Preparation Time: 1 - 2 hours       Cooking Time: 30 minutes or less        Serves: 10
Category: Dessert       Sub-Category: Cakes        Cuisine: Italian

 Ingredients:

* 6 extra large eggs (at least large)
* 1 cup sugar
* 2 cups espresso or very strong coffee, start making it early, it works best if it cools. Most of the coffee i end up throwing away, but i make a whole bunch so that i can put it in a bowl and dip the lady fingers. You can get away with a lot less coffee.
* 4 tbsp rum, I use dark rum. Possible substitutes: brandy, cognac, etc.
* 16 ounces (2x8 ounce packages) mascarpone cheese; if you happen to get the same brand as me, it actually has a tiramisu recipe on the side. Mine is a much better recipe.
* 2-3 cups heavy whipping cream (optional, but highly recommended for best tasting tiramisu)
* 2 packages lady fingers (usually 24 per package). 3 possible varieties in the picture.
* 0.5 lbs semi sweet or bittersweet chocolate; not an exact measurement, it’s really however much you want to use (optional, but highly recommended for best tasting tiramisu). I used Ghirardelli semi sweet chocolate

I am actually making a double recipe, but you can make it with half of those ingredients. There's never been any left over so I don't see any reason to make less than this.

Preparation:
Required: bowls, mixer, and usual kitchen utensils. I use 3 mixing bowls, and a hand mixer. Stand mixer could possibly work also. You will need a deep pan about 9 x 13 in (larger or smaller based on how much you make).