Giada's lemon hazelnut tiramisu

Giada De Laurentiis celebrates the best of both of her worlds, her Italian roots and adopted California hometown, in her new book "Giada at Home." This recipe for lemon hazelnut tiramisu is yet another example of how well she marries the time-tested traditions of Italy with the health-conscious philosophy of the West Coast. (Stay tuned for my review of her fabulous new book).

I've never made tiramisu before. That is, other than my previous attempt at Martha Stewart's so-so tiramisu cupcakes.

Mixed berry cobbler

As soon as we got the keys to our new home, and I inherited more counter space, I bought a wok and a slow cooker. I haven't used the wok once. I use the slow cooker about four times a week.

It's saved my sanity. It's not just about stews and soups, people. I've made lemon pepper ribs, Moroccan chicken, Thai curries, and yes, even the mixed berry cobbler to the right.

Vanilla-berry charlotte

Pretty, right? That's the main shallow reason I decided to make this. I couldn't wrap my head around what purpose the ladyfingers would serve other than to hold the cake together.
I mean, they weren't dipped in liqueur or anything so they were going to stay hard.
But I decided this would be the perfect (and relatively quickest) show-stopping dessert to make for a Good Friday brunch at my aunt's place.
I was confident I could get it to look almost as good as the Kraft Kitchens recipe, but for the chocolate shavings which I have yet to master, but wasn't sure that this would deliver on the taste.

On-the-run lunches for new moms

When I was getting ready to go on maternity leave, my male friends and co-workers joked it would be like a vacation. Some seasoned moms suggested it would be the ideal time to really explore my passions - read in the park, go on lunch dates, bake my heart out. I thought it might be the ideal time to take some courses.
Bull.

Bull, bull, bull, bull, bull. See the photo to the right (be kind Internets)? I'm smiling, but not really. I've painted my nails Short Story Pink for some semblance of normality. I'm still in pain from my C-section and probably really, really hungry. But I don't want to get up because that would wake my baby WHO NEVER WANTS TO SLEEP.
But that's a topic for another day - for another blog, really.

Clean-out-the-pantry chocolate clusters

I have started to recycle - really recycle, not just when people are looking. I have started to collect soiled napkins and used coffee filters for the compost collection. I have started to rifle through my fridge to use up any vegetables near their expiry date and, for the first time ever, I've started to improvise while baking. It's taken me a long time to get this point.

I'd like to say this is because of a renewed sense of oneness with the environment. But really, it was borne of frugality and mainly, necessity. Time is my most valuable commodity these days.