QUALCOSA MANGIAMO L'ITALIANO!  (LET'S EAT SOMETHING ITALIAN!)

It's late and I'm hungry...and doesn't talking about Italian food sound more interesting than talking about Vatican City?  Yeah, I thought so too.

It's important to start the conversation about Italian food with a little advice...don't plan to go to Italy and eat nothing but pasta and pizza.  You'd be missing out on some early great foods.  Coastal areas  have wonderfully fresh seafood and luscious wines.  Nuts, eggplant, and Barolo (one of Italy's most acclaimed wines) are specialities of the Piedmont region. Central Italy is know for fabulous vegtables and olives.  And, Italians love a good meat dish, especially veal.

Looking for something sweet?  Order up a cannoli with rich, sweet creme-cheese filling.  Or, what about a soft, moist piece of fresh tiramisu?  Oh my goodness....yes!  Let's make some right now!

Tiramisu   

Ingredients

• 1 container(s) (8-ounce) coffee low-fat yogurt
• 1 container(s) (8-ounce) vanilla low-fat yogurt
• 1/2 container(s) (2 ounces) whipped cream cheese
• 1/3 cup(s) confectioners' sugar
• 2 tablespoon(s) confectioners' sugar
• 1 package(s) (3-ounce to 4 1/2-ounce ) sponge-type ladyfingers
• 2 tablespoon(s) coffee-flavor liqueur, optional
• 2 teaspoon(s) instant espresso-coffee powder
• 3/4 cup(s) coarsely crushed amoretti cookies
• 1 1/2 cup(s) thawed frozen light whipped topping
• Unsweetened cocoa , for garnish

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Directions

1. In small bowl, with rubber spatula, mix coffee and vanilla yogurts. Place large paper coffee filter in small metal strainer set over small bowl. Spoon yogurt mixture into coffee filter; place in refrigerator. Let yogurt mixture stand 2 hours (whey will drip into bowl and yogurt will be slightly thickened).
2. Remove yogurt mixture from refrigerator and discard liquid in bowl. Spoon yogurt mixture into bowl; stir in whipped cream cheese and 1/3 cup confectioners' sugar until well blended. Set aside.
3. Separate ladyfingers into halves. Cut each half crosswise in half and place in jelly-roll pan. In small bowl, stir together coffee-flavor liqueur, instant espresso-coffee powder, 1/4 cup hot tap water, and 2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar (if not using coffee-flavor liqueur, increase hot tap water to 1/3 cup and espresso-coffee powder to 1 tablespoon). Brush ladyfingers on both sides with espresso mixture.
4. In each of six 8-ounce parfait glasses, layer 4 pieces of ladyfinger, 1 scant tablespoon crushed amoretti cookies, 2 tablespoons yogurt mixture, and 1 heaping tablespoon whipped topping. Repeat layering one more time. Sprinkle with cocoa if you like. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes or until ready to serve.

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If you make this tonight, bring me a piece!  Yum-O!