(almost) Classic Tiramisu
And realizing winter isn’t really the worst after all.
Hi Bakers!
I was walking to coffee over the weekend, trying to psych myself up for the return of our regular routines, when I realized maybe winter doesn’t have to be the worst. In fact, maybe I kind of like it? What if we kept all the coziness of the season but without the stress and busyness of the holidays? I think it could be quite magical.
I asked the kids over dinner what they were most looking forward to in the coming months. My brother and my son both have January birthdays to celebrate, my eldest daughter has a special dance performance at the end of the month, Valentine’s Day is approaching quickly, and the Winter Olympics return this year (a personal favorite). There is truly always something to get excited about around the corner.
I already mentioned how I’m keeping up the twinkle lights and some of the nature-inspired holiday decor a little longer, but what is it that I love about winter on the slow days in between? So much, actually:
Appreciating the sun - It’s easy to write this one today, with the sun currently radiating through the window as I type. But I know it’s rare, so you gotta embrace it whenever you can. Even 5 minutes of sunlight on your face in the morning is enough to recharge your batteries, especially for those of us that live in the Pacific Northwest.
Holding out of hope for snow - Truth be told, there tends to be more snow later in the season than during the holidays. We always hope for a White Christmas, but snow has been trending towards spring in more recent years. Sledding at the park across the street is a dream, but now that all the kids are in school, I hope to make it up the mountain a few more times this year.
Good coffee at home - I’m all for turning my own kitchen into a cafe, but that includes upping my home coffee game - something I simply forget sometimes. I max out at about 2 cups of coffee a day, so I’ve been trying to make the most out of them using my moka pot when I can. This is as much a reminder to myself as it is to you, but you can add homemade spiced syrups (simple syrup simmered with cardamom and cinnamon) to your coffees at home well past Christmas for a little sip of luxury.
Hot chocolate - Similarly, why not continue this magical moment beyond the holidays? Obviously hot chocolate isn’t necessarily a holiday drink, but I kind of forget it exists after we pack up the Christmas mugs. I love the little ritual of hot cocoa with the kids lined up at the kitchen counter after a particularly cold day.
Warm stews and long-cooked meals - I love winter cooking when I don’t have to be anywhere. Especially when it’s raining or with the snow falling outside. I’m talking about 4-hour Bolognese, pantry-inspired soups (beans and dried pasta with whatever veg lingers in the fridge), stewy lentils, and slow-cooker meats for bowls and tacos.
Opening all the windows - Don’t be afraid of the cold; the act of airing out the house is most important in the winter. My grandmother did this whenever anyone had the sniffles, even if just for 10 minutes. Scandinavians call it lufte ut and we should all take note.
Messy craft tables - I could argue that a slightly messy craft table is more inviting and helps inspire the kids to get creative (could also be because I don’t want to tidy it up after each activity). Regardless, the general idea is there - come and color, paint with me, quit a project but return to it tomorrow, teach me to crochet, cut up paper snowflakes and handmade valentines without the stress of cleanup. Anything to limit screen time. Tip: do leave a small garbage basket nearby for all the bits of paper.
Citrus - you can read my Ode to Citrus here.
Shared desserts - I’ll never make a resolution to cut out all desserts after New Year’s Eve. Limit them, maybe, but there is something so cozy and snuggly about a spoonable, shareable dessert on a cold day. We made my chocolate self-saucing pudding on Christmas night, and while it wasn’t the least bit fancy, it was the perfect dessert to dig into after a long, blissful day.
Likewise, I made this Classic Tiramisu the other night, dished out around the card table while playing Gin Rummy and Trivial Pursuit.
(almost) Classic Tiramisu
Finally a tiramisu I was so pleased to eat and equally sad to finish. It is not too rich, creamy, and otherwise perfect, but I also know it will probably be a little while until I make it again. As you know, I make A LOT of desserts. Most are great, but not always as memorable as this one. I savored each bite, not knowing when it would come up in the rotation of desserts again.
I certainly didn’t always feel this way about tiramisu. I used to find it way too boozy, way too creamy, with way too much coffee. Now surely if I went tiramisu tasting around Italy, or even just here in Vancouver, then I could have found the perfect tiramisu sooner. But alas, I tried a few too many that I didn’t care for and I nearly wrote off the whole thing.
Perhaps that’s why it’s taken me nearly 20 years of developing recipes to find my perfect tiramisu. But you guys, I’ve finally done it!
My Perfect Tiramisu:
Homemade ladyfingers - Not a total must-have, but they are pretty easy to make and taste insanely good munching on around the kitchen. Just don’t eat them all before you make your tiramisu!
Tempered egg yolks - I’ll eat raw cookie dough without question, but I still get apprehensive about adding raw eggs into a dish. For this recipe, I found a way to cook the yolks with the sugar over a double-boiler before whipping together with the mascarpone. So rich and creamy!
Not too booze forward - I added a couple tablespoons of Kahlúa to both the mascarpone and coffee soak. Not too crazy but still with hints of coffee liqueur.
The good coffee - instead of reaching for the instant coffee or just using whatever leftover brew we had from the morning, I used my favorite ground beans brewed in my moka pot to lightly soak the ladyfingers.
