Mangomisu

A mango version of tiramisu or a slice of mango trifle! Bring in the favour of summer with this relaxed mango dessert that will delight your tastebuds.    6 Servings

INGREDIENTS
  • 500g mascarpone cheese
    600ml thickened cream
    1/3 cup (50g) icing sugar
    2 egg yolks
    1 vanilla bean, split, seeds scraped
    1/2 cup (125ml) Grand Marnier
    Juice of 2 oranges
    300g savoiardi (see note) (sponge finger biscuits)
    3 mangoes, flesh sliced 1cm thick
RASPBERRY SAUCE
  • 1/4 cup (55g) caster sugar
    250g fresh raspberries or frozen raspberries
    Juice of 1 lemon

Step 1
Line the base of a 22cm springform cake pan with plastic wrap or baking paper. Place the mascarpone, thickened cream, icing sugar, egg yolks and vanilla seeds in the bowl of an electric mixer and beat on high speed until thick and well combined.

Step 2
Combine the Grand Marnier and orange juice in a separate bowl. Dip half the sponge fingers into the juice mixture and layer in the base of the cake pan. Spread with one-third of the mascarpone mixture, and top with one-third of the mango slices. Repeat the process, then top with the remaining mascarpone mixture, reserving the remaining mango slices to serve. Cover the cake and chill for 2 hours or until firm.

Step 3
Meanwhile for the raspberry sauce, place the sugar and 2 tablespoons water in a small pan over medium heat, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Cool slightly, then add the berries and lemon juice. Whiz in a food processor until smooth, then pass through a sieve. Chill until ready to serve. (You can store the sauce, covered, in the fridge for 3-4 days).

Step 4
To serve, carefully remove the sides and base of the cake pan and transfer the mangomisu to a platter. Decorate with curls of the reserved mango, then slice and serve with berry sauce.

 

Ginger Cream Molasses Sandwich Cookies

I love molasses cookies. Was trying to come up with a way to make them more “special” for the holidays and thought of sandwich cookies. The cream filling is not too sweet and the crystallized ginger the perfect special touch!      Serves:  24

Ingredients:

COOKIES
3/4 c butter
3/4 c packed brown sugar
egg
1/2 c molasses
2 1/2 c  all purpose flour (maybe 1/2 cup is SR)
2 tsp bicarb soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice (or 3/4 tsp ginger and 1/4 tsp nutmeg)
turbinado sugar for rolling (or regular granulated sugar, but turbinado is prettier and tastier)
CREAM FILLING
1 c mascarpone cheese
1 c whipping cream
2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 c icing mixture
2-3 Tbsp  finely chopped crystalized ginger (to taste)

1.   Cream butter and sugar. Beat in egg and molasses.

2.   In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, salt, baking soda and spices. Add to the butter mixture and mix well. Chill for one hour.

3.   Preheat oven to 350 F and grease a baking tray. Roll pieces of dough into small balls (about 3/4in).  Roll the balls in the turbinado sugar and place on baking trays about 2 in. apart. Bake for 8-12 minutes, ’til set but still soft. Do not overbake.

4.   Gently fold in the crystalized ginger.

5.   When cookies are cool, spread bottom of one cookies with 1-2t. of filling and top with another cookie. Gently press together. Store in refrigerator (if they last longer than a day!)
QUOTES FROM OTHERS:
.. the Turbinado mixed into the cream filling was the bomb! The little extra crunch and and the flavor was amazing.
..might need some SR