Tiramisu..A Light Delight

Anytime is perfect time for this timeless dessert- Tiramisu. It literally means ‘pick me up’ in Italian. And it is truly a pick me up with chocolate and coffee together. It is typically eaten as a snack with an espresso in the afternoon, but also for dessert after a meal.
The original version is really heavy on the calories if you use the ultra creamy mascarpone cheese. Since SPring & Summer are times of the year typical for using light fresh foods- I have created for you here a lighter way to enjoy Tiramisu. I think you will enjoy it just as much and will be happy not to have to burn the extra calories.

Tiramisu (light version)
(copyright, 2005,2006,2007, The Basic Art of Italian Cooking, Maria Liberati)

*16 ounce package of savoiardi or ladyfingers
*1 cup espresso coffee with 1 tablespoon sugar or 2 packets of artificial sweetener
*powdered cocoa
*1 tsp amaretto or anisette liqueur
*16 ounces of fat free coffee flavored yogurt
*small piece of dark chocolate (at least 60% cocoa)

Place espresso coffee with 1 tblsp of sugar or 2 packets of artificial sweetener in shallow bowl. Wet each ladyfinger in the coffee mixture for about 2 seconds. Then arrange biscotti-side by side to on a plate.
Place yogurt in bowl, place in liqueur if desired and blend with spoon. Spread about 3/4 of yogurt mixture on top of ladyfingers. Repeat again and top with ladyfingers and then top with remaining yogurt mixture. Place in refrigerator for at least one hour. Right before serving, dust with powdered cocoa and shave some dark chocolate on top.

Don’t forget to find more recipes and write to us at www.marialiberati.com
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Fresh berry crepes

Berries are upon us and the fresher the better..here is aone of my favorite recipes for breakfast or a great Mother's Day Sunday Brunch

A mixture of strawberries, blueberries and raspberries to top a delicious treat
Copyright 2008, Maria Liberati
http://www.marialiberati.com
http:/www.marialiberati.com/blog2

30 minutes total
15 minutes prep time
Serves 8-10 crepes
Ingredients
16 ounces strawberries or berries, a mixture of wild (black berries, blue berries, raspberries and strawberries)
1 tablespoon brown sugar, packed
Juice from 1/2 lemon
1 cup flour, unbleached
2 eggs
1 tablespoon oil
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1 1/2 cups skim milk
Cooking spray

Directions
Rinse and slice strawberries into a bowl. Pour lemon juice on top and toss.
Add brown sugar and toss until well coated; set aside.
In a medium bowl whisk all ingredients together until there are no more lumps.
Over medium heat, heat crepe pan or non-stick frying pan.
When heated, remove from heat and spray with cooking spray
Pour a 1/4 cup of the batter in the pan. Quickly lift pan and tilt and turn until
batter evenly covers the bottom.
Cook over medium heat for 30 - 45 seconds until the edges are dry enough to
get a spatula under to flip.
Cook for another 30 seconds on the other side.
When lightly browned, remove from pan onto a plate.
Spray pan with cooking spray and repeat for the rest of the batter.
Stack crepes with wax paper between so they can be easily separated.
Down the middle 1/3 of the crepe spread one or 2 heaping spoons of berry mixture.
Fold one side of the crepe over the mixture and then the other side over first side.
Top with a spoon of berry mixture.
Can also be frozen wrap first in wax paper then put into plastic bag and then foil.
They stay moist if this is done when still slightly warm.
For more berriesFor more delicious recipes get your copy of the bestselling book The Basic Art of Italian Cooking at http://www.marialiberati.com
*May 2nd- Food & Style event at Raya Coiffeur & Boutique in Haverford,Pa. The Basic Art of Italian Cooking book signing, wine sampling and Sonia Rykiel Fashion show will take place at this exciting Grand Opening event
*May 6th- Wine Pairing Dinner and Event- Country Creek WInery, Telford, Pa. Join me for The Basic Art of Italian Cooking Wine Pairing and 4 course authentic Italian dinenr. I will be cooking a 4 course dinner from The Basic Art of Italian Cooking and pairing it with 4 of their wines. reservations required, places limited. $39.95 includes cooking demo, sampler dinner and 4 sample wines.Call 215-723-6516 for reservations

Vacation on a Budget with Breezes

If you're unsure about being able to vacation this year or how about that wedding in an exotic vacation you never thought you could afford..it is still possible..whether it is a beautiful vacation or
a wedding on a budget you are looking for...Breezes makes it all possible on a budget.
That vacation you want on a budget but you certainly won't feel like you are traveling on a budget.. all inclusive deals so that you don't have to worry about extra added on or hidden costs. I always recommend to look for
all inclusive travel deals deals and Breezes offers this as well
The resorts have been described as paradise..but can you imagine paradise on a budget? These exotic locations on a budget still make it possible to take that well deserved vacation
I always receive emails asking how someone can get married at an exotic vacation without spending a lot of money. Breezes is the perfect answer but not only for weddings also for vacations.
An all discount vacation packages">inclusive travel package gives you the freedom to know exactly what costs to expect. You want your vacation to be worry free..

Cucina Povere or Frugal Coooking with style

A little of this ,a little of that..all thsi talk about beign frugal and eating on a budget.. I've been doing that for years but we donlt really call it eating on a budget..it is dishes form 'cucina povere'. The authentic Italian dishes from the peasant kitchens of Italy long ago. Now dishes taht are eaten in some of the finest resturants in the world. Not because their ingredients are so expensive but becasue they are a rarity in today's fast food world-dishes that use only real ingredients and are cooked from scratch..so it is Slow Food.
My dish today.. well when I stopped at the market today to fill up my water containers I couldn't help but notice the produce that had been marked down. Nothing wrong with it, but you have to use these veggies today, not tomorrow. Quick thinking and since I love a great vegetable stew and could make it at a bargain..I grabbed the zucchini, eggplant, an onion, some carrots, some fresh tomatoes..I already have the garlic and olive oil at home. For about $5 I will have vegetable stew for a few days that I can have with brown rice or pasta. Healthy and fresh...
Not only inexpensive but healthy and fresh and great for you too. Oh and donlt forget soem freshly grated parmigiana-reggiano..I'm kind of cheating I still have a large chunk I took home from Italy..1/2 the cost there.. but no need to buy a large quantity buy a small chunk and use it sparingly.. the extra taste is well worth it..

Mangia Bene, Vivi Bene
Maria
*May 2nd- Book signing and wine sampling with Terra Nova wine at the Grand opening of Raya Coiffeur in Haverford, Pa. will include a fashion show by Sonia Rykiel. 8-12 pm

*May 6th- Join me at Country Creek winery in Telford,Pa for a wine smapler dinner. I will be preparing a 4 course authentic Italian dinner and pairing it with wines of COuntry Creek. 4 course sampler dinner, 4 wine samples, cooking demo, recipes incldued, per person $39.95. reservatioins required call 215-723-6516

Join me in Italy for The Basic Art of Italian Cooking School.

Get your copy of the bestselling book The Basic Art of Italian Cooking at http://www.marialiberati.com

Software is now A Service

Running a business internationally while at many locations has become even more simple now. You can now rent your hosted lotus connections

I signed up for my account today.. You've heard of movies on demand..how about software on demand, the same concept..you only pay for what you need on demand and at your own location wherever that may be.. hosted lotus notes available for you to use without having to purchase any software
There are many applications available. Imagine getting lotus notes 7.02 without having to purchase ..you have an office with documents accessible anywhere you are.
Software as a service also reduces a business expenses, only pay for what you need as you need them.. no investment in software that you must outright purchase.
No wonder the abbreviation SaaS is commonly used today and has become incresingly popular with business owners Saas- Software as a Service..it is becoming a commonplace abbreviation..

Tag Your Tunes

What sets the mood best for your everyday activities..going to the gym., taking a walk, cooking ,relaxing..Music.. How do you quickly locate that song you heard yesterday but can't remember the name??You know the song you loved and thought it would be perfect for your walk on the treadmill. Well now you can quickly find that music for your ipod.
HD Radio..smooth digital radio now includes a feature on their receivers called i-tunes tagging

And now with 'i-tunes tagging' it's as easy as one two three or apple pie to locate the music you want for your ipod

As soon as you hear the song or a few seconds into it..tag the song and it's there, remembered for anytime..


Of course if you're listening to music while exercising or relaxing, the music must be smooth..no hissing, no scratching and of course no interruptions. Have you ever tried HD Radio??

Sure you've heard of HD TV but HD radio is the High Definition version of radio..music that is smooth as silk, no station drop offs..no hissing, music that sounds as seamless as listening to a CD. First step is to get an Jensen JiMS 525i">HD Radio receiver
And if you're an AM classics listener your AM classics have never sounded so fine.

Find out how to get your HD Radio.



Plan out your music selections for the day or get together while listening to the radio. HD receivers have a built in feature called i-tunes tagging. Every time you hear a song you like on your local FM HD radio just push the 'tag button on your HD radio and the info will be saved from your HD receiver your ipod.

Style is in at Work too..

Style is something we all like to exhibit in our clothing and accessories, but some times work clothing..well it is hard to find work clothing that is exceptionally stylish.. but our friends in the medical industry now have their stylish solutions..for so many types of print scrub jackets

If you are in the medical field you can now enjoy selecting your work clothes knowing that you can have a stylish look for everyday at work. Comfortable and stylish clothing are the two most important qualities for work wear and you have many choices of print scrub tops
Choose your colors for work in these landau medical scrubs just as you coordinate your regular everyday wear. You can coordinate shoes, pants ,jackets and more all with comfort and style..

After all work is a place we like to appear polished and put together. What could be a betterway to make us cheerful than being dressed in a choice of bright colors and stylish work uniforms. Work does not have to be so humdrum anymore with a way to express yourself through your choice of uniform.

Crazy for Mozzarella Cheese!

copyright 2009, Maria Liberati
Editor:Kate Hollinger

There is an array of different types of mozzarella cheeses, ranging from mozzarella di bufala (buffalo mozzarella) to mozzarella fior di latte (made from cow’s milk). While these cheeses are all different, they all are spun and then cut in order to be produced properly. This comes from the Italian verb “mozzare” which means, “to cut”. Mozzarella cheese ranges from white to slightly yellow and has high moisture content, which means it usually is consumed in the day it is made and if not, no more than a week after.

Pasta filata is the process that is used to make the cheese. The curds are heated in water to form strings and then these elastic-like curds are stretched, kneaded, and formed into round balls, which typically range from about 80 to 100 grams in size. Sometimes the mozzarella is molded into rolls and filled with items such as sun-dried tomatoes or olives. Pre-shredded mozzarella cheese, which has much lower moisture content, can last for up to six months if stored properly.

Mozzarella is a prized cheese, and because it comes from buffalo, it usually costs a bit more because water buffalo milk is more expensive than cow’s milk. Because of this, nowadays you will also find mozzarella made from cow’s milk. Mozzarella first originates in Naples and even today it is said that the best mozzarella cheese comes from just south of Naples. Mozzarella contains about 40 to 45 percent fat although lower fat versions are available.

Mozzarella cheese may contain a lot of fat, but if made in the authentic artisan way, and eaten in moderation, it is healthier to eat than processed cheeses. But one thing is for sure, it is delicious and goes with a variety of Italian foods. Some love a good pizza with mozzarella while others prefer it with lasagna or even in a nice caprese salad. Sometimes it is best served most simply with some sliced tomatoes and some spices sprinkled on top!

**May 6th 7-9 PM...Join me for a Wine Pairing Dinner on May 6th at Country Creek Winery in Telford, Pa. Included will be the cooking demo for the 4 course authentic Italian sampler dinner from the best selling book The Basic Art of Italian Cooking and I will be pairing the dinner with samples of 4 of wines made at Country Creek. Reservations are limited. $39,95 includes wine sampler dinner ,4 wines, cooking demo, recipes. Call the winery at 215-723-6516 for reservations or email events@marialiberati.com





More on Mozzarella cheese

L'Aquila..A City to Be Remembered

Collemaggio in L'Aquila

copyright, 2009, Maria Liberati
Keep the city and surrounding towns of L'Aquila in your thoughts and prayers. So many were devastated by the earthquake (this week) that destroyed whole towns and much of the city of L' Aquila.. not to mention the many lives that were lost as well. Such a beautiful city that was filled with so many works of art and culinary delights. I am so grateful to have experienced the original city myself before this terrible tragedy struck. In memory of the city, its' people and region of Abruzzo, where I live, here are some of my former blog posts while in L'Aquila;
http://www.marialiberati.com/blog2/?p=341
http://www.marialiberati.com/blog2?p=314
http://www.marialiberati.com/blog2/?p=132

Join me on May 6th at Country Creek Winery., Montgomery County, Pa for a Wine Pairing and Sampler dinner. Call 215-723-6516 or email us at : events@marialiberati.com

Join me for a week long culinary event at The Basic Art of Italian Cooking School and villa from Sept 23 to Oct 6th.

Get your copy of the best selling book The Basic Art of Italian Cooking

Maria
www.marialiberati.com