My Favorite Italian Dessert – Tiramisu

Now I ask you…..what could possibly be wrong with anything that combines, cookies, coffee, brandy, cocoa, and the creamy deliciousness of mascarpone cheese?  Before you even taste it you KNOW you are going to love it!

The very first time I had the pleasure of making the acquaintance of Tiramisu I was having dinner at one of my favorite restaurants in Los Angeles, Marino Ristorante.  Everything they serve is always so delicious and authentic and truly made with love.  Marino is owned and run by the Marino family….they are wonderful people who put so much love into everything they do.  If you live in the Los Angeles area and you’ve never been there…what are you waiting for?  In addition to the fabulous food, we almost always have a celebrity sighting of some kind….Danny DaVito and wife Rhea Pearlman, Sharon Stone, and Nancy Sinatra, to name a few.

My husband loves to tell people about the time we sat at a table right next to Joe DiMaggio.  Always the avid baseball fan, he didn’t ask Joe for an autograph because he didn’t want to bother him at dinner (though if he had happened to have a baseball handy I’ll bet he might have asked him to sign it), but he loves to remember sitting that close to The Yankee Clipper!

Though I too love baseball and have great admiration and respect for Mr. DiMaggio, what I love to remember from that evening is the Tiramisu.  The name literally means pick-me-up….probably in reference to the espresso coffee used in the dessert.  It picks-me-up just thinking about it…give it a try and see if it doesn’t make you feel good too:)

Tiramisu

This recipe is a compilation of the recipe on the package of savoiardi (the Ladyfingers) and the container of mascarpone cheese.  Both items are brands made in Italy and the recipes almost the same with only a few minor differences so I combined them and the result is amazing!  You won’t be sorry you made this 🙂

6 large eggs, seperated
2 cups espresso, cooled
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup brandy or cognac
1 lb. mascarpone cheese (at room temperature)
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1 pkg ladyfingers
2 cups heavy whipping cream
1/4 sugar
1 Tablespoon vanilla

Separate egg yolks from the whites.  Always be sure and place egg whites in a clean dry bowl if you intend to whip them.  Add a pinch of sugar and beat the whites until stiff peaks form.

In another bowl beat together the egg yolks, 2 tablespoons of the espresso, the sugar and brandy.  Beat for 2-3 minutes.  Add mascarpone cheese  and continue beating for another 3-5 minutes. Fold in the beaten egg whites.

Next dip cookies in the remaining espresso on one side only.

Then place the cookies, dipped side down,  in rows in serving dish.

When the layer of ladyfingers is complete, pour 1/2 of the mascarpone mixture over it and then smooth this out.

Sprinkle with some of the cocoa.

Repeat this layer.

Whip  the cream to soft peaks with sugar and vanilla.  Spread whipped cream evenly over top and finish with a sprinkle of cocoa powder.  Allow the tiramisu to sit in refrigerator for 1 hour or up to 4 hours before serving.  Slice and serve….mangia bene!!

Serves 12