Chocolate Tiramisu

Ingredients

• 2 3-ounce packages ladyfingers, split
• 1/4 cup brewed espresso or strong coffee
• 1 8-ounce carton mascarpone cheese
• 1 cup whipping cream
• 1/4 cup powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/3 cup chocolate liqueur
• 1 ounce white chocolate baking squares or white baking bars, grated
• 1 ounce bittersweet chocolate, grated
• Unsweetened cocoa powder
• Chopped chocolate-covered coffee beans (optional)

Directions

1. Line the bottom of an 8x8x2-inch baking pan with some of the ladyfingers, cutting to fit as necessary. Drizzle half of the espresso over ladyfingers;set aside.

2. In a medium mixing bowl, beat together the mascarpone cheese, whipping cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla with an electric mixer just until stiff peaks form. Beat in the chocolate liqueur until just combined. Spoon half of the mascarpone mixture over ladyfingers, spreading evenly. Sprinkle white chocolate and bittersweet chocolate over the mascarpone mixture. Top with another layer of ladyfingers (reserve any remaining ladyfingers for another use). Layer with remaining espresso and mascarpone cheese mixture.

3. Cover and chill for 6 to 24 hours. Sift cocoa powder over top of dessert. If desired, garnish with cocoa beans.

4. Makes 12 squares

Strawberry Layer Cake

Makes one 8-inch cake

Ingredients:

1 (18.5 oz.) box white cake mix (without pudding)
1 (3 oz.) package strawberry Jell-O
1 Tbs. self-rising flour
4 tsp. granulated sugar
3/4 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs
1/2 cup water
1/2 of a 10-oz. package of frozen strawberries, thawed and well-drained (reserving all the juice and the remaining berries)

For strawberry frosting:

Reserved strawberries and juice, above
2 (1 lb.) boxes confectioners' sugar, sifted
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
Red food coloring (optional)

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
   
2. Grease and lightly flour three 8-inch round cake pans. Set them aside.
   
3. To make the cake, combine the cake mix, Jell-O, flour and sugar in a large bowl. Mix well. Add the oil. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the water and the half package of strawberries to this mixture. Mix well.
4. Divide the batter evenly into the prepared pans.
   
5. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the middle of each layer comes out clean and the layers pull away from the sides of the pans.
   
6. Transfer the layers from the oven to wire racks. Let them cool, still in their pans, for 10 minutes.
   
7. After 10 minutes, run a knife around the inside edge of each pan, then unmold each layer onto the racks to cool completely.
   
8. To make the frosting, in a bowl, combine the remaining strawberries and the reserved juice with the confectioners' sugar and the butter. Beat with a mixer (or mash by hand) until smooth and well blended.
   
9. Transfer the cake layers, one at a time, onto a serving platter. Frost between each layer, on top of the cake and around the sides with frosting.