Mom's Tiramisu

My mom's tiramisu is my absolute favorite tiramisu in all the land. It's a simple blend of toasted ladyfingers soaked in a Kahlua-espresso blend, alternated with layers of a marscapone cheese & sweetened whipped cream blend, and topped with a dusting of rich cocoa powder. Let it sit in the fridge overnight so that it all comes together, and let me tell you, HEAVEN. Pure heaven. (And certainly deserving of a better picture than the one up above. I should have taken more, but it was devoured too quickly!)

Sweets For My Sweet

A simple treat I whipped up for Valentine's Day: chocolate chocolate chip cupcakes with a raspberry-flavored frosting.

What I Made For Superbowl Sunday

I'm not a[n American] football fan at all -- in fact, it's my least favorite sport -- but I'll never pass up the opportunity to attend a party full of fine food and even better company. And I made a bunch of goodies for the occasion!

First, there were vanilla chai cupcakes with vanilla honey Swiss meringue buttercream frosting:


Then there were Nutella cheesecake squares, adapted from a recipe by Coconut & Lime:


And finally, I made some deliciously fudgey brownies with a peanut butter chip topping:


My favorite? Definitely the brownies. The Nutella cheesecake squares were great, and the cupcakes were pretty good (though I wasn't crazy about the frosting -- I think I have to go back to the drawing board on that), but the brownies were a lot more flavorful than I thought they would be. I can't wait to make them again!

Hot Coca On A Winter Day

There's nothing like the bitterly cold weather we've been having here in the Northeast lately to inspire one to make a cup of hot cocoa. I just happened to make mine in cupcake form! These cupcakes have 3 different types of chocolate in them, including a rich hot cocoa mix, and the frosting is a very simple combo of whipped cream mixed with marshmallow creme.

Happy winter!

Christmas Eve Dinner

Traditional Christmas Eve dinner in an Italian household (particularly those whose heritage hails from Southern Italy) is seafood -- specifically, it's known as The Feast of the Seven Fishes. Being allergic to seafood, however, I can't partake in the feast. That didn't stop me from adding a couple of Italian favorites to our Christmas Eve dinner, though.


I started with pizza gain, a favorite of mine. It's a savory meat and cheese pie, usually made around Eastertime, after Lenten fasting has ended. Exactly what meats and cheeses fill the pie varies by family and by region in Italy -- really, it's just a matter of personal preference. I make mine with salami, pepperoni, prosciutto, prosciuttini, mozzarella, provolone, pecorino romano, ricotta, and sometimes parmesan. It's very rich, but so delicious! And remember, make it a day ahead of time, because it's a dish best eaten at room temperature or straight out of the fridge. Trust me on this.


Next up, we made zuppa di scarola e fagioli, better known as escarole & bean soup. I LOVE that bitter green, escarole, and eat it nearly every week: sautéed with garlic and mushrooms during warmer weather, and made into soup during the cold months. It's an inexpensive, simple but hearty dish of greens, garlic, and white beans in chicken broth. I like to serve it with some grated parmesan or romano on top.

Last on the list, and not Italian (but still tasty), are spinach and 5 cheese puff pastries. I used a frozen puff pastry, and a filling of chopped spinach, garlic, and a combination romano, parmesan, mozzarella, provolone, and mild Swiss cheeses. These were AMAZING. And I'm thinking next time, a little crumbled sausage would make a tasty addition to the filling.

So tell me, what food traditions do you follow on Christmas Eve/Day?