Tiramisu Mary Helen Style

This is what Tiramisu should taste like. Mary Helen learned from the masters at Da Gina's Restaurant in Italy.

• Ready In: 8 hrs 30 mins
• Yields: 1 cake

Ingredients

• 5  eggs, separated into whites & egg yolks
• 5  tablespoons sugar
• 1  lb mascarpone cheese
• 20  ladyfingers
• 2  cups  espresso
• 2  tablespoons rum
• 2  tablespoons  cocoa
• 4  ounces cream cheese (optional)

Directions

1. Beat the egg yolks with the sugar for a couple of minutes, then slowly add the mascarpone cheese and whipped egg whites. Beat again until it peaks.
2. In a cake tin, layer the lady fingers after they had been soaked in coffee and rum, put half the mascarpone on top.
3. Then make another layer of lady fingers and coat with the second half of the mascarpone cheese.
4. In addition you may add 4 oz cream cheese to the mascarpone for flavor.
5. Garnish with cocoa and refrig to chill for 6-8 hours.