REC: Tiramisu

It seems we think alike!! I, too, wanted a really good recipe for Tiramisu, and gathered 4 of them. I analyzed all the ingredients of all 4 recipes and decided on the following. Most recipes call for a dusting of cocoa powder on the top, but believe me, the chopped semi-sweet chocolate (a good quality type) was very nice to crunch on. If you have some "tuna size tins" with both top and bottom lids removed, you can make individual servings that will look really nice when you present your dessert....just build your Tiramisu in them instead of a 9x13 pan and refrigerate. Either way, hope you will enjoy this recipe:

TIRAMISU

Note: Must be prepared at least 5 hours in advance before serving.

Serves 6-8

3/4 C brewed expresso coffee, cooled
1/4-1/2 C of liquor (Chambord is EXCELLENT), preferably berry-flavored
24 (or more) savoiardi (lady finger cookies--THE HARD KIND...not the soft..very important!
4 eggs, separated
1/4 C granulated sugar
1 lb mascarpone cheese (do NOT use cream cheese!)
6 oz (or more!) semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped

1. Combine the cooled coffee with the liqueur.

2. Arrange half the ladyfingers in a slightly rectangular, flat bottomed serving dish (with High sides). The entire bottom of the dish should be covered. (this is why you may need more than 24 ladyfingers).

3. Sprinkle/soak the ladyfingers with half the liquor/coffee mixture. (You don't want the lady fingers to be soaked completely soft, but you want to make sure they've absorbed some for flavor).

4. Beat the egg whites in a bowl until stiff. Reserve.

5. In another bowl, beat the egg yolks together with the sugar until the mixture thickens and lightens in color (this is an important step!)

6. Add the marscarpone to the egg yolk mixture and stir with a wooden spoon to combine
thoroughly. Make sure it is combined well.

7. Fold the reserved egg whites into this mixture.

8. Spread 1/2 the mascarpone mixture over the ladyfingers in the serving dish.

9. Sprinkle half the the chopped chocolate on the mascarpone mixture (I'm very generous here; you can still see the mascarpone below, but the mixture is definitely covered).

10. On a separate plate, soak the remaining ladyfingers with the remaining coffee/liquor mixture, then make another layer of ladyfingers on top of the chopped chocolate--repeat layering. The rest of the mascarpone, and then the rest of the chopped chocolate.

11. Cover the Tiramisu with plastic wrap and CHILL OVERNIGHT, or AT LEAST FOR 5 HOURS.

Then dig in and prepare to swoon!!