Tiramisu

Last week was my husband's birthday, so wanted to make something different at home other than the usual stuff. Then thought of making 'Tiramisu' which he loves... so I surprised him with it & he loved it.

When I googled for the recipe, there were many ways of making this dessert. I found this recipe which was very easy & quick to make.

'Tiramisu' means 'Pick-me-up' in Italian. It is a cool, very light refreshing Italian dessert that once tasted, leaves an indelible impression on you. With all different flavours , textures & the lightness you can really say "Heaven in your mouth". So give it a try...

Ingredients:

Mascarpone cheese or cream cheese, softened - 1 package (8 ounces) Powdered sugar - 1/2 cup Light rum - 2 Tb spoon or Rum extract - 1/2 tea spoon Whipping (heavy) cream - 1 cup Ladyfingers- 3 packages (3o pieces) Cold prepared espresso or strong coffee -1/2 cup Baking cocoa - 2 teaspoons

Method:

• Beat mascarpone cheese /cream cheese and powdered sugar in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Beat in rum on low speed, set aside.
• Beat whipping cream in chilled small bowl on high speed until stiff peaks form. Fold into cream cheese mixture.
• Arrange half of the ladyfingers, on bottom of ungreased square pan, 8x8x2 inches.
• Drizzle 1/4 cup of the espresso over ladyfingers. Spread half of the cream cheese mixture over ladyfingers.
• Arrange remaining ladyfingers on cream cheese mixture.
• Drizzle the remaining 1/4 cup espresso on the lady fingers.
• Spread the remaining cream cheese mixture on top of the ladyfingers.
• Sift or sprinkle cocoa over top.
• Cover and refrigerate about 4 hours or until filling is firm.

PS: You can use Rum or brandy or coffee liquor or just rum extract. You can make as many layers as you wish.

Soppina Saru / Greens Curry

In Kannada "Soppu" means greens. You can use any greens which is available .. This is one of the famous & favourite curry made in our Gowda caste. It is mostly famous along with Ragi ball.

My mom makes this almost once a week with different greens every time. This is very nutritious & also healthy which is a good combination. As we don't get so many varieties of greens, I try to make this with Palak very often.. I am not sure why this was one of hated saru while growing up. These days it makes its appearance very frequently at my home :-) . The recipe is as follows..

Ingredients:

ಪಾಲಕ್ ಸೊಪ್ಪು / Palak leaves – 2 bunches ತೊಗರಿ ಬೇಳೆ / Thoor dhal – ¼ cup ಈರುಳ್ಳಿ / Onions - 2medium ಟೊಮೇಟೊ / Tomato - 2 ಬೆಳ್ಳುಳ್ಳಿ / Garlic – 1 whole ಹಸಿ ಮೆಣಸಿನಕಾಯಿ / Chilies - 6-7 ಜೀರಿಗೆ /Jeera/cumin - 1tsp ತೆಂಗಿನಕಾಯಿ ತುರಿ / Coconut- 1/4 cup ಸಾಸಿವೆ / Mustard seeds- ¼ tsp ಕರಿಬೇವು /Curry leaves ತುಪ್ಪ / Ghee/Oil – ½ tsp ಉಪ್ಪು / Salt Method:

• In a pressure cooker, add the thoor dhal, whole onions(if too big then cut it to half ), whole tomatoes, whole garlic, chillies & palak.
• On top of palak put the jeera and pressure cook for one whistle.
• After the cooker has cooled down, remove the boiled palak, jeera, onions, tomatoes, garlic and chillies.
• Grind the above along with coconut.
• Then add the paste to the boiled thoor dhal water. Add water according to your consistency.
• Add salt and allow it to boil for few minutes.
• Heat ghee/oil in a small pan, add mustard seeds & curry leaves.
• Add this to the curry and serve it with hot rice or Ragi ball.

PS: This is the full meals of our Gowda family. Personally, bajji's or pakodas will be very nice along with this gravy..