Limoncello Tiramisu

Limoncello Tiramisu

Lemon syrup:
125ml water
125ml sugar
1 lemon, peeled and juice
60ml limoncello

500ml whipping cream
60ml lemon juice
finely grated zest of 2 lemons
125ml + 60ml + 125ml lemon curd
190ml sugar
440g mascarpone cheese
2 packets ladyfingers (Boudoir biscuits)

For the lemon syrup:
Add the water and sugar to a small saucepan set over medium-high heat.
Stir until the sugar has dissolved.
Now simmer the mixture for 1 minute without stirring or fiddling with it.
Add the lemon peel and juice and simmer for 3 minutes.
Remove from the heat, strain through a sieve and set aside to cool.

Pour the cream into a mixing bowl and add the lemon juice, zest, 125ml lemon curd and sugar.
Whisk together with electric beaters until soft peaks form.
Add the mascarpone and mix on low speed until the mixture is fully incorporated and smooth. Set aside.
Pour the cooled lemon syrup and limoncello into a shallow dish.
Dip the ladyfingers in the mixture and lay them side-by-side in a 28cm x 22cm ceramic dish to form a compact layer.
Spoon half the mascarpone mixture on the biscuits and smooth it out.
Now spoon 60ml lemon curd on top and spread it out evenly.
Repeat the biscuit and mascarpone layers.
Spread the last 125ml lemon curd evenly over the top of the tiramisu.
Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.


Pineapple Brulée

Pineapple Brulée

2 pineapples
40g cornflour
50ml + 450ml milk
4 egg yolks
50g + 50g caster sugar
5ml vanilla
100ml granulated sugar

Halve the pineapples in their length.
Cut a 1cm border from the edge with a small sharp knife.
Scoop out the flesh with a melon baller or a teaspoon, taking care not to break the skin.
Chop the flesh into small pieces and keep aside.
Add the cornflour to a large mixing bowl and stir in the 50ml milk.
Add the egg yolks and 50g caster sugar and whisk together. Set aside.
Pour the 450ml milk into a small saucepan and add the other 50g caster sugar to it.
Place the saucepan over medium heat and stir until the sugar has dissolved.
Take it from the heat as tiny bubbles start too appear around the edges of the saucepan.
Drizzle the warm milk mixture into the egg mixture while whisking constantly.
Now pour the mixture back into the saucepan and place it on medium-low heat.
Stir continuously until thickened.
Allow to cook for 30 seconds before removing it from the heat.
Add the vanilla and stir through.
Pour the mixture onto a dinner plate and place plastic wrap directly on the surface.
Allow to cool completely.
Add the pineapple flesh, stir through and spoon the mixture into the pineapple.
Sprinkle about 25ml sugar over each pineapple and brulée with a blowtorch.
Serve the pineapple cold.


Fruit Salad

Fruit Salad

papino
raspberries
blueberries
cape gooseberries
1 x container ready-made vanilla custard

Peel the papino and cut it in half. Slice a small section away on the rounded side so that it forms a base on which the fruit can “stand”.
Place the half on a serving dish and fill the cavity with the berries and a generous dollop of custard!!

Quick Lemon Curd Puddings

Quick Lemon Curd Puddings

375ml milk
190ml desiccated coconut
50g butter, melted
1 egg
125ml flour
250ml caster sugar
125ml lemon curd (you may search my Lemon Curd recipe or simply use store bought)
icing sugar for dusting

Preheat your oven to 180℃ and lightly spray 6 individual ramekins.
Add all the ingredients to a blender and blend together until completely smooth.
Place the ramekins on a baking sheet and space them apart.
Pour the mixture into the ramekins and bake for 20 minutes or until just set.
Serve the lemon puddings with a generous dusting of icing sugar.

Persimmon Compote

Persimmon Compote

Persimmon is not one of the most popular fruits but this compote will change your mind forever!

4 ripe persimmons
250ml dry white wine
125ml sugar
1 star anise
1 cinnamon quill
a pinch of salt

Peel the persimmons and cut them into quarters.
Core each quarter and cut each into half. Put aside.
Add the white wine, sugar, star anise, cinnamon quill and salt to a saucepan and bring to a boil while stirring constantly until the sugar has dissolved.
Turn the heat down and simmer the mixture for about 5 minutes.
Add the persimmon pieces and cover the saucepan.
Simmer the fruit for 15 minutes or until a toothpick easily pierces the fruit.
Transfer the persimmon slices to a bowl and simmer the liquid until syrupy and reduced by half. This should take about 5 minutes.
Pour the syrup over the fruit and allow to cool.
Refrigerate until chilled.
Serve the persimmon with vanilla ice cream.