Everyday Food (May 2010)
Surely you're familiar with the drag queen name-game, right? You know, the one where you take the name of your first pet, coupled with the first street you lived on, and that's the name you'd adopt as your fabulous drag-queen persona?
Zach has always thought this particular method yielded a great drag name for him: "Suki Westwood." Clay's, on the other hand, is a little less ideal: "Treasure Route #1." (Although that's still better than our friend Whitney's would-be drag name: "Reggie Old Medina Hwy.")
Well, apologies to the drag queen name-game, but we've decided on a new moniker, should the mood ever strike us to paint on some makeup and slap on a wig: "Tipsy Affogato."
Ladies and gentlemen, Miss Tipsy Affogato!
It's got a nice ring to it, yes?
Okay, okay. We're not going to do drag anytime soon. (Trust us, we would make for some ugly ladies.) Instead, we'll continue to make this dessert, which has instantly become one of our all-time favorites.
We'd heard of affogatos for a long time, although we hadn't ever tried one. They're classic Italian desserts that consist of ice cream or gelato swimming in coffee or espresso (affogato is Italian for "drowned"). It always sounded fine to us -- who wouldn't like ice cream with some coffee poured on it? -- but too simplistic to be anything very special.
We couldn't have been more wrong. This Tipsy Affogato is one of the most delicious, most satisfying desserts we've had in a long time. The creamy vanilla ice cream, the hot, strong coffee, and the nutty, sweet Frangelico make a to-die-for trio.
And it couldn't be any simpler. We like to keep desserts simple, especially in the summer. Usually, that means either fresh or grilled fruit (easy) or a granita (even easier). But those easy peasy desserts are complex and time-consuming compared to these affogatos.
Seriously, just a couple scoops of some really good vanilla ice cream, some strong, fresh-brewed coffee, and a little pour (or two) of hazelnut liqueur. Perfection!
Trust us -- this is going to become your favorite dessert of the summer. And why not? It's cool, refreshing, delicious and, most importantly, effortless.
After all, making complicated desserts can be such a drag.
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UPDATE: Over on our Facebook page folks are leaving their "drag names" and it's a hoot. Leave yours in the comments below!
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Tipsy Affogato
Everyday Food (May 2010)
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(This photo: Martha Stewart Living)
INGREDIENTS
- 1 pint vanilla-bean ice cream
- 1/4 cup strong coffee
- 1 ounce Frangelico or other hazelnut liqueur
DIRECTIONS
Divide ice cream among four tumblers. Pour coffee and Frangelico or other hazelnut liqueur over ice cream in each glass and serve.
OTHER AFFOGATO IDEAS
- Try chocolate ice cream with Benedectine or orange liqueur.
- Use masala chai tea instead of coffee.
- Serve with lady fingers or butter cookies for dipping.
- Sprinkle with chopped dark chocolate or cocoa nibs.
