db: devonshire tea(rimisu)

February 28th, 2010

The February 2010 Daring Bakers’ challenge was hosted by Aparna of My Diverse Kitchen and Deeba of Passionate About Baking. They chose Tiramisu as the challenge for the month. Their challenge recipe is based on recipes from The Washington Post, Cordon Bleu at Home and Baking Obsession.

(And oh! I’m back from JAPANG!)

(And oh! I’m late again… but it’s still the 27th somewhere in the world. Right?)

In case you haven’t noticed, there’s been some stuff happening around onebitemore-land.

A whirlwind holiday that snuck up on me so quickly that I found myself sitting on a very cold bench in Osaka sans-gloves in 4 degree weather for one. A new position at work for another. And oh! (there I go with my “And oh!”s again) the introduction of the Very Tall Boy.

And it was with the above three in my mind (some more forefront than others… see above note re gloves) that I set about doing this month’s daring bakers challenge.

the creamy mixture

It was a bit of a big deal. Four elements (count em!) were to be made and then thrown together to make a tiramisu to end all tiramisus. And all in the space of less than a week.

“I can’t! I can’t!” said I, to the VTB over pizza one evening.

“You can! You can!” said the VTB in reply, eyes and ears pricked up at the potential loss of tiramisu eating excuses.

“But what? And how?!” said I, thoughts of documents and teleconferences and packing and accomodation looming before me.

“You’ll think of something. You always do. We can make the biscuits first anyway.” he responded.

And so we did.

Measure, whisk, fold. Pipe, dust, dust again. Bake ever so cautiously in case nothing puffs up and then, “Oh! These are yummy!”

And we did our best not to eat the lot before the tiramisu was made.

But how? I’d given up coffee six years ago and barely touched it since. And there were experiments to do – I’ve been infusing cream with tea all over the shop recently, and wondered if infused cream would make a decent mascarpone.

And then, looking up at a concerned looking VTB (who was apparently wondering what on earth was going on inside this crazy little noggin of mine), it hit me.

Something quintisentially British as a nod to the Very Tall (mostly)-Brit that keeps me chugging along on this little blogger-ing adventure. Something comforting. And soothing. And a little bit fancy too.

Devonshire tea(rimisu).

dipping the savioradi (alien fingers mine, picture by the VTB)

I infused the cream with English Breakfast Tea and cooled it before making it into lovely, thick, gloopy mascarpone and luscious creme patissiere.

I brewed more tea until it was strong and dark and added it to my zabaglione along with some sweet port.

I ground up a strawberry tisane and made a concentrate with a splash of cream to dip the lady fingers in (because what is a Devonshire tea without scones slathered in cream and strawberry jam?) and layered them with my creamy mix and sprinkles of more tisane to balance the tea-like creaminess.

And when I presented it to the VTB, on the night before my big-trip-with-the-Bean, he sat in a pile of contented bliss. And oh, all was so right with the world.

ps) 1x very GIANT congratulations to the new Mrs Noods (aka chocolatesuze), whose wedding yesterday was all things fun & candy. Love!

pps) 1x heartfelt cuddles to those lovely people who brought me support and comfort following a case of the grumples. I’ve loved posting my completed challenges on the DB forums so far, and being an active part of that not-so-little community, and will keep doing so for the time being. xx

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31 bites more on “db: devonshire tea(rimisu)”

1 Katherine says on February 28th, 2010 at 2:24 pm :

Shez your tiramisu is fabulous. It seems like you have had a tonne of things going on. I hope it calms down soon.
2 Kristy @ ksayerphotography says on February 28th, 2010 at 2:26 pm :

Your pictures are gorgeous and the tearimisu sounds delicious!
I’m not a big fan of coffee so this sounds perfect

Thanks for posting
3 The Ninja says on February 28th, 2010 at 3:06 pm :

Looks deliciously tea-riffic. Even more so than the Kyoto dance (because you can’t really eat Kyoto, can you?)

If I didn’t know you, I would wonder whether you were as hyperactive and energetic and hilarious in real life as you are on e-paper. But I do, so I need not wonder.
4 marcellina says on February 28th, 2010 at 3:23 pm :

Tea-ramisu sounds lovely! I imagine it would be so mild and creamy. Nice the VTB says first “we” will make the savoiardi. LOL
5 Mark @ Cafe Campana says on February 28th, 2010 at 3:27 pm :

Mmmm looks great. I would be very happy if someone served me a Tearimisu that looked like that.
6 FFichiban says on February 28th, 2010 at 3:36 pm :

Hee hee ttteeeeaaaa-rimisu not only fun to say but looks absolutely delicious mmmm
7 Ellie says on February 28th, 2010 at 3:57 pm :

Terrific tea-ramisu! Big welcome to VTB!!
8 Steph says on February 28th, 2010 at 4:29 pm :

Shez this is the best idea!!! I’ve been looking forward to this post since you wrote about it on the db forum. I love devonshire tea and I think this is so inspired and sounds delicious. And purdy too
9 Beeramisu says on February 28th, 2010 at 5:19 pm :

[...] Texture Tiramisu – Almost Bourdain Pyramisu – Eat Show & Tell Devonshire Tea(ramisu) – One Bite More Deconstructed Tiramisu – Lemonpi Y Tiramisu – Bake in [...]
10 billy@ATFT says on February 28th, 2010 at 5:57 pm :

I can’t help but imagining myself eating the Tearamisu and drink tea with my little pinky out! LOL I think your Tearamisu by far is still the best among them all in the challenge. Good job!
11 Fiona says on February 28th, 2010 at 6:13 pm :

eee too sweet!
12 Y says on February 28th, 2010 at 8:11 pm :

Yay, welcome baaaack! Isn’t it nice to have moral support sometimes when you’re trying to get out of some difficult baking headspace? Your tearamisu looks awesome – I’m glad you got round to making it and sharing the story with us
13 Meeta says on February 28th, 2010 at 9:00 pm :

how elegant and exquisite. loving the flavor here. lovely!
14 Liz says on February 28th, 2010 at 10:26 pm :

Love it. Looks fantastic.
15 lex says on February 28th, 2010 at 10:32 pm :

haha nicee; I see your prop repertoire has increased – tiramisu looks awesome, too: save me some!
16 Jenny says on February 28th, 2010 at 10:50 pm :

Tea-ramisu, how creative, and I bet it tasted wonderful! Lovely photos!
17 Aparna says on March 1st, 2010 at 12:28 am :

One more delightful Tea-ramisu I’m seeing. I like your unusual Devonshire tea twist to it.
Thanks for baking with us.
18 Natalie says on March 1st, 2010 at 1:00 am :

Hehe I love tea-ramisu!! Such a good idea. Love your take on this challenge looks amazing as well.
19 Lauren says on March 1st, 2010 at 1:05 am :

Just gorgeous! I love the presentation, especially with those raspberries on top – YUM!
20 Asha@FSK says on March 1st, 2010 at 2:47 am :

Gorgeous creation.. Love the rasberry on top
21 Betty @ The Hungry Girl says on March 1st, 2010 at 6:55 am :

This looks so pretty and decadent! Love the idea
22 chef_d says on March 1st, 2010 at 5:56 pm :

I love your tearamisu and your photos are so goodlooking!
23 chocolatesuze says on March 2nd, 2010 at 2:15 pm :

hehe props to my ninja bridesmaid for keeping me sane!
24 Eyes Bigger Than Belly says on March 2nd, 2010 at 6:15 pm :

Oh wow! I love your Tiramisu!! It is so pretty and delicate! you did an amazing job!
25 anna says on March 3rd, 2010 at 1:42 pm :

I love that you just used discs of ladyfingers – brilliant! It sounds yummy, too.
26 Dharm says on March 3rd, 2010 at 10:10 pm :

Nice blog and nicely done on the challenge this month!! Loevly to see a fellow Malaysian DB!! Are you located in Malaysia or overseas? The flavours are great and the presentation superb too. Well done!
27 bakingaddict says on March 4th, 2010 at 9:33 am :

Love the photos. Well done on the challenge. Great website too, thanks!
28 Adrian @ Food Rehab says on March 6th, 2010 at 2:33 pm :

Dang this looks creamy indeed. Diggin the idea of infusing it with some good old English breakfast tea. Care to send some over chilled to Melbourne?
29 betty says on March 11th, 2010 at 2:43 pm :

you’re so creative shez – these look lovely i always look forward to seeing what you create for DB :O)
30 thatssoron says on March 20th, 2010 at 3:06 pm :

wow…that looks yummo!
31 shez says on March 23rd, 2010 at 9:20 pm :

Ohmygoodness so many comments – thank you! Will just answer any questions instead of replying individually because oh(!) you’re all awesome for making me feel all lovey inside

@The Ninja: So you didn’t actually ask the question, but in case anyone was wondering, yes. Totally hyper. Crazy hyper. More so if I’ve had my afternoon nap.

@Y: Rhetorical question maybe, but oh-so-yes. Moral support is better than cake. Better than bacon even.

@lex: Not even a question, but also yes. And my mother’s hair grows white with every new square inch of shelf space I take over.

@Dharm: I’m in Sydney, Australia but still love Malaysia like a second, humid, delicious home.

@Adrian: Don’t think it’d survive the trip, but if you’re ever in town, look me up