Tiramisu

Tiramisu is one of those extra-special Italian desserts Mama used to make when she was having one of her special dinner parties for the whole extended family.

I can still remember my first taste of this classic Italian dessert.

Ingredients

• 4 fresh eggs, separated
• 1¼ pounds fresh mascarpone cheese
• 4 tbsp sugar
• 1 demitasse of espresso coffee
• ¾ pound savoiardi biscuits
• powdered bitter chocolate
• brandy (add a couple of dashes of brandy or cognac to taste, or leave it out if serving the dish to children)

Method

Beat the egg yolks in with the sugar. Use a beater to whip in the mascarpone and the optional brandy. Whip up half the egg whites to firm peaks (two eggs) and fold them in. Save the rest of the egg whites for something else or feed it to your pets.

Dilute the expresso coffee with water and add a small amount of sugar to sweeten it, just a little bit. it into a bowl and add that optional splash of brandy to taste. (About a tablespoon will be ample.) Dip the biscuits in the coffee and line a suitable cake mould. Fill with the mascarpone mixture. Chill the mold for two hours, then dust the tiramisu with the powdered bitter chocolate powder... and serve to your guests.

Feeds 6