Tiramisu Sponge Cake

This recipe was contributed by Dr Kripa who loves to cook. From Indian to Italian she can cook a storm in her kitchen. She tried this recipe from another website and this is how it came out!

Ingredients

For the sponge (Genoise) cake
3 whole eggs
3 Tbsp granulated sugar
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup plain flour, sifted
2 Tbsp butter, melted

For the coffee mixture
2/3 cup of strong Espresso coffee
1 Tbsp granulated sugar
1/4 cup Marsala wine or brandy

For the Mascarpone cream
1/2 pound Mascarpone cheese
1/2 cup superfine (icing) sugar
2 large egg yolks
3 Tbsp Marsala wine, Cognac or Brandy

For the whipped cream
1 pint heavy whipping cream
1 Tbsp powdered (icing) sugar
1 Tbsp vanilla extract

1 ounce chilled dark chocolate, finely chopped (you can use a food processor)

Directions

To make the Genoise cake
Preheat oven to 350° F. Spray a 9 inch diameter round cake pan or 8 inch by 8 inch rectangular cake pan with vegetable oil and lightly dust with cake flour. Beat the eggs and 1/3 cup of sugar at medium speed in a double boiler over very hot water, until the mixture is smooth and pale yellow in color. Add the remaining 3 Tbsp of sugar and beat at high speed until the mixture reaches a consistency that forms ribbons when poured. Remove from the heat, stir in the vanilla extract, and slowly fold in the cake flour. Fold in the melted butter. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan and bake at 350° F for 30 to 40 minutes

Remove from the oven and immediately turn the cake out of the pan onto a wire rack to cool.

To make the coffee mixture
Mix the sugar into the coffee. Evaporate down (by boiling) the coffee-sugar mixture until only 1/3 cup remains. Add the Marsala wine or brandy and stir.

To make the Mascarpone cream
In a bowl, beat the sugar into the Mascarpone cheese until well blended. Add the 2 egg yolks and Marsala, Cognac or brandy and beat more, until the mixture is smooth.

To prepare the whipped cream
In a bowl add the whipping cream, sugar and vanilla essence and stir until ingredients are blended. Beat the mixture with an electric mixer until glossy and stiff.

Tiramisu Assembly
Slice the Genoise cake in half, to make two cakes of half the original height.

Place the first slice of the Genoise cake at the bottom of a serving bowl or pan and sprinkle half of the coffee mixture over it. Spread half of the Mascarpone creme on the cake, using a spatula. Spread half of the whipped cream over the Mascarpone cream and sprinkle half of the chocolate gratings over the whipped cream.

Put the second slice of the Genoise cake on top and repeat the above procedure with the coffee mixture, Mascarpone, whipped cream and chocolate gratings to finish the Tiramisu.

Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 6 hours.

Nolumbu Addai

This dish is contributed by Dr Kripa Narayan. 

Nolumbu Addai is an important part of the Karadai Nombu festival for the people in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. On this day a woman prays for the well-being and long life of her husband in remembrance of the Satyavan-Savithri katha. Both sweet and salt adai are made on the ocassion and the recipes for these are below.

Ingredients 

1 cup Rice flour

1 cup Jaggery

2 tsp finely chopped fresh coconut 

Cardamom powder- made from 2-3 cardamoms

1 tsp Red Moong Dal whole Channa dal 

Method: 

1. Soak red moong dal whole,channa dal   each 1tsp over night. 
2. Dry roast the rice flour in pan till light brown and keep aside. 
3. Dissolve jaggery in some water, then strain it to remove the stones and dirt. 
4. Mix water and jaggery to make 2.5 cup of mixture. 
5. Boil this water-jaggery mixture to elaichi/cardamom powder,soaked dals and scraped coconut pieces. 
6. Finally reduce heat and add the rice flour,stirring continuously till it becomes solid.let it cool. 
7. Oil the idly plates 
8. Knead the dough.take lime sized ball,press it in the idly depression evenly,put a hole in the center, steam it for 15 to 20 minutes. 
9. Remove it  and leave to cool.