Dessert Oasis: Fantastical Desserts and Recipes from Michael's Kitchen
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Ever felt like dessert menus are becoming a bit...predictable? A chocolate cake of some sort, a fruit-based pastry, cheesecake or tiramisu, a pudding or flan, and an ice cream or sorbet. Yawn.
Fortunately, we recently came across a restauranteur who has not forgotten the childlike joy and simple pleasure that dessert can bring: chef Michael Blum, who recently opened Michael's Kitchen in Miami. He's bringing a bit of pomp and circumstance--as well as a needed dose of fun--back to the institution of dessert, serving up fanciful sweets like desserts like N'awlins style Bananas Foster, Twinkie Tiramisu, Over-the-Top Baked Alaska and the Milky Way Chocolate Malt, and our favorite, the Deep Dish Rice Krispie Dessert Pizza (what can we say, we're in a cereal state of mind lately!).
RECIPE 1: White Chocolate Raspberry or Strawberry Rice Krispie Deep Dish Pizza
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons margarine or butter
- 1 (10 oz.) package regular marshmallows
- Or -
- 4 cups mini marshmallows
- 6 cups Rice Krispies®
- White Chocolate Shavings to taste for garnish
- Your choice of jam or preserves, to taste (we like a thicker layer, but this recipe calls for a thinner one)
Directions
1. Melt margarine in large saucepan over low heat. Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove from heat.
2. Add RICE KRISPIES cereal. Stir until well coated.
3. Using buttered spatula or waxed paper, press mixture evenly into 9 x 2-inch deep dish round pan coated with cooking spray.
4. When cool remove from pan by using a hot water bath. Put pan into water for about 30 seconds.
5. To decorate: Spread a thin layer of raspberry or strawberry jam into the center of the circle of the pizza, leaving the “crust” of the pizza bare. Then add white chocolate shavings for the cheese look and sliced strawberries as pepperoni and raspberries as other toppings. NOTE: feel free to use any kind of toppings that your heart desires, there a no limits to this dessert…. Be creative!!!! Best if served the same day.
Serving Size one 9 inch round
RECIPE 2: Twinkie Tiramisu
At Michael’s Kitchen we serve these as individual desserts in 2 inch by 2 inch square glass containers.
Ingredients
- 1 cup heavy cream (40% milk fat)
- 5 oz granulated Sugar
- 3 Tablespoons Espresso (plus a little bit more for dipping the lady fingers)
- 1.5 pounds of Mascarpone cheese
- 8 yolks
- Lady Fingers (at least 36 cookies)
- 1 box Twinkies
Directions:
1. Use an electric mixer with Wisk attachment and a cold bowl. Place heavy cream and 2 ozs of sugar in bowl and beat until stiff peaks, making whipped cream. This process takes about 3-4 minutes depending on strength of mixer.
2. Remove whipped cream from mixer and place it into the freezer while mixing the other ingredients.
3. Separate the yolks from the whites and place the yolks into a new cold bowl. Beat yolks and the remaining 3 ozs of sugar together. This process takes about 4 minutes. The mixture should look a pale yellow and about 4 times what the mixture started out as.
4. Add the mascarpone cheese until well incorporated and than add 3 Tablespoons of the espresso. Mix for about 20 seconds longer.
5. Remove this mixture from mixer and fold the cream into it. These two mixtures should be combined into one mixture leaving few streaks.
To Assemble:
1. Prepare espresso into a cup of coffee. Taking two ladyfingers break them in half and dip them into the warm espresso.
2. Place ladyfingers into the bottom of the ramekins.
3. Add the tiramisu cream to the top of the ramekin and take a knife across the top of it to clean off the edge.
4. Repeat this process until all cream is gone.
5. Cut the Twinkies in half on a bias and place one half on each tiramisu.
Note: best if refrigerated for a couple of hours but also can be served right after made.
Reader Comments (43)
Oh....my....gawd!
I'll take one pizza, please! The cool thing is that even though this one can't be delivered, you've allowed us to be able to make it...all because you drooled to management...who says kissing pizza butt doesn't pay???
LOL
if there's really an oasis in the dessert just like this..i wanna be trapped in there forever :-)
great spying job! !!
Stunning photos. I have people coming over this weekend, if I do get the ingredients (India), will surely try them. Have saved it for furture reference. Thanks for sharing.
Archana
http://www.archanaskitchen.com
Oh gosh it must by heaven here viewing your fab pics!! Thanks for the great recipes I must try them out *drool* *drool* Great post as always!!
Rosie x
You are awesome for scoring these fun recipes. I can't wait to try the rice krispie one. thanks!
These all look great! I get to Maimi about once to twice a year so I will check him out next time I am there!
OMG i love the rice krispy pizza ... how clever and original and irresistible ! This guy is good.Have to make this, its going in my bookmarks !
Wow! How creative and fun!
Ah, to be 7 years old again with a Twinkie in my lunch box! I had to look twice at the Rice Krispie treat! I thought it was toasted coconut and then did a double-take!
A rice krispie pizza... what genius! I just made some krispie squares myself, must try this as a variation sometime.
Love the Rice Krispie Pizza! Definitely a keeper. Thanks!
Rockerjewlz: OMG says it. Don't you love 'em?
Dhanggit: Yes, there could be worse places to be stuck, huh?
Archana: Have fun! Let us know how they come out!
Rosie: Awesome! Thank you! You've done some delicious stuff too this week...
Stephanie: Bet that would be fun for your kids!!
Winedeb: Yes, you should! I hear their dinner is quite good too. Have to eat something before dessert, eh?
Kate / kajal: Yay! Have fun making it!!!
Pam: Thank you so much!
TW: It's all about those sweet memories, hmm? I like how these are grown up a bit but still fun!
Vegan noodle: Your Krispie treats looked GREAT!
Stickygooey: Yes, I think it is! It's just like your name!
White Chocolate Strawberry Rice Krispie Deep Dish Pizza. OMG, I can't wait to give this dessert a try. Rice Krispie squares has alway been a favorite on mine since I was a little kid. But, to add chocolate and strawberry to it. Well, what can I say .... Yummy, Yummy, Yummy.
Ah, you've caught the general http://balancefood.blogspot.com/2007/03/ennui.html" REL="nofollow">ennui plaguing so many desserts (and other things, may I say) by its' tail and trussed it up. Hooray for desserts that please both chef and consumer!
Thanks for posting those recipes. They are so neat! :)
Chuck: Yeah isn't it cool how they have that nostalgia factor, but grown up a bit?
Chou: Merci! Ennui is the ideal word for the dessert situation!
How to Eat..: Thank you, enjoy!
Your blog keeps getting better and better! Your older articles are not as good as newer ones you have a lot more creativity and originality now. Keep it up!
And according to this article, I tottaly agree with your opinion, but only this time! :)
My kids love tiramisu and we never fail to order one when we are eating out. I haven't done home-made tiramisu yet but I think I will try it this time using the recipe. I have 2 big packs of lady fingers, enough for two tiramisu recipes. Wish me luck!
Jane Darwin
Sushi Making