TIRAMISU WITHOUT RAW EGGS AND ALCOHOL

Tiramisu, meaning "pick me up or lift me up" is a coffee flavored popular Italian dessert.  It is made of ladyfinger cookies dipped in coffee and layered with whipped mixture of egg yolks , egg whites,sugar, mascarpone cheese flavored with cocoa.  It's origin is often disputed between different regions of Italy.

Most accounts of the origin of Tiramisu date its invention to the 1960s in the region of Veneto, Italy, at the restaurant "Le Beccherie".  Most of the cook books mentioned Tiramisu  recipe somewhere in early 80s.

With the time, countless variations of Tiramisu have come up. Some cooks use other cakes or sweet, yeasted breads, such as panettone, in place of ladyfingers.  Other cheese mixtures are used as well, some containing raw eggs, and others containing no eggs at all. Marsala wine can be added to the recipe, but other liquors are frequently substituted for it in both the coffee and the cheese mixture, including dark rum, Madeira, port, brandy or Irish Cream.  Some chefs don't use coffee or cocoa, instead they have worked with raspberries, strawberries, peach rum and even root beer.

Many people don't try this decadent dessert just because it has raw eggs which pose a health hazard in case not refrigerated properly.   My sis in law and  I have tried to create Tiramisu without eggs and  liquor.  Here is the recipe of vegetarian Tiramisu or Tiramisu without eggs or  alcohol.

Ingredients:

Half pint(250 grams)heavy whipping cream, 8 oz(250 grams)mascarpone cheese at room temperature, 4 tsp instant coffee, 6 tsp sugar,  4 tsp vanilla extract, 2 tbsp cocoa powder, 2 dozen lady finger cookies, 2 1/2 tbsp of powdered sugar.


Method:

Take a cup of water, put instant coffee and 6 tsp of sugar and boil till sugar dissolves. Add two tsp of vanilla extract to it.  When it cools off, dip ladyfinger cookies one by one and lay them in 8x8 inches dish. (As seen in the picture).

Beat mascarpone cheese with 1 tbsp of powdered sugar and 1 tsp of vanilla extract.  Mascarpone cheese has natural sweetness so if you prefer less sweet , you may reduce the quantity of sugar in it.  You can spread this cheese mix on the top of the coffee dipped ladyfinger cookies in the pie plate.(see in the picture).  Sprinkle some cocoa powder on it.

Beat whipping cream with 1 1/2 tbsp of powdered sugar and 1 tsp of vanilla extract. Spread this cream mixture on the top of cheese spread in the pie plate.(see the picture).  Now dust it with some cocoa powder.  Put in the refrigerator for ten minutes.

Repeat the same process again.  Lay another layer of coffee dipped ladyfinger cookies, then mascarpone cheese layer and then cream layer, followed by cocoa powder sprinkled on.

Chill for at least 2 hours and then serve.  For the best results make Tiramisu at least 24 hours before serving.

SPINACH DIP WITH VEGETABLES

Dips are commonly used for finger foods, appetizers and other foods which can be held easily in the hand.  Thick dips based on sour cream, cream cheese, Greek yogurt or hung yogurt, mayonnaise or even beans are a staple of American hors d'oeuvres spread.  Dips are used to enhance the flavor of the foods such as pita bread, corn chips, crackers and cut up raw vegetables.  Unlike other sauces which are applied on the food, dips are typically for dipping the food into them.

If your family is not a big connoisseurs of raw vegetables or salads, you can make this spinach dip with some cut vegetables and they won't be able to resist eating them.
Spinach dip has many condiments and spices other than spinach.  For convenience frozen spinach can be used but fresh spinach certainly enhances the taste.

INGREDIENTS:

1 box (10 ounces) frozen spinach chopped, thawed, well drained or one bunch of fresh spinach washed, steamed and chopped very fine,  1 container (16 ounces) sour cream or Greek yogurt, 1 (8oz) pack of cream cheese on room temperature, 1 can (8 ounces) water chestnuts washed under running water and chopped into very small pieces,  1 packet onion soup mix, fresh vegetables to be eaten with the dip, salt and pepper to taste, 1/2 tsp of chives.

METHOD:

Mix together Greek yogurt, cream cheese, onion soup mix, spinach and water chestnuts.  Add spices,  Chill 30 minutes or until just before serving.
Serve with cubed bread and vegetables like carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, cucumber and bell peppers.