Can you say “yummy”?

For those of you who make requests, thanks for the patience, knowing that eventually, I will cook your dish.  So this one’s for  Zhonda who asked me to post a tiramisu recipe.  I tried to make it easy, but the neighborhood grocery store didn’t have ladyfingers on hand, so I made them from scratch.  I could have gone to Trader Joe’s to pick up the ladyfingers, but didn’t want to fight rush hour traffic.  I know I’m silly.  It probably would’ve taken the same amount of time either way, but at least I wasn’t inching in traffic getting irritated.  Moral of the story: if you want to cut down on your cooking time & mess, just go pick up the ladyfingers at the store, and it will be an amazingly easy gourmet treat.  Read on for my recipe…

Tiramisu

3 tubs (8 oz. each) mascarpone cheese
1 package ladyfingers
2 c. prepared espresso (I used Starbucks coffee & made strong)
2 T. sugar
2 T. brown sugar
1/2 tsp. almond extract
6 egg yolks
1 c. sugar
1/2 c. Kahlua
Cocoa for sprinkling
Bittersweet chocolate shavings for garnish

In a large mixing bowl, whip mascarpone cheese until smooth. Set aside.

In top pan of double boiler whisk together egg yolks and sugar, then add Kahlua. Place on top of  pan with boiling water. Cook and stir ten minutes, until mixture thickens. Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature. (I stuck my pan in the freezer to hasten the process). Once cooled, add this mixture to the mascarpone cheese & stir until fully incorporated.

Mix espresso, sugar, brown sugar & almond extract in shallow bowl or 2 qt. casserole dish. Dip ladyfingers quickly into espresso mix and lay flat in a single layer, sides touching, along the bottom of a 9X13 pan. Sift cocoa over the top. Spread half of cream mixture atop the first layer, and repeat a second time. For decoration, sift cocoa over the top of the final layer and sprinkle with some bittersweet chocolate shavings. I also decorated with Premium Mocha flavored m&m’s.

If you want to make your own ladyfingers too, here is the recipe:

Ladyfingers

3 egg yolks
3 egg whites
3 T. sugar + 3 T. sugar
1/2 tsp. almond extract
1/8 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking powder
Scant cup of sifted flour

Heat oven to 400°.  Beat egg whites until soft peaks form, then add 3 T. sugar and beat until thick and shiny. In another bowl, beat 3 egg yolks and 3 T. sugar and almond extract until pale yellow and thick. Fold egg yolk mixture into egg whites. Gently stir in baking powder and then sifted flour. Use a cookie press or pastry bag with a half inch round diameter tip to pipe three-inch long fingers onto greased baking sheet.  Pop into oven  and cook 5-10 minutes (oven temps vary), until springy- edges may begin to brown slightly.  Makes about 3 dozen.