An Italian Delicacy

Almost 1 month and I remember my first (and hopefully not the last) encounter with Tiramisu.

15th Jan
10:00

Ritu comes and tells me that, she plans to prepare an Italian Cake. The ingredients are ready and she will need a helper. Talk of cakes and I will jump at the mention of it.

14:00

So soon after the lunch I found myself in her room. The requirements placed on her table - eggs, Amul cream, coffee powder, sugar, containers, spoons, forks etc etc, and how can I forget the Italian Biscuits - ladyfingers. Anyways, I am not here to tell you the recipe of Tiramisu.

It so happened that our little adventure was waiting to strike us with small and sweet hurdles which we were absolutely unprepared for. The first happened at the start itself when while breaking the first egg, we messed up the yolk and the albumen instead of separating them. After much struggle, we managed to convince ourselves that they have been separated. The rest two eggs were broken smoothly. The 2 hours that followed were taken up by continuous beating of the eggs. At some moments we were almost close to giving up because of unavailability of electric blender but then we didn't. Finally the mixture was ready but not before making us realise that Amul cream was a bad option for making Tiramisu. We were letdown when we saw the cream fluidising our paste-like mixture. More than that we were unaware that the result of this fluidising will be more devastating in the coming hours. Anyways with a few more manipulation from our side we finally finished the paste-making process.

16:30

The next step was garnishing of the biscuits. So they were carefully placed in a thermocol box and covered with the paste made earlier. But the amount did not suffice, so the second round of paste-making started. The ingredients were bought once more and we started moving our hands yet again. While we were busy with the 2nd round, out first round of hard-work found its way out from the box through the corners and edges. :( We helplessly saw the fluidised paste trickling out of its appropriate place. :(( We were not interested to give up. So with cellotapes and polythenes, the box was mended to our best. Phew!!! 2nd round continues.

19:00

Preparation complete. Cake placed for refrigeration. Thanks to canteen. Well if only that was the end. Our plight continued as electricity decided to paly hide and seek during the entire duration of refrigeration.

23:00

Enter Tiramisu.

Looks delicious, doesn't it?

16th Jan
00:00

Ritu's BDay.
The cake is cut and tasted. We are pretty happy at the response. I of course could have onle one piece. But never mind that. The net result is that we completed the preparation, it turned out to be good enough to be eaten, I learned a new dish and more than that I enjoyed being a part of the whole thing. Thanks Ritu.

But one thing that disheartens me is that I will not be able to make it at home. So any of you going to Italy in near future, do bring me a pack of ladyfingers (tell them about Tiramisu, they will understand) .

[For Ritu's version of story, read this.]