Saturday, September 27, 2008

Olive Garden Tiramisu: COPYCAT

Ingredients:
1 Sponge cake, 10-12" diameter, 3" tall
3 ounces Coffee, strong
3 ounces Brandy, or rum
1 1/2 pounds Mascarpone cheese, or cream cheese, room temp
1 1/2 cups Powdered sugar
Cocoa powder
Directions:1. Cut across the middle of the sponge cake to form two disks, about 1" to 1-1/2" thick. Blend the coffee or espresso and liqueur together. Sprinkle the bottom half of the cake with the coffee liqueur blend, enough to flavor it strongly, but don't saturate the cake so much it will collapse.
2. Mix the cream cheese or mascarpone with the sugar, and beat until the sugar is completely dissolved and the cheese is light and spreadable. Spread the bottom half of the cake with half of the whipped cheese, in a fairly thick layer. Set the second half of the cake on the bottom half, and repeat the process.
3. Sprinkle the coffee/liqueur blend and spread with the remaining whipped cheese mixture. Put the cocoa powder into a wire strainer and coat the top layer of the cheese completely with cocoa. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before cutting and serving.

Olive Garden Breadsticks :COPYCAT

Author/Submitted by: Gloria Pitzer Servings: 8Categories: Breads
Ingredients:
1 Frozen bread dough, *see Note
Nonstick cooking spray
Garlic powder
Oregano, crushed
Directions:When dough is soft enough to knead, spray your fingers with Pam or oil and knead just until you can shape into cigar-sized pieces (about 8 to 10). Place these 3" apart on Pam-sprayed cookie sheets. Let rise in warm place until doubled - about 1-1/2 hours. Then holding Pam about 8" from sticks, lightly spray top of each and then dust with garlic powder and oregano. Bake at 375~ about 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown. Cool in pan on rack to serve within a day or two.
* 1 loaf, thawed in bowl at room temp

Olive Garden Salad & Dressing : COPYCAT


1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon Sugar (optional)
1/3 cup white vinegar
1 bag American blend Dole salad
1 teaspoon vegetable oil
4 sliced rings Purple onion (halved)
2 tablespoons corn syrup
8 jumbo Black olives (pitted)
2 tablespoons parmesan cheese
6 Banana peppers (pepperoncini)
2 tablespoons Romano cheese
1/2 cup Croutons
1 clove garlic minced
2 Roma tomatoes (quartered)
1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Parmesan cheese (freshly grated)
1/2 teaspoon parsley flakes
Pepper corns (freshly ground)
1 tablespoon lemon juice
Instructions for "olive Garden" Salad and DressingFor the dressing:Mix the first eleven ingredients in a blender until well mixed. If this is a little to tart for your own personal taste, add 1 Tablespoon of sugar. For the salad:Pour 1/2 package of the salad blend into a large salad bowl. Top with 1/2 of the onion, olives, banana peppers, croutons and tomatoes. Add dressing to taste and toss well. Add the other 1/2 bag of salad and more dressing to taste. Toss well. Top the salad with the remaining onion, olives, banana peppers, croutons and tomatoes. Pass the grated parmesan cheese and black pepper mill at the table.