In this food blogging community we meet many kind, and friendly people that we come to call our friends. If you are lucky you’ll make a few friends whom you begin sharing more than just tasty recipes with. You don’t even have to have met those new foodie friends in real life, to just know they are good genuine people. Gina, aka the SPCookie Queen, is one of those good genuine, kind and giving people. She has been there for me so many times, ready to offer her friendship, support and a comforting word. Her friendship is priceless and so cherished. She is also one of my baking idols, her talent for baked goodies leaves me in awe. When you visit her blog you leave with a smile on your face and craving her treats. She has a great sense of humor and her story telling always makes me laugh. She’s just a true talent.
Gina’s Birthday is August 14, yesterday, and she baked a gourmet treat to share with us. Please help me give my dear friend, Gina, a very warm welcome and wish her a very very Happy Birthday. Thank you Gina for everything, and cheers to a long and healthy life! Feliz cumpleaños amiga.
Thank you Nancy for inviting me over here to be your guest and for helping me celebrate my birthday.
Wasn’t it just last year you and some other dear friends were baking me pretzels? Time went way too fast, and I don’t like it one bit.
I remember the first time I laid eyes on your stunning photography, I was like who is this gal and why aren’t we friends. Then when I realized there was so much more over here than just pretty pictures there, was no stopping me from returning time and time again.
I keep thinking to myself when I get a minute I want to write a piece on what I think makes people keep coming back. Still waiting on that elusive minute, but this thought keeps coming back to mind.
“I’m drawn to people that I feel like I can read,”, not just in a glance over sorta way. More like the people who you start to know and almost know what they might do next type of reads. I guess you might say, have cultivated a real style. I guess that’s why I’m drawn here time and time again. I love your sweet, down-to-earth style you’ve cultivated here. When I read your posts, I feel like I can read you.
I know I tend to ramble on, so I’ll spare you and let’s get on with the birthday show.
I’m usually never one to pass up a big chunk of birthday cake covered in gobs of buttercream, but I just wasn’t in the mood for one this year. What I was really craving was something light, creamy, fresh and well downright easy.
(If you would like to publish this recipe on your website please quote SPCookie Queen as the recipe creator, and place a link back to her website, http://www.spcookiequeen.com . Please do not copy and paste recipe onto Pinterest, Google+, or Facebook. Thank you!)
Ginger & Star Anise Syrup
2″ piece of fresh ginger, peeled and cut into 2 or 3 pieces
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 cup water
2 star anise
Place the ginger, sugar, water and star anise in a small saucepan. Turn heat on to medium high and bring to a boil. Turn heat off and cover and let sit until cooled. About 30 minutes.
Strain out the ginger and star anise and place in a pourable container. I love those plastic squeeze bottles for this sort of thing. Set aside.
Spiced Peaches
5 or 6 yellow peaches (about 2 pounds), peeled, pitted and sliced
1/3 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup ground ginger
In a bowl combine peaches, sugar, lemon juice, cinnamon and ginger. Stir to combine and set aside.
Mascarpone Cream
2 cups heavy whipping cream
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
8 ounces mascarpone cheese
In a bowl combine whipping cream, sugar and vanilla and beat with a mixer until stiff. Fold the mascarpone into the whipping cream. Set aside.
Also need: 2 packages of soft ladyfingers (not the hard ones, I usually find them in the bakery section of my market)
Use a 8″ x 8″ x 2″ baking dish and line the bottom of the dish with the ladyfingers. Pour 1/3 of the syrup over the ladyfingers.
Place half of the peaches on top of the ladyfingers. Resist the temptation to start eating at this point, I assure you it’s worth the wait.
Cover the peaches with half of the mascarpone cream mixture.
Repeat for a second layer. Place in the fridge till firm about 4 hours, overnight is ideal.
I had some syrup leftover because I don’t like to soak my ladyfingers too much or they will get mushy. It was perfect for spicing up my ice tea.
I couldn’t think of a better way to spend my birthday than hanging out over here with you Nancy. Thanks again for having me over.
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Thank you so much Gina. It is such an honor calling you my friend and having you over. Now please everyone go stop by SPCookie Queen and say hello to Gina. Let me warn you, you are in for a real treat. There are cookies, cakes, pies, and savory treats too. You’ll love SPCookie Queen.
Recipe and photography by Gina and SPCookieQueen.com
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A beautiful guest post and Tiramisù! That version is mouthwatering.
Cheers,
Rosa
Thanks Rosa!
How sweet to see and read about these food blogger connections that blossom into friendships. A beautiful birthday dessert for sure! Next, we’ll be seeing plane tickets purchased and visits unfold! Yay!
One day for sure Sarah. Thanks:)!
Gina, so nice to see you guest post for Nancy. Your tiramisu with spiced peaches look stunning!
Thank you Angie for stopping by:)
Lovely guest post ladies! Gina-I love seeing you here at Spicie Foodie;-). Your peach and mascarpone concoction is definitely birthday worthy and over the top beautiful, once again Happy Birthday Gina!
Hi Patty,
I love hosting my good foodie friends. Since you live close by you might get to taste Gina’s yummy tiramisu sooner than I. Can’t wait to one day sit down with you both:)
wow what a fun tiramisu and happy birthday
Thanks for stopping by rebecca!
I love tiramisu, both classical and non classical…this recipe is so original! I have to try!
The originality is why I love it so much. Leave it to Gina to come up with such a great version. Thanks!
Hi Gina, what a scrumptious birthday treat! I love your peach variation on Tiramisu – perfect for the height of summer! :)
Thanks for stopping by Laura!
Thank you so much for being a great friend Nancy and having me over here and making my birthday one of the best ever. I just love that photo collage you did, one of these days all that techy stuff is gonna finally sink in and then there will be no stopping me – lol – one of these days. Hope to spend many more birthdays stopping by over here.
Hugs,
-Gina-
Thanks to you Gina! You’re the best and I’m so lucky to call you a friend. I hope to celebrate many many more Birthdays with you.
I love this! I’m not fond of coffee, but I love peaches, so this is a perfect alternative. Very nicely done. Happy Birthday!
Hi Susan,
So happy that Gina came to your rescue with a non-coffee version:)
Gorgeous looking tiramisu! We still have fairly decent peaches – I definitely should give this a try. Thanks for a great post.
Yes you should;)
That’s a beautiful guest post recipe. So drool-worthy :D
It really is. Thanks Kiran:)!
This tiramisu looks outstanding!
I couldn’t agree more:) Thanks Jen!
Oh yes, I still remember the last year’s Pretzels! Wow already one year passed by!? Thanks Nancy for the wonderful guest post.
Gina, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! I love tiramisu and it’s even better with spiced peach in it (drooling). I love this cake.
Thanks Nami! You have a great memory:)
You described Gina perfectly! In fact that’s the way I think about both of you!!! And now I’m trying to figure out how I can make peach tiramisu for MY birthday…which is out of peach season. It looks incredible!!! Thank you both!!! xo
Oh that is so sweet Liz:) I hope you can figure out a way of making Gina’s Tiramisu for your b-day. Thanks! xo back
Hi Gina, so wonderful to see you here :) And wow, what a cake! I want one exactly like it for my birthday :) Hope you had a wonderful one and a great year ahead!
Hi Nancy, so fun to have Gina here, she is such a wonderful person and friend :) Just popping over before work, but will be catching up on your other delicious posts soon…
Hugs to you both!
Hi Alisha,
Thanks for stopping by:) Don’t worry about reading and commenting on all the posts you missed. You are super busy and it’s just nice to have you stopping by now. Hugs!
What a great guest post! I love regular tiramisu, but peach tiramisu? I’m in! ;)
I think Gina would be preparing this for hours i she granted all of our wishes for a taste:) Thanks Christina.
wow what a beautiful dish! ginger and anise syrup? with peaches? amazing.
I couldn’t agree more Anna:)
What a nice read! I do agree completely that Gina is good, genuine, kind and giving–and Nancy, I can say the same about you, too. :)
Happy Belated birthday, Gina! I love this Tiramisu! :)
Aw, thanks Jean:)