The food blogging community is one of the most amazing communities I've ever been a part of. Everyone is ridiculously encouraging and sweet. Even though I've never met most of these people, it's obvious that we would be instant real-life friends if we were to meet in person. Technically we all hang out together on the internet all day everyday, so it already feels like we know each other really well. We bond over our shared love for waffles and cake and adding bacon to salads, but we also share stories of loss, emotional struggles and new beginnings. We're there for each other, sometimes more so than we are for people we know in real life. It's fantastic and baffling and one of the marvels of this Internet age that we live in.

Today a bunch of us are dedicating our blog posts to the ever-wonderful and hilarious Emily of The Pig and Quill as part of a virtual baby shower. She's having a baby! I'm not sure who started this whole virtual baby shower trend in food blogging, but I think it's one of the sweetest ways to join together with other bloggers and really speaks volumes about what it means to have "Internet Friends." I met Emily through the So Let's Pig Out Summer Potluck and she has been a great blog friend ever since. If you haven't been to her site you should get over there and check it out. She shares awesome savory eats plus some sweet things, and her silly, hilarious voice just invites you right in. Her blog will instantly brighten your day. But Emily - today we want to brighten YOUR day with a whole bunch of tasty food in honor of you and your little one on the way. I'm not a mom so I don't think I can offer any real mom-advice, but I doubt you will need it. I think you're going to be the coolest mom on the planet.

But ... I do think all Moms with a capital M need some tricks up their sleeve. My mom's party trick of late is a brownie trifle. She's been making this Death By Chocolate one for parties and family gatherings for a few years now, and it always lights up a room (or at least brings everybody to the trifle dish wanting a bowl filled with its goodness). I wanted to play with that recipe and put a tiramisu spin on it, so that's what I have for you today. We've got brownies on the bottom, followed by coffee pudding, ladyfingers and a whipped mascarpone cream. Layer it up all over again and finish it with a cocoa powder dusting. I used boxed brownies (ssshhh), instant pudding (ssshhh), store-bought ladyfingers (ssshhh) and I made the whipped mascarpone cream (woohoo I did it!). You could make all of these layers from scratch if you wanted to, but a new momma ain't got time for that. Ain't nobody got time for that, actually. Make the brownies in the morning or the day ahead, and the rest of the components comes together in a pinch before you assemble all of it. And better yet - you could argue that this thing gets better after sitting for a day in the fridge, so make it the day before whatever event you're making it for (bridal/baby shower, birthday party, backyard BBQ, TV marathon at home, etc.) and you can totally relax the day of. You'll be winning at life on so many levels.

I brought this to work (aka I had to get it OUT OF MY APARTMENT), and everyone loved it. My one coworker has already requested it for her birthday in October, but then she changed her mind and said she actually just needed a huge bowl of that mascarpone cream. So there's one endorsement for you. If you're having a large dinner party I bet it'd be fun to make these into individual parfaits for your guests. I'll have to file that one away for later.

I want to offer the warmest of wishes to Emily and her growing family - I can't wait to see what life has in store for you! I hope you love all of the treats we're bringing to your virtual baby shower, and I'm excited to see what you'll end up cooking as a new mom. Virtual hugs to you!! XOXOXO

You can find the rest of the blog posts in the virtual baby shower below:

With Food + Love
So...Let's Hang Out
Will Frolic For Food
Earthy Feast
Fix Feast Flair
Jewhungry
The Food Gays
Lady and Pups
Two Red Bowls
Beard and Bonnet
Dula Notes
A Little Saffron
The Bojon Gourmet
Nosh and Nourish
Loves Food, Loves to Eat
Tasty Yummies
I am a Food Blog
Dunk & Crumble
80twenty

Illustration at top created with pen and Photoshop.
Prints of my illustrations (and other products with my work on them) are available in my Society6 shop.

BROWNIE TIRAMISU TRIFLE

INGREDIENTS

one 8x8-inch pan of brownies (boxed mix or homemade), preferably with chocolate chips in them
6 oz. ladyfingers (I got two 3-oz. packages at the grocery store)
two 3.4-oz. boxes instant vanilla pudding
2 tbsp instant espresso powder
4 cups cold whole milk
16 oz. mascarpone cheese
1 cup heavy cream
1/4 tsp coarse kosher salt
2 tbsp granulated sugar
cocoa powder for dusting

INSTRUCTIONS

Make the brownies and let them cool. (This can be done the day before.) Chop up into bite-sized pieces.
In a large bowl, whisk together the instant pudding mix, espresso powder and milk. Let it sit for a few minutes to set.
Beat together the mascarpone, heavy cream, salt and sugar on medium speed until light and smooth.
Put half of the brownies in the bottom of a trifle bowl or similar vessel. Top with half of the pudding, and then half of your ladyfingers, and half of the mascarpone mixture. Repeat those layers with the remaining ingredients.
Dust the top with cocoa powder.
Serve immediately or store in the refrigerator until ready to serve.