Luscious Lemon Tortoni

I love my Grandma! She is such a feisty woman who did some amazing things in her lifetime. I am so happy that I was able to see her at the recent Christmas/birthday party. For my Grandma’s 90th birthday party my mom made an amazing dessert that turned out to be the hit of the party. It was so beautiful and popular, I wanted to share the recipe here.

Luscious Lemon Tortoni

January 20, 2012

by Lisa Eirene

Category Baking birthday calories Cooking Cravings Dessert Dessert Eating the Moment Family food Food Memories Food update fruit Holidays recipes

Ingredients

• 1 pkg (9.25oz) soft lemon or oatmeal cookies…. …I used Archer frosted lemon cookies
• 2 Tbs. melted butter
• 2 lemons, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced………..slice off ends first
• 2 pints lemon sorbet, softened
• 1 pint vanilla ice cream, softened
• 1 ½ cups sweetened whipped cream or frozen whipped topping, thawed
• 1 pint fresh blueberries

Instructions

1. In food processor, pulse cookies until crumbs form. In bowl combine crumbs and butter.
2. Press ½ mixture into bottom of 8” springform pan with removable bottom, coated lightly with cooking spray.
3. In prepared pan, arrange lemon slices as needed, cut side down on crust along edge of pan. Spoon sorbet evenly into pan. Top with remaining crumb mixture, pressing firmly and evenly to form smooth layer.
4. Spread vanilla ice cream evenly over crumb layer. Top with whipped cream. Cover and freeze 2 hrs or overnight. Remove cake and transfer to serving platter. Arrange remaining lemon slices on top of cake and fill center with blueberries. ……….I created a shallow dip in center of whip cream layer so blueberries would not roll off cake.
5. *All I had was a 9 1/2 “ springform pan, so used the entire bag of Archer cookies and added 1 more pint of lemon sorbet and 1 more pint of vanilla ice cream. You can judge how much to add.
6. Let sit out to soften for about 20-30 minutes before serving, unless it is a hot day.

Tags

birthday,

Birthday traditions,

dessert,

family,

Grandma,

Grandma's birthday,

Lemon desserts,

lemon tortoni,

recipe,

Recipes,

red roses,

roses are red,

traditions

My mom found the recipe in a magazine but I’m not sure which magazine that was or I’d post it here. My Grandma loved the dessert and I am dying to give it a try and make it on my own.

I love the tartness of lemon desserts. I think desserts can often be too sweet (especially now that my palette has changed so much over the years). But lemon desserts offer a refreshing and crisp flavor that just makes my mouth water. Have I ever mentioned my obsession with lemon bars? They are probably one of my favorite desserts–and one of those trigger items I rarely make anymore. I could sit in front a plate of lemon bars and eat them all. Dang lemon is good stuff!

This recipe is light and refreshing. It would be a perfect summer dessert for a party. But my mom made it in December, so don’t worry that the fruit won’t be in season.

My Grandpa used to get my Grandma a dozen roses for her birthday every year. Every year I remember going over to their house for her birthday and seeing the lovely red roses. She’d smile happily and I always thought it was the most romantic thing ever that my Grandpa did that. Each and every year for nearly 50 years that they were married. He has since passed on but my mom tries to continue the tradition and get her the roses.

Roses and dessert. What a good way to celebrate. Give this recipe a try for the next party you go to and you’ll be happy.

QUESTION: Do your grandparents have any sweet traditions? What’s your favorite type of dessert?