Tiramisu

Last weekend was Valentine's Day and we had a small party with some great friends. Because Italy is considered romantic, we chose it as our theme. It was potluck-style as usual, and I brought creamy-tomato sauce, homemade Italian loaf, and Tiramisu. The latest is one of the few desserts Dear Husband actually likes, as he doesn't have much of a sweet tooth. 

I tried this new recipe and thought it came out good, but next time I will use half Kahlua and half coffee to dip the ladyfingers in, I used Kahlua only and it was quite strong, way too strong for Dear Husband and I anyways, as we are not big drinkers. 

Ingredients: 

1 1/4 cups heavy whipping cream

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

6 egg yolks

3/4 cups sugar

2/3 cups half-and-half

1 lbs. mascarpone cheese

9 oz. ladyfingers

1 1/2 cups Kahlua

Chocolate Curls

Directions: 

1. In a large bowl, combine cream and vanilla. Beat at medium-high speed with an electric mixer until whipped. Set aside. 

2. In a large saucepan, whisk together, egg yolks, sugar,and half-and-half. Bring just to a boil, whisking constantly. Mixture will get foamy and then thicken. Remove from heat, and whisk in mascarpone cheese. Fold in whipped-cream mixture. 

3. In a (3-quart) trifle dish, spread 1/2 cup custard on the bottom of the dish. Dip ladyfingers in liqueur. Place them flat in a single layer over custard. Spread ladyfinger layer with 1 cup custard. Repeat for a second layer. 

4. Repeat flat layers with remaining ingredients, ending with custard. Top custard with chocolate curls. 

Note: To make chocolate curls: unwrap a thick rectangular-shaped chocolate bar, and heat in microwave on medium-high just until soft, about 10 seconds. Using a Y-shaped vegetable peeler, peel down the sides of chocolate to form curl.

                               Big bowl of deliciousness!

                               Adding the mascarpone into the custard.

Curling the chocolate, use your vegetable peeler and warm the chocolate slightly in the microwave.

Dipping the ladyfinger, a few seconds each side is enough. You want them to be soft but not gooey.

Layering the custard and the ladyfingers. Be sure to start and end with the custard.

Adding some powdered chocolate for extra flavor.