Our favorite Tira Misu!

We're definitely spoiled. We have the good fortune to have a colleague who makes a mean Tira Misu.  And she's authentic Italian. This is none of the unnecessarily modified versions that one finds in many restaurants which should not be serving Tira Misu anyway.  Nope, this is prepared like you are at home cooking for company and this company always appreciates it when one of them turns up. The glass dish allows a view of the layers of Mascarpone chees and lady fingers. This is never too sweet and not at all heavy. The powdered cacao on the top can be a problem if you happen to breathe it in but you get used to it.  For those of us who are fans, this tira misu sets a very high bar.

Torta Della Nonna

Grandmother's Cake - a classic Tuscan Dessert!  We love it when our Italiana gets the itch to bake something. She has already spoiled us with her Tira Misu and yesterday she decided to make her first Torta in the United States for cake hour. We were honored. Too bad she and a few others had to go to seminar. The cake is not too sweet and has a filling of lemon flavored pastry cream. The top is sprinkled with pine nuts. Indeed a classic dish and molto delicioso!!

Recent items in the news regarding cancer testing were discussed. Unlike some people reported on we concluded we would not want our entire medical history in the papers. The topic of poop coffee also came up  which was fortuitous given the recent article about it. Follow the link: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/18/world/asia/18civetcoffee.html?scp=1&sq=civet&st=cse

Being the sophisticates that we are - especially when it comes to cake and coffee, we are not at all shy to report that we have already tried the unique beverage. It does make a good cup of java!