After our trip to Rome, and having had a brief holiday in Sorrento, (hotel and food not good, best bit being the trip up the coast, and the Limoncello tasting!), we decided to do a tour of Sicily.
Martin gave me the places he wanted to go and booked the Air B&B, while I was responsible for planning the trip. This is where we decided that we had to start the Mount Etna diet, that I previously mentioned!!
Sicily is very beautiful and easy to get around, we flew into one end, and came out of the other!!
Our last stop was Palermo, and, like Rome they have catacombs! We expected something similar, but these were something else!!
Rows upon rows of skeletons hung on the walls all dressed in clothes! They were split into sections so you had babies, priests, professionals and virgins. All dressed. Apparently, it was considered a privilege and an honour to be buried there. Some families would even go in and change their relatives’ clothes! It was much more macabre than the ones in Rome, but fascinating.
So back to the tiramisu. It reminds us so much of Sicily and the good food that we had, even if one restaurant we went to had the fire brigade and police outside! Think someone had burnt the pizza, so we gave that one a miss!
We had tiramisu in a small restaurant in one of the squares that are dotted around. It was supposed to be a romantic meal, but was slightly spoiled by an accordion player who stood close to the table playing the theme from The Godfather! Their tiramisu was fully of alcohol, and was less creamy, so I think mine is better!! I tend to leave the booze out, much to my sister’s disappointment when I served it as a dessert! It’s up to you.
Ingredients
250grms Mascarpone
1 tsp Vanilla Essence
3 Tbs Brandy (Optional)
3 cups Strong coffee at room temperature
250grm whipped cream
3 Tbs Icing sugar
Packet of sponge fingers
Coco powder
Method
Mix the coffee with the brandy
Beat together the egg, sugar and mascarpone for about 3 minutes until pale
In a separate bowl, whisk the egg whites until soft peaks’
Fold the egg whites into the other egg mixture
Dip each finger into the coffee mix.
Either put the biscuits into a large bowl lining the bottom and sides or place them in individual dishes.
Spread the cream mixture over the top, (in layers if you prefer.
Dust with the coco powder and chill for 2 hours.