Bowling, Books.

My bowling team is no longer on the bottom. Whoopee. We are second from the bottom but working our way up. I think it helped that one of our team with a 111 average got 180 today. We were all thrilled for her. Two of the others were getting good scores. Matt not so much and I had an average game, i.e. I got one more point over my average for three games. Bearable. This week we are bowling on Wednesday afternoon as Matt has a minor skin cancer op on Thursday morning. He might be OK to bowl anyway in which case we will probably do so. Wish we could afford to bowl 3 times a week anyway, but the cost does mount up.

I can't remember who recommended Robert Heinlein and his book Stranger in a Strange Land, but I
am about 2/3 through the book. What a fantastic story. I am loving it. He appears to have written a lot of books, can't believe I have never read his stuff before. It is so good I am considering buying it so I have a copy for
myself. On the other hand, I got it from the library once (and it was published in the 60's) so presume I will be able to get it again. I recommended it to a friend at the bowling alley today and she mentioned that she read a book many years ago called The Bell of the Four Evangelists and how she would like to get a copy. I haven't checked, but I am pretty sure I have it and a few other of these books by Violet Needham. They are not adult books, not sure if they would be classified as YA or younger, but I still love them after many years. Nope I don't although I do have four of these books. I highly recommend them.

This sounds like a wonderful twist on Tiramisu, one of my favourite desserts. Trouble is I don't like pumpkin pie so not sure whether I would like this. I do love marscapone though.

Pumpkin-Gingersnap Tiramisù

Food and Wine

Pumpkin pie meets tiramisù, with layers of pumpkin-mascarpone custard and gingersnaps brushed with Calvados syrup. In the freezer, the flavors and textures meld to form a deliciously creamy dessert.

• Servings: 12

Ingredients

• 3 1/2 teaspoons unflavored gelatin (from 1 1/2 envelopes)
• 2 tablespoons water
• 6 large egg yolks
• 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cups plus 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 quart whole milk
• One 15-ounce can pumpkin puree
• 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
• 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 pound mascarpone (2 cups)
• 3 tablespoons Calvados or other apple brandy
• 1 1/4 pounds gingersnaps, 1/4 pound finely crushed

Instructions

1. In a small bowl, sprinkle the gelatin over the water and let stand for 5 minutes. In a large bowl, whisk the yolks, cornstarch, salt and 1 1/2 cups of the sugar until the sugar is moistened. In a large saucepan, heat the milk just until steaming. Whisk 1 cup of the hot milk into the yolk mixture. Pour the mixture into the milk in the saucepan and cook over moderate heat, whisking constantly, until boiling and thick, about 5 minutes. Whisk in the pumpkin puree and cook, whisking, for 1 minute. Off the heat, whisk in the gelatin, vanilla and cinnamon. Whisk in the mascarpone.
2. In a small microwave-safe bowl, microwave the Calvados with the remaining 1 tablespoon of sugar at high power for 10 seconds, just until the sugar is dissolved.
3. Arrange one-third of the whole gingersnaps in a 9-by-13-by-2 1/2-inch baking dish. Lightly brush the gingersnaps with some of the Calvados and top with one-third of the pumpkin custard. Repeat the layering twice more with the remaining whole gingersnaps, Calvados and custard. Sprinkle half of the crushed gingersnaps on top and press a sheet of plastic wrap directly on the surface of the tiramisù. Freeze overnight.
4. Let the tiramisù stand at room temperature for 6 hours, until thawed. Sprinkle with the remaining gingersnaps. Serve.

Make Ahead

The pumpkin tiramisù can be frozen for up to 1 week. Thaw at room temperature for 4 to 6 hours or overnight in the refrigerator.

Have a great day