"Tiramisu like the desserts miss the rain"

My sister used to love that song by "Like the Deserts Miss the Rain," its catch line being "and I miss you, like the deserts miss the rain." The only thing was she sang it like it was "Tiramisu like the desserts miss the rain," haha I loved it though. It always stuck out in head when the song replayed on the cool retro 90's radio stations. This time the Tiramisu was to be made at home.

Inspired by a colleague who absolutely adores this dessert I cannot explain to her how easy it was to actually assemble. It takes no baking and virtually no cutting. How easy is that? After rummaging through our pantry and finding a few yellow packages of lady fingers I decided a Tiramisu was in order. To my luck my colleague asked if she could come over with husband in tote to learn. Better yet, you can do it. I'll supervise.

So Friday night she, her husband and another colleague came over for an afterwork Tiramisu lesson. Luckily they did it being that I became stricken with the stomache flu that day and was so ill I was hunched over for most of the weekend. I didn't touch a thing they did it all and it was marvelous not only for them as first time "Tiramasurs," but for me since I didn't do anything and for work since they ate it all. Here's how the assembly goes...

Classic Tiramisu
Software:
6 egg yolks
3 tablespoons sugar
1 pound mascarpone cheese
1 1/2 cups strong espresso, cooled
3 teaspoons dark rum, Kahlua, Amaretto, Godiva Liqour, or coffee tequila.
24 packaged ladyfingers
1/2 cup bittersweet chocolate shavings, for garnish

Hardware:
Casserole Dish
Whisk or hand mixer
Bowls
Serrated knife or microplane

Directions

Starting with a large bowl, using an electric mixer with whisk attachment or by hand if you want to work those forearms out like Popeye, beat egg yolks and sugar until thick and pale, about 5 minutes. Add mascarpone cheese and beat until smooth another 2 -3 minutes. Add 1 tablespoon of espresso, 1 teaspoon of the flavored liqour and mix until combined.

In a small shallow dish or bowl, add the remaining espresso and liqour. Dipping each ladyfinger into espresso for only 5 seconds on one side. Letting the ladyfingers soak too long will cause them to disintegrate and mush up. Place the soaked ladyfinger on the bottom of a 13 by 9 inch baking dish, breaking them in half if necessary in order to fit the bottom. Make sure the fit is pretty snug. If any crackers crack then just place them together as if they were whole. Since this will be entirely covered there is no need to worry about the aesthetics as this point.

Spread evenly 1/2 of the custard mixture over the ladyfingers. Arrange another layer of soaked ladyfingers and top with remaining mascarpone mixture.

 You have to be willing to get your hand dirty when shaving chocolate. Just be sure it melts in your hand and NOT in your mouth.

 If you have any left over lady fingers and custard feel free to make yourself a treat on the side. No sense in wasting good eats.

Cover tiramisu with plastic wrap or tight fitting lid and refrigerate up to overnight. You want to at least let it sit for 3 hours to soften the cookies and let the flavors marry into one another.

Before serving, sprinkle with chocolate shavings either by microplane, Vegetable peeler or serrated knife. Then dust with confectioners sugar. Make this for your coworkers and I can assure you you'll be employee of the month. Well, at least for the day.