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A Festive
Recipe: My Tiramisu
Valentine's Day is celebrated throughout Italy, and Tiramisu
is the perfect sweet offering to celebrate the end of a
romantic holiday dinner. I have developed this recipe
over the past few months, and think it is just about perfect.
Although it requires a few steps, it is well worth the effort.
This rich dessert goes a long way, and should easily serve
6 to 8 people. 
- 3 large Eggs, separated
- 1/2 cup Sugar
- 8 ounces Mascarpone cheese
- 2 cups Espresso, brewed and cooled
- 4 tablespoons Brandy
- Savoie Biscuits (Italian Ladyfingers), 20 or so
- 1/4 cup Cocoa (I like a high quality Dutch process,
such as Droste)
In a separate bowl, beat
the egg whites with a pinch of sugar until they form stiff
peaks. You want the peaks to be stiff, but try not
to over beat the egg whites to the point of dryness.
Now gently fold the egg whites into the Mascarpone mixture,
beginning with 1/3 of the whites to lighten the mixture,then
folding in the rest. Pour the remaining
of the Espresso into a flat dish, and add 1 or 2 tablespoons
of the remaining brandy. I found that 2 tablespoons
worked well, but you may prefer a more subtle taste.
Dip each Savoie biscuit quickly into the coffee mixture,
on one or both sides, depending on how quickly you work.
Do be careful, because they are very dry and soak up the
coffee quickly. Place the dipped
ladyfingers in a clear glass serving dish with sides at
least 2 1/2 inches high, covering the bottom of the dish
with the biscuits. Add half the cheese mixture, spreading
it carefully all over the layer of Savoie biscuits, and
then sprinkle the cheese layer liberally with the cocoa.
Repeat. Cover and refrigerate about
4 hours. I find that preparing this in the morning
is perfect for serving after dinner. I wouldn't suggest
making it too far ahead, as it does contain raw eggs.
This is a huge hit at our house, and I hope that it sweetens
your Valentine's Day.
Festivals in Tuscany
Last year at about this
time, we wrote a bit on Carnevale in Viareggio.
Before we begin to list the February festivals in Tuscany,
we would like to remind you that all Carnevale events, as
well as Easter events, are timed with the Liturgical calendar
of the Catholic Church. In presenting this list of
February events in Tuscany, we urge you to keep these changing
dates in mind when you plan a visit. If you are interested
in Carnevale or Easter celebrations, please check with the
specific towns and find the correct times for each year's
events. To read more about Il Carnevale in Viareggio,
please see our archives: http://www.florencevillas.com/newsletter/nl_15.htm
We have been attempting throughout the past year to intersperse
listings of festivals among our more regular newsletter
features. In order to continue with the calendar of
Tuscan festivals and events, we pick up now with the month
of February, and we plan to bring you the March listings
in the next newsletter.
February
February 3, Festa di San Biagio. There are
several places in Italy that celebrate the Feast Day of
San Biagio, but two festas in Tuscany are
worth noting. In Castiglione d'Orcia the Festa
di San Biagio Vescovo (Feast of St.Blaise the Bishop) is
celebrated with a mass as well as with special dinners.
The town of Sinalunga celebrates the Festa della
Mazza di S. Biagio (the Festival of the Staff of
St. Blaise). A "mazza"
is baked from flour and eggs and blessed at a mass.
There is a parade and music to accompany the festivities.
February 5, Festa di Santa Agata.
In Asciano, in the Province of Siena, the Festa di Santa
Agata is celebrated with a mass and a procession through
the streets of the village. In Radicofani, this religious
day is also celebrated with a mass and a procession in which
a statue of the Saint is carried by her devotees.
San Quirico d'Vernia, North of Prato: During
the first week of Lent, this small town that sits below
a ruined castle holds its annual Sagra della Polenta.
Held on the first Sunday of Lent ( February 29, 2004), this
festival does not feature the cornmeal polenta that we have
become accustomed to, but instead celebrates the chestnut
meal polenta that is popular in the northern portions of
Tuscany.
Foiano della Chiana, South of Arezzo in the Valdichiana.
On Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday (February
24 this year), this modern town holds a charming pre-Lenten
festival of its own. The Quattro Cantieri (representing
the four divisions of the town) hold a daylight parade featuring
floats and costumed participants, and the festivities continue
into the night. After dark, there are illuminations
and the reading of King Giocondo's Will. Attendees
come with paper lanterns to hear the reading, delivered
with mock solemnity.
Bibbiena, North of Arezzo in the Casentino area.
Also on Shrove Tuesday (see above) the modern town of Bibbiena
is drawn to its ancient center to celebrate the reenactment
of "La Mea." According to ancient history
and legend, the old town of Bibbiena was divided into upper
and lower quarters, where the rich lived above, and the
working folk populated the lower town. 
The story of Mea is that in 1359, she was drawn away from
her poor lover, the tailor Cecco, and forced to marry the
Count's son. But Mea couldn't live without Cecco,
and eventually returned to him. During the festival
day, the citizens of Bibbiena dress in costume, and sing
ancient love ballads from the quattrocento. They light
a peace lantern and celebrate with food as well as song
and pageantry. February 15, Grosetto: Although
Saint Faustino's Day is celebrated with parties elsewhere
in Italy, it is here in Grosetto, Tuscany that the National
Association of Single Italians makes its home, and where
St. Faustino is most revered. He is, you see, the
patron saint of lonely singles without love. There isn't
much to explain why Faustino, who hails from Brescia and
gained frame as a warrior, has been adopted by Italian singles
as their patron. Perhaps it is because his saint's day falls
on the day after Valentine's Day. In any case, if you are
single and in Grosetto or elsewhere, and see a flyer for
a St. Faustino's Day party, you'll know that you are welcome!
Carnevale: Aside from Viareggio,
both San Gimignano and Vinci celebrate Carnevale with masked
parades and processions. It is said that both these
festivals are worth attending, especially if one chooses
not to take part in the much larger celebration in Viareggio.
Other Tuscan towns with similar celebrations include Buonconvento
where the Carnevale events include competition among the
town's various contrade, or neighborhoods, to see whose
masks and decorated wagons outshine those of the other contrade;
Sarteano where the Carnevale Festeggiamenti is also focused
on the town's five contrade ; and Cetona where decorated
wagons and masked revelers also fill the narrow ancient
streets.
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