Winter vintage cake from my nan's childhood..

I'd like to give you one of my nan's childhood recipes, "Pinza", (not to be mistaken with Pizza!) ,which is an old Venitian winter cake. Once, when Panettone was not so popular and people were not so well-off, Pinza was considered the traditional Christmas cake and this is the simplest and classic recipe....
INGREDIENTS
(12 serves, not sure about quantities, my nan tends to bake at industrial levels..) :
- stale bread
- all purpose flour
- raisin 250 gr
- dried figs 250 gr
- apples (sweet variety) 500 gr
- eggs 2
- caster sugar 200 gr
- a pinch of salt
- milk 0,75 lt
- fennel seeds
- pine kernels
- olive oil
- grappa 1 shot glass
- cognac 1 shot glass

DIRECTIONS :

- Boil the milk- Cut the bread into thin slices - Chop the apples- Chop the dried figs- Sprinkle on the sliced bread the fennel seeds and add the hot milk. Let it soak - Add the apples, dried figs, raisins, pine kernels, sugar, eggs, some flour, some drops of olive oil and a pinch of salt, grappa and cognac- Mix together and lay the mixture into a baking pan (previously basted with olive oil and flour) - Bake until golden brown and serve into slices when it will get cold

Apple Strudel

INGREDIENTS :

• 1 sheet store-bought puff pastry
• 4 yellow and sweet apples
• a pinch of cinnamon
• grated lemon zest (1 lemon)
• 70 gr sugar
• 40 gr pine kernels
• 60 gr raisins
• 125 gr apricot jam
• 2 tablespoons breadcrums
• 2 tablespoons Grappa (I think you can use also Brandy)

DIRECTIONS :

Chop finely the apples and combine them into a bowl together with cinnamon, lemon zest, sugar , pine kernels, raisins ,breadcrums and Grappa....

Roll out the puff pastry sheet and spread over the surface the apricot jam... Spread over the apple mixture....Starting on the long side of the dough, lift the cloth and begin rolling the dough to form the strudel. Seal seam and tuck the ends under to seal. Brush it with some milk and sprinkle some sugar on.... Bake at 180°C for 30 minutes or if you use a wood-burning stove until golden brown. Remove from oven, dust with confectioner's sugar if desired, slice diagonally and serve...

Ricotta truffles

INGREDIENTS:
250 gr ricotta cheese
200 gr coconut flour/dehydrated coconut
40 gr bitter cocoa (powder)
200 gr sugar
Marsala wine


Mix ricotta cheese, sugar, bitter cocoa, 2 tablespoon of Marsala wine, and 3 tablespoon of coconut flour together until creamy and smooth.
Form this mixture into little balls and sprinkle them with coconut flour.
Chill for two hours.

Tiramisu

Yummmmm..Tiramisu..the cool, refreshing Italian mocha-flavoring dessert..
There are over 80 Tiramisu recipes (please, have a look at http://www.heavenlytiramisu.com/ !)
...I'm going to reveal you my favourite one..my mum's recipe!

Ingredients :

• MASCARPONE CHEESE, 500 gr


• EGGS, 5 separated


• SUGAR, 5 tablespoons


• SALT, pinch, for egg whites


• ESPRESSO COFFEE, 1 pot (approximately 6 cups)


• LADYFINGERS (or Savoiardi), 1 package


• BITTER COCOA POWDER for sifting


• DARK CHOCOLATE CHIPS


• MARSALA WINE, 3 tablespoons

Directions:

• Beat egg yolks with sugar until light and lemon-yellow.


• Beat in the mascarpone cheese, a bit at a time, until creamy and smooth.


• Beat the egg whites, adding a pinch of salt, with a wire whisk until light, fluffy and stiff.

• Blend egg whites into the egg yolk and cheese mixture.


• Pour the marsala wine into the cooled coffee


• Dip one ladyfinger at a time into the bowl of coffee mixture


• Line a pan with the ladyfingers

• Pour in a half of the cheese mixture

• Garnish with dark chocolate chips

• Add another layer of dipped ladyfingers


• Pour another layer of cheese mixture


• Garnish again with dark chocolate chips


• Layer the remaining ladyfingers on top


• Cover with the remaining filling.


• Sift cocoa powder on top


• Chill in the refrigerator