Categories: Desserts, Usenet 
      Yield: 1 batch 
  
     10 oz Cake or lady fingers 
           -(can use a cake (up 
           -to 12 oz), such as 
           -pound cake or sponge 
           -cake.  If you make a 
           -sponge cake, a 6-egg 
           -cake is about right) 
      3 T  Sugar, powdered (or more 
           -or less, to taste) 
      3 c  Whipping cream 
    1/4 c  Spirits (rum, amaretto 
           -or whatever you like; 
           -see below for quantity) 
           Assorted flavorings 
           -(chocolate, nuts, coffee, 
           -liqueurs, extracts...) 
      2 t  Gelatin, unflavored 
           -(optional) 
  
  Line a large hemispherical bowl with the cake or lady fingers.  If you use 
  cake, cut slices in half diagonally to make large triangles and arrange 
  them in a sunburst pattern. If you use lady fingers, cut some in half 
  diagonally and arrange in a flower-like pattern. Douse generously with 
  spirits; cake should be quite wet but not soggy. 
   
  Dissolve the gelatin in 2 tablespoons hot water in a cup; place the cup in 
  a bowl of very hot water so the gelatin melts. Check occasionally to make 
  sure the surrounding water stays hot. (I suppose you could use a microwave 
  for this, but I've never tried.) 
   
  Divide the cream into two very cold bowls.  Whip each until stiff; if the 
  flavoring for either half isn't sweet, add powdered sugar to taste at this 
  point.  Beat the dissolved gelatin into the cream.  Flavor each half 
  separately.  Spread one half around the inside of the cake-lined bowl; fill 
  with the other half. 
   
  Top with more cake and douse with more spirits.  Since this part doesn't 
  show you don't need to be creative. Cover with plastic wrap and chill 
  overnight. 
   
  Turn out onto a platter and garnish with chopped nuts, grated chocolate, or 
  powdered sugar if desired.  Cut into wedges; serves about 10-20 people 
  depending. 
   
  NOTES: 
   
  *  Ladyfingers with cream and rum -- This makes a great dessert for a 
  party. It only takes about an hour to make (more if you bake a cake 
  yourself instead of buying one) and only requires a few seconds to get 
  ready when served. Yield: Serves 10-20. 
   
  *  The most recent zuccotto I made used rum to flavor the lady fingers. The 
  first filling had powdered sugar, vanilla extract and about 1 1/2 oz 
  chopped semi-sweet chocolate. The second had about 5 oz melted semi-sweet 
  chocolate mixed with about 2 t instant coffee dissolved in a little boiling 
  water, and another 1 1/2 oz chopped semi-sweet chocolate. (Just chop 3 of 
  the squares of chocolate and melt the other 5). Chopped hazelnuts or 
  almonds are also quite good. 
   
  *  You can make a smaller one by using less, of course! 
   
  : Difficulty:  moderate. 
  : Time:  60 minutes preparation, overnight cooling. 
  : Precision:  no need to measure. 
   
  : paul asente 
  : decwrl!glacier!cascade!asente    asente@Cascade.ARPA 
  : Is there a center for someone who feels he never knows what's going on? 
  :    -C.  Brown 
   
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