Another Year

Today is my birthday, the start of another year of life.

Thanks be to God that I have made it to yet another year of life and for all the blessings that I have been showered with over the last twelve months.

This is my second birthday within the Year of Faith and I can definitely say I have been blessed to grow in my Faith. I have grown in my understanding and deepened my love of being Catholic and all that it means. I have grown in confidence in speaking about my Faith (although I still have my moments when I want to hide in a corner and be invisible).

This my first birthday with a blog. Usually I'll just jot down some reflections in my journal after I've stuffed myself with cake and ice-cream as well as whatever was on the menu for my birthday meal (and I'll still do that). With a blog I can sit here the night before type up some thoughts to share with the world at large (or at least whoever reads this).

So I'm going to share my plans for the day......

Mass in the morning, start the day right. Hopefully I'll get a birthday blessing from one of my favourite priests. Then I get to spend some time in front of the Blessed Sacrament, some quiet time, some prayer time, some gratitude time. Later in the evening confession, what better gift to give myself.

I really want the new Kindle HDX which is being released on my birthday, it's just begging me to get it which I will soon but my birthday gift to myself is actually my tickets for my vacation to Florida. Ten beautiful, just because days away, no big plans just rest, relaxation and reflection.

And for the celebration portion of the day....

This year my cake is a home-made pumpkin cheesecake, the baker in me doesn't like ordinary, last year I did a lemon meringue marble cheesecake, this year I'm going through a pumpkin phase.

I'll be adding some whipped cream before serving because my sister thinks it needs a little something. I guess it does and I was originally thinking caramel but whipped cream with cinnamon sprinkled over sounds more fitting.

I have big bucket of kemps for the family and friends but just for me I got

I was minding my own business trolling the freezer isle when what do I see Champagne Truffle ice-cream it seemed like just the perfect celebration treat, the salted caramel is just an added bonus, it is my birthday after all.

I'm going to be enjoying some TGI Fridays as my meal of choice. I originally wanted Ruby Tuesday but TGI won out, even over an Italian place that I really love.

Well of to have a Happy and Blessed birthday!!!!!

Tiramisu Brownies for a BBQ

Last Friday my friends and I had a night BBQ, I was asked to bring potato salad but I wanted to do a little extra so I decided to make brownies also since I had discovered a new brownie just a couple weeks before and have been looking for an excuse to make them.

Tiramisu brownies have a brownie bottom and a tiramisu top and is all round amazing. I made a few small changes in my recipe as opposed to the original for my own convenience. The brownie called for cake flour but I don't use a lot of cake flour and didn't want to have to go through the expense of buying a bag and having the rest waste. I measured out all purpose flour, sifted it a couple times and then measured it out again, I took 2 tablespoons out of the cup of AP flour and that is my substitution for cake flour.

The recipe also called for 8 oz mascarpone and 8 oz cream cheese. I have bought the 8 oz of mascarpone before but I couldn't find it that weekend only the 1 pound containers and bigger so I decided to go all mascarpone leaving out the cream cheese, tiramisu is mascarpone anyway. I would not suggest the opposite though, going all cream cheese although that could be cheesecake brownies, it anybody tries that I want to know about it.

I don't drink so I've had that flask of rum for a while so I wasn't sure it was good or not but it was. The rum is mixed with the coffee. The written recipe I used called for rum but the one I am sharing at the end doesn't, I just used couple tablespoons.

I melted my dark chocolate chips in the microwave at 10 seconds intervals, stirring in between I do not really have the patience for the double boiler technique for such a small amount.

My sister did not think the brownie was sweet enough although she loved it, so if you like super sweet feel free to add more sugar, or use your own brownie recipe that you love just add the filler.

 don't forget to leave some batter for the top

 I forgot to take a picture of plopping the brownie batter over the mascarpone batter and swirling it in.

 Do not leave in warm oven to avoid cracks.

The recipe is from Barista Prima coffee that I got from a friend and can be found on my baking addiction's blog.

Tiramisu Brownies

May 14th, 2013

YIELD: 24 servings

PREP TIME: 30 minutes

COOK TIME: 45 minutes

INGREDIENTS:

For the Brownie Batter

12 oz. chocolate chips
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup sugar
4 whole eggs
4 egg whites
1 cup cake flour

For the Mascarpone Topping

8 ounces mascarpone cheese, room temperature
8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
1/4 cup sugar
4 egg whites
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 package soft ladyfingers
1 cup Barista Prima Coffeehouse Italian Roast coffee, brewed

DIRECTIONS:

1. In a large bowl, melt the chocolate. Stir until smooth and leave it to cool. Heat the oven to 350°F. Line a 13″ x 9″ baking pan with parchment paper. Add chocolate to a mixing bowl with the paddle attachment on. Beat in the butter followed by 1 cup of sugar and the 4 eggs and 4 egg whites. Add the flour and mix on low speed until just combined. Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan minus 1 cup of the brownie batter. Lay the ladyfingers upside down on top of the batter, and push down slightly. Brew 1 Barista Prima Coffeehouse Italian Roast K-Cup pack. Using a pastry brush, carefully brush the Barista Prima Coffeehouse coffee over the ladyfingers until they are saturated.

2. In another bowl, combine the mascarpone cheese, cream cheese, and 1/4 cup of sugar, 4 egg whites and vanilla extract. Spread topping over ladyfingers over ladyfingers. Place spoonful of brownie batter on top of the creamy filling and swirl it lightly with a toothpick or knife.

3. Bake for 45 to 50 minutes or until center is almost set and brownies begin to pull away from sides of pan. Cool completely in the pan before slicing it.

I'm linking up with Bobbi over at Revolution of Love for her Pinterest Party and Link-up, head on over and check it out.