Tiramisu

I said it before and I’ll say it again, I really am not a baker.  Actually I’m not that much into sweets.  There a few exceptions, I do love dark chocolate and I love Tiramisu.  It is by far my favorite dessert!  but then again, cheese is my favorite food and it contains cheese.  Whenever I have to bring a dessert, it’s almost always Tiramisu.  Maybe because the name is translated as “pick-me-up” that I love it so.  It also has a reputation as an aphrodisiac, however I can confirm that it is not true.  It’s creamy and sweet but not to sweet, it’s a perfect end to a meal, or for breakfast or for lunch, well any ol’ time if you ask me.

Let me tell you, I worked and worked on developing an easy and tasty recipe.  It just had to be done.  After many attempts, this was the one that turned out perfect eveytime.  Perfect recipe for a perfect dessert.

 

Ingredients

48 savoiadi (lady fingers–not the soft kind)

2 8 oz containers marscarpone cheese

3 eggs

3/4 cup sugar

10 cups espresso or coffee, cooled

1-2 shots of dark rum or other alcohol of your choice such as amaretto

powdered plain cocoa

Directions

Separate the yolk and the whites 

 Whip the eggs whites until soft peaks form, place in another bowl and set aside.

Beat the egg yolks with the sugar until frothy

 

Stir in the marscarpone.  Marscarpone?  What the heck is that?  It’s similiar to cream cheese, it’s a soft creamy Italian cheese. 

You can find it in most grocery stores now (if they have it here, they probably have it everywhere). 

But just in case you can make it yourself at home, I just might try that someday, someday….

Beat until creamy.

 and those whipped egg whites.

 

then the liquor (you can use rum flavoring or such if you prefer) 

Ready, set, 

GO! 

mix until blended, ain’t it purty! 

Soak you lady fingers in the coffee.  Now this is the tricky part.  Depending on the brand you may soak a quick 10 seconds or up to 30 seconds.

Just don’t soak too long or they will turn to mush, you’ve been warned! 

 layer the bottom of a 9×13 pan with the coffee engorged lady fingers (I think this is the “pic-me-up) part.

Place half of the cheese mixture on to the bottom layer (this might be the aphrodisiac part…see, it even looks like a heart) 

 cover up all those ladies.

 Start the process over again, kind of like making a lasagne?

 Till it’s all gone

 

 Well, it’s almost all gone.  I have two lone soldiers left, but don’t worry I have a cup of tea waiting for them.

 Now for the second half.

 Spread it evenly over the second layer of ladies.

 And now for the finishing touch.

Sprinkle cocoa powder over the top, make sure to cover every little bit, don’t worry about the mess, we must have cocoa everywhere.

    

Here she is, my favorite dessert.  Jealous?