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Tuesday, April 21, 2026 at 4:04 AM

Food for Thought - Tiramisu: Your anytime ‘Pick me up’

Food for Thought - Tiramisu: Your anytime ‘Pick me up’

You could call tiramisu the most famous icebox cake ever. Delicious sweet cream and espresso soaked ladyfingers are layered in a dish, the top dusted with rich cocoa. It has a complex flavor achieved with simple ingredients- no baking required.

Its name, rather than a list of components, aimed to describe how eating a slice might make you feel. The word Tiramisu means 'Pick me up' in Italian. Various reasons have been given for why such a name was chosen. The most popular two go like this: it refers to the espresso used in the recipe; it was created in a Venetian brothel as a fortifying salutation to physically exerted patrons upon their departure.

Legends aside, you can easily enjoy this world-renowned dessert yourself due to its simple construction and readily available ingredients. You might even have all or most of them in your pantry right now. If you do not have an espresso machine, consider using cold brew coffee or a cold brew concentrate. You could even bolster regular brewed coffee with instant coffee packets from that ubiquitous chain coffeehouse we are all familiar with.

If ladyfingers are not available (or you're not a stickler and like to flout tradition) you could use pound cake or vanilla wafers as well. Anything that will absorb the espresso without falling apart. Layer the cookies and cream depending on the thickness of the ladyfingers/cookies you are using i.e.. two layers for ladyfingers, three or more for thinner cookies. Will keep in the refrigerator up to one week.

Ingredients: 8x8 dish Electric mixer 1 1/2 cups heavy cream 1/3 cup powdered sugar 8oz mascarpone cheese 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 package ladyfingers 1 cup cold espresso or strong coffee Cocoa Powder (darker the better)

Recipe:

1. Beat the cream with a mixer on medium speed. As mixture thickens, slowly add sugar and vanilla and continue mixing until peaks form. Slowly mix in mascarpone cheese. Set mixture aside.

2. Lazily dip ladyfingers in espresso and arrange one layer in the bottom of the dish. Top with proportional amount of cream mixture and smooth. Add alternating layers of soaked ladyfingers and cream mixture until the dish is full, ending with a smooth layer of cream on top.

3. Generously dust the top with cocoa powder.

4. Cover and refrigerate for at least several hours before serving.

Enjoy


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Comment author: Jack & Nancy CookComment text: Wonderful man. Created a precious family with Linda. Will always respect and admire his contribution to teaching at FHS.Comment publication date: 4/18/26, 10:27 AMComment source: Howard David JacksonComment author: JeffDickersonComment text: Very well reported, even though our motion was denied.Comment publication date: 4/15/26, 11:05 AMComment source: Judge allows Fernley City Council to proceed with corrective agenda item in Lau expulsion caseComment author: Todd fossumComment text: Hi my name is todd fossum i'm clarence's stepson, I was wondering if he had any siblings. I think he said he had a sister that just survived cancer. If she can get ahold of me or any buddy, my number is 916. 3 4 3 1 1 7 7.Thank you have a blessed dayComment publication date: 1/16/26, 4:33 PMComment source: Clarence L Shields C Comment author: Carl HagenComment text: So just curious, what is the point of a franchise agreement if it is not exclusive?Comment publication date: 12/15/25, 4:18 PMComment source: Council approves non-exclusive franchise agreement for waste collection C Comment author: Christine S GleasonComment text: In the first photo, the woman in the middle, wearing the black shirt, is SaraH Jean Gleason. She is not an FHS Leadership Student but is the person who is responsible (with the help of her father) for starting the Fernley Community Thanksgiving Dinner in 2011. She attended this year's dinner while home from Arizona State University, where she is working on her PhD.Comment publication date: 12/8/25, 8:52 PMComment source: About 400 meals served at Community Thanksgiving DinnerComment author: SusanComment text: RIP Sean. Prayers to the family, sorry for your loss.Comment publication date: 9/25/25, 1:11 PMComment source: Sean Everett Turner
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