Monday, December 17, 2007

Tiramisu with tea - Tea-ramisu?

If, like me, you're not a coffee lover but you've always been tempted by the creamy delights of tiramisu, then here is an alternative version using Earl Grey tea and zingy limoncello. This has all the calorific overindulgence but none of the coffee flavour of the traditional Italian dessert.

Serves 4

Ingredients

150ml double cream
250ml marscapone
2 tblsps limoncello
1 tblsps vanilla extract
100ml brewed earl grey tea
24 sponge finger biscuits
Chocolate to decorate

Method

1 Beat the double cream, marscapone, limoncello and vanilla until combined and forming soft peaks
2 Soak the sponge fingers in warm tea and arrange in a glass (I used martini glasses)
3 Swirl the cream mixture over the sponge fingers
4 Grate some chocolate over the top, or alternatively sprinkle with cocoa powder or grated Crunchie (Gordon Ramsay's favourite trick!)
5 Refrigerate for 1 hour to set the cream

Variations

You could also try this with green tea, mint or fruit teas and an appropriate spirit to replace the limoncello. Or just go for the traditional version with coffee and Tia Maria.

Tuesday, December 4, 2007

Good Food Show favourites

I had an absolute blast at the BBC Good Food Show on Saturday, Gordon Ramsay was on form (despite being hung over from birthday celebrations the night before), the stalls were fab and I really enjoyed watching the participants in the Gordon Ramsay Scholar - definitely some future stars in the making.

My absolute favourite treat (after many, many tastings!) was from the Snowdonia Cheese Company - they make some deliciously creamy cheddars like you've never tasted before. My personal favourite was the Green Thunder (Mature Cheddar with Garlic & Garden Herbs) although the BF was in rapture over the Amber Mist (Mature Cheddar with Whisky). They're stocked in delis across the country and come in distinctive colourful wax truckles, so look out for them!