Irish Coffee Pudding

Note from Cheri: This recipe was given to us by Kim Tilley. Kim is a tightwad at heart and the founding editor of Frugal-Moms.com. Frugal by force and later by choice, Kim cut her income by 60% to stay at home with her children and discovered that anyone can live better for less. Click here for more great Irish recipes in our St. Patrick's Day channel.

6 eggs, separated 1 C sugar 1 C very strong coffee 1 1/2 oz. unflavored gelatin powder 1/3 C Irish whiskey or Irish Mist liqueur 2 1/4 C whipping cream, divided 1/4 C crushed walnuts

Serves 4 Beat egg yolks with the sugar until thick. Heat the coffee until hot but not boiling: add the gelatin and dissolve it in the coffee. Mix this mixture into the yolks and sugar. Place in a double boiler (or in a stainless stell bowl suspended over boiling water). Continue beating until mixture begins to thicken, about 8-10 minutes. Remove from heat, and when the bowl has cooled a little, place it over cracked ice and continue stirring. Beat 1 1/4 cups cream. When pudding mixture has cooled and is on the point of setting, fold in cream. Stir in the the whiskey or Irish Mist. Lastly, fold in the well-beaten egg whites. Pour into a soufflé dish that has a double thickness of parchment paper tied around it: the paper should come up 3 inches above the top of the soufflé dish. Oil a jam-jar or bottle and press it down into the center of the pudding, this will leave a well that will later be filled. Chill for several hours to set. Remove the paper collar by easing around the circumference with a knife dipped in hot water. Carefully remove the jar or bottle, and fill the center with 1 cup sweetened whipped, cream. Decorate the exposed sides of the pudding with crushed walnuts, pressed on with the palm of your hand.