[Liz]

The Amalfi coast-----breathtaking. And when Italian cooking comes up, desserts suffuse my mind.
Italian chefs have a particular facility with desserts. They dont get involved with all-day production
numbers like the French do." Easy does it" seems to be the Italian mindset. Suits me just fine.

CHOCOLATE AND COFFEE SEMIFREDDO

The quintessential Italian ice cream dessert “half-cold” -- partially frozen ice cream. Texture is softer, more mousse-like;freezer overnight. For pronto ice cream a semifreddo is a go-to. Great for entertaining – a cinch to make, can do ahead-doesn't need accompaniments. This one's a fave. Coffee and chocolate and the added crunch of Snickers caramel peanuts really makes it pop.

ING – Serves 4 -6 egg 4 egg yolks ½ cup sugar 1 ¼ cups cream tablespoon instant coffee powder
tb coffee or chocolate liqueur (optional) 2 Snicker’s bars (r use Mars bars or Toblerone) Grated dark chocolate
or chocolate sprinkles to garnish.

METHOD Line loaf tin w/ saran. Put the coffee, liqueur (if using), egg, egg yolks and sugar in a heat proof bowl and mix to dissolve. Beat the mixture over a saucepan of gently simmering water until it is pale and thick. You can use a hand held electric whisk if you like.

In a separate bowl, whip cream thick. Gently fold in the egg/sugar mixture. Add chopped chocolate bars; mix/ combine. Pour into loaf pan, and cover carefully with saran. Freezer at least 2-3 hours.

FINAL When ready to serve, turn out on server just prior to serving as semifreddo melts quickly.

SERVE garnished w/ chocolate shavings, nuts, chocolate chunks, sprinkles or chocolate coffee beans.

[Yaelle]

You are right; Italians do dessert right. Not much fuss but what wonderful flavors and textures. I remember “reading” a relative’s woman’s magazine down there, and in the center was an attached little recipe booklet of Italian dolces (desserts or sweets?). I was allowed to unstaple the little booklet and take it home, and I had fun following the recipes even in Italian. Such interesting things. Other than Chinese, where else do you find a people so satisfied by their own food that they don’t even need to reach out and sample any others? ;). There just isn’t time or need to check the rest out!