TARAMISU
Step by Step Recipe

This tiramisu recipe is easily the equal of any I've had in a restaurant, and better than most, and the presentation is especially nice. The recipe is actually very simple, and the whole thing took me less than an hour to put together.

You'll need (from left):
Half cup of a decent dark rum
A pot of black coffee
Two 8 oz. tubs of mascarpone cheese
Dark cooking chocolate
3 eggs
Heavy cream (double)
Powdered sugar
3 boxes of ladyfingers

About the only really special piece of equipment you'll need is a 10+1/2" (or thereabouts) springform pan. Everything else I used should be present in most family kitchens.

Step 1:
                                     The bottom of the springform pan get a lining with a
                                   double layer of foil.
                             This just helps seal up the pan so coffee won't leak out.

                                   The the barrel of the pan gets clamped on
                                   and the excess foil tucked underneath.

Step 2:

The Custard

                               3 egg yolks
                               1/3 cup of powdered sugar
                               1/3 cup of rum

                                                                         Step 3:
                                               Whisk together well over simmering water.
                                               ... continue to whisk until it thickens a bit.
                                           (Note that the bowl is tempered glass - Pyrex).
                                         Don't try this with a bowl which is not heat-resistant.)
                                       When the custard is done, put it in the fridge to cool.

Step 4:

                                       The Cheese Mixture
                                 Put your mascarpone and another 1/3 cup
                             of powdered sugar in a larger bowl.

                           Cream them together with a plastic spatula.

                                   Step 5:

                               Then beat with a hand mixer

                                   Step 6:

                             ... until it looks like this.

                                 Step 7:

                               Add 1+1/2 cups of heavy cream.

 

                                   Step 8:

                                 And beat.

                                             It will look like extra-thick whipped cream...

                                 Step 9:

                           ... and then like overbeaten cream.
                                         At this point, I felt the custard was still a little warm,
                               so I put the cheese mixture in the fridge
                                 to keep cool and proceeded on with other things

Step 10:

                               The Chocolate Shavings

                                 You will need:

                               Dark Cooking Chocolate and a grater.

Step 11:

                                   Using the fine side of the grater,
                                   I reduced an ounce of fine chocolate
                                   to fine shavings.
 

                                   Step 12:

                                   Then fold up the foil into a packet
                                   so I could put it in the fridge to keep cool
 

Step 13:

                             Back to the Cheese Mixture

                                 Everything's cool now,
                                       so it's time to mix the custard
                               with the cheese mixture.
                                   Pour it in.

                                             Step 14:

                                     Fold it together.
                                   Put it back in the fridge to stay cool.

 

Step 15:
                                               Assembly
                                       You will need: Ladyfingers knife, coffee,
                                     and a rimmed plate The ladyfingers should
                                       be a little longer than the pan is tall They should be                                                   stood up around the outside of the pan,
                                       frosted side out. The whole ones get soaked in the
                                         coffee for a few seconds, until they are about
   half wet and half dry,
and are used to support the upright ones.

Step 16:

                                     The bottom doesn't need to look nice, since it won't show.
                               The outside needs to be pretty.
                                         You can see a few places where I've filled holes by                                        soaking a few of the "broken fingers" and stuffed them in
 

Step 17:

                                 Starting to add the cheese mixture.
                             It should seal against every single upright ladyfinger and
                             cover the bottom evenly. Make sure to use less than half
                             of the mixture. Having finished with the first layer of
                               cheese mixture your ready for the next layer of ladyfingers.

                                     Step 18:

                                             More ladyfingers get soaked in coffee until about
                                                   half-wet and are used to make an even layer
                               on top of the cheese mixture. Second layer
                                     of ladyfingers is then layered;
                                   ready for more cheese mixture.

Step 19:

                             Your now ready to load the second layer
                             of the cheese mixture.

                               Take the chocolate out of the fridge...
                                 ... and cut off the corner to make a little hole.
                                 Sprinkled it on top of the cheese mixture.

Step 20:

                               Almost finished, ready to cover with foil
                                 and stick in the fridge until it's time to go to the party.
                                   And here's what it looks like as it's opened up.

                                     I hope  you will be pleased

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