Strawberry Tiramisu

I know, tiramisu is kind of a cliche. But a very pleasant cliche. Did you know that tiramisu means "pick me up". As in, lift my energy. Classically made, I guess it would do just that - with all the espresso. Here, however, for the sake of my childrens already soaring high energy level, I made it caffeine free. Strawberry and Grand Marnier go together pretty well.

STRAWBERRY ORANGE TIRAMISU

16 oz mascarpone, room temp.
4 egg whites
1 cup sugar
2 pints of strawberries
1/2 cup orange simple syrup
1/2 cup orange juice
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 tablespoons Grand Marnier
lady fingers, about 36 for 9 x 13

To make the orange simple syrup: In a saucepan combine 1/2 cup orange juice and a 1/2 cup sugar. Bring to a boil, making sure the sugar has disolved. Remove from heat. When mixture is cool add 2 tablespoons of Grand Marnier.

In a bain marie or double boiler whisk egg whites and sugar together. Heat until egg whites are hot to the touch. Place egg whites in mixer and whip on low speed with beater attachment until it is cool. Once cooled increase speed to increase the volume of the egg whites. In another bowl whip mascarpone. Fold in a third of the egg whites. Then fold the mascarpone mixture to the egg whites until combined. Place in refrigerator until you are ready to assemble the mascarpone.

Slice strawberries in half or in thirds lengthwise if really large.

In a 13 x 9 pan lay a layer of lady fingers down. Drizzle a half of a cup of the orange syrup mixture on top of the lady fingers. Spread half of the mascarpone mixture evenly on top. Arrange a layer of strawberries over the mascarpone. Add another layer of lady fingers over the strawberries. Drizzle with remaining syrup. Spread mascarpone ovewr that. Lay strawberries on top in a decorative pattern. Chill for at least two hours, preferrably overnight for the flavors to marry.

STRAWBERRY ORANGE TIRAMISU

16 oz mascarpone, room temp.
4 egg whites
1 cup sugar
2 pints of strawberries
1/2 cup orange simple syrup
1/2 cup orange juice
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 tablespoons Grand Marnier
lady fingers, about 36 for 9 x 13

To make the orange simple syrup: In a saucepan combine 1/2 cup orange juice and a 1/2 cup sugar. Bring to a boil, making sure the sugar has disolved. Remove from heat. When mixture is cool add 2 tablespoons of Grand Marnier.

In a bain marie whisk egg whites and sugar together. Heat until egg whites are hot to the touch. Place egg whites in mixer and whip on low speed with beater attachment until it is cool. Once cooled increase speed to increase the volume of the egg whites. In another bowl whip mascarpone. Fold in a third of the egg whites. Then fold the mascarpone mixture to the egg whites until combined. Place in refrigerator until you are ready to assemble the mascarpone.

Slice strawberries in half or in thirds lengthwise if really large.

In a 13 x 9 pan lay a layer of lady fingers down. Drizzle a half of a cup of the orange syrup mixture on top of the lady fingers. Spread half of the mascarpone mixture evenly on top. Arrange a layer of strawberries over the mascarpone. Add another layer of lady fingers over the strawberries. Drizzle with remaining syrup. Spread mascarpone ovewr that. Lay strawberries on top in a decorative pattern. Chill for at least two hours, preferrably overnight for the flavors to marry.