Tiramisu!

This is my ALL TIME FAV dessert. I LOVE tiramisu!! I always had heard it was a very difficult dessert to master. However, this Ina Garten recipe couldn't be more simple! The only bad part is, it's pretty expensive to make - especially the mascarpone cheese and the espresso. I ended up using the new VIA instant Starbuck's coffee - the strong kind. It did work and still was delicious, but I could tell the difference. But a cup and a half of espresso is a fortune if you don't have an espresso maker! (Which I don't). If you'd like to try it though, you could use a strong brewed coffee or use the VIA - you probably can't tell if you aren't comparing it to the other.

I brought this into the office for my birthday today... it went over well! I borrowed the pic but mine looked exactly the same as this picture... I didn't want to take pictures of my food at work, plus it doesn't look as "fancy" on a paper plate anyhow!! I love how the rum and espresso is used in two parts of the recipe - it really ties in the cream mixture with the soaked lady fingers. Hope you enjoy!



Ingredients
6 extra large egg yolks, at room temperature
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup dark rum, divided
1 1/2 cups brewed espresso, divided
16 oz. mascarpone cheese
30+ ladyfingers
unsweetened chocolate powder

Directions
Whisk the egg yolks and sugar in teh bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment on high speed for about 5 minutes, or until very thick and light yellow. Lower the speed to medium and add 1/4 cup rum, 1/4 cup espresso, and the mascarpone. Whisk until smooth.

Combine the remaining 1/4 cup rum and 1 1/4 cups espresso in a shallow bowl. Dip 1 side of each ladyfinger in the espresso/rum mixture and line the bottom of a 9 X 13 inch pan. Pour half of the espresso/rum mixture over the ladyfingers. Pour half of the espresso cream mixture over the top. Add another layer of ladyfingers dipped in the espresso/rum mixture and pour the rest over the ladyfingers. Top with the rest of the cream. Smooth the top, cover and put in the fridge.

Before serving, sprinkle the top with chocolate powder.

Half Recipe
3 extra large egg yolks, at room temp
1/8 cup sugar
1/4 cup dark rum, divided (2 Tbsp, 2 Tbsp)
3/4 cups brewed espresso, divdied (2 Tbsp, the rest)
8 oz. mascarpone cheese
15 + ladyfingers
chocolate