be completed from start to finish in 15 minutes. I time stamped all the pictures from beginning to end to show it could be done. From start to table in 15 minutes.

Serves 4

Ingredients:
1 pound refrigerated potato gnocchi
24 oz. chicken breasts, no skin or boned
9 oz fresh spinach
1 pound jar Classico Creamy Alfredo four cheese sauce
2 clove(s) garlic
1/2 cup(s) grated Parmesan cheese
2 tbsp olive oil

Instructions:

Bring water to a boil for gnocchi. Chop chicken up in large bite size pieces and set aside. Put olive oil in wok on medium. Chop garlic and add to heated oil. Once garlic is browned add chicken and cover. At this point the water should be boiling. Add gnocchi and lower heat to medium. Stir chicken and add the spinach to the wok. Cover and let steam for 3 minutes. Spread the spinach and chicken to the outer edges and add the Four Cheese Alfredo sauce to the center. Let simmer on Medium heat for 1 minute. Now add the gnocchi to the wok and stir. You are ready to serve.

Hint on how you can tell if the Gnocchi's are cooked: A sure way to tell if the Gnocchi's are cooked just right is when they float in the boiling water they are done.


Hint to save time: I do not strain the gnocchi. I use a large spoon with holes and take it right out of the boiling water into the main dish.


Points: 15 points per serving






I find that a Wok cooks in half the time of a regular pan.

I'm ready for the big screen

Something you might not know about me. I am an avid TV addicted mama. I am soooooo ready for my shows to start. I love, Grey's Anatomy, I can’t wait to see what happens to George and Izzie. Ghost Whisperer, This show makes me cry every time. I can’t remember watching it once and not crying. The Real Housewives of NY, Love them all. Kelly, not so much! Desperate Housewives, Dancing With The Stars & Brothers and Sisters. Castle, I’m still on the fence about this one. The Chief watches one, NCIS. Thank goodness for DVR.

Thank you "PAIR" SLICES , The Daily Dribbles and Olwald Cuties for participating in "What would your children say?" Wednesday, and sharing those great stories. You can still go and see what their cuties were up to.




Everyone check out Show off your Creation site and you could be a winner. There will be 15 winners. I am in the Christmas mood. I am going to start giving things away. I just want to hand them out left and right. You could be next. A total of fifteen FREE gifts will be given away. Go to Show off your Creations and see how to win.

Boys in a cage

Today I’m putting a twist on "What would your children say?" Wednesday. I'm posting something that makes my child laugh uncontrollably and what cracks him up. I would also like help with some ideas for what would your children say?" Wednesday.
These two friends were at the Children’s Museum over summer vacation and they thought it was the funniest thing to get into the dog cages. They didn't get in them once but they got in them twice. They could not stop laughing. They stayed in them for at least 15 minutes.

Now from my point of view I find this hysterical, because when I sit the Cisco kid in a chair for time out, he goes ballistic. But being in a cage is fun. Go figure!!!!!








Everyone check out Show off your Creation site and you could be a winner.
There will be 15 winners. I am in the Christmas mood. I am going to start giving things away. I just want to hand them out left and right. You could be next. A total of fifteen FREE gifts will be given away. Go to Show off your Creations and see how to win.

Tiger Cub and Den Mom

If you would have told me ten years ago that I would have been a den mom and wearing a rugged looking shirt, I would have called your crazy. It just goes to show you how having children can change your prospective in life.

Maybee I'm wearing a rugged shirt, but at least my feet will look pretty!!!!

Coconut Macaroons

This is the fourth post out of twelve. Every Monday I am going to post a recipe from my Christmas cookie collection. I have already posted about my Almond Crescents, no cook S'mores and Almond cups.

These Coconut macaroons are so soft and chewy. Most coconut macaroon cookie recipes do not require any cooking prior to baking. These do require cooking. That extra step is worth it. It adds a great chewy texture on the inside.

1/3 cup sugar
2 tablespoons corn syrup
1/4 teaspoon almond extract or 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 bag (14 oz) sweetened shredded coconut (about 5 1/3 cups lightly packed)
2 egg whites, slightly beaten

1-tablespoon water

Directions

Heat oven to 325°F. Line 1 large or 2 small cookie sheets with cooking parchment paper.

In 1-quart saucepan, combine sugar, water and corn syrup. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly. Reduce heat; simmer 30 seconds to 1 minute, stirring constantly, until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat; stir in almond extract.

In large bowl, add sweetened coconut, then pour sugar mixture over coconut; beat with electric mixer on low speed until well mixed. Add egg whites; beat on low speed until blended.

With moistened hands, firmly shape rounded tablespoonfuls of coconut mixture into balls; roll in unsweetened coconut to coat. Place 1 inch apart on cookie sheet.

Bake 30 to 40 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool completely, at least 30 minutes. Store in tightly covered container at room temperature.

Could I have turned into my Mother!!!!

Oh how I love to document and this is just too perfect not to. I got a kick out of this when Mck mama wrote a similar post.

Take a few minutes and think about what you say to your children throughout the day. When you can remove yourself from the moment it is truly hilarious.
My days go something like this.

Get out of the sink. That doesn’t mean you go to the other sink.

Put the toilet seat down.

Go to your room and get your socks. Are you more afraid of me or the ghosts?

Don’t bring that bug in the house.

Can you stop talking for one minute, Please? I can’t think.

You can only ask me three more questions.

Stop using my furniture as a jungle gym.

Stop licking the table.

Why would you thing that is a good idea?

Throw your toy one more time and its going in the garbage.

Turn the light off for the thousandth time.

Stop putting your science project on your wart.

This is not up for discussion or debate, just do what I said.

How did that happen? What do you mean you don’t know? It’s only the two of us in this house and I know I didn’t do it.

Please put your sneakers on we have to go. I said...go put your sneakers on. What are you waiting for, we have to go. Are they your sneakers?

Finish your food, please. Wow! That was fast. Where is your plate? You never throw your food in the garbage.

What do you mean you were just looking at the wallpaper and it fell off the wall?

Moms.....what do you say?