Tiramisu - A Twist on the Classical

Tiramisu conjures images of sitting outside an Italian bakery, savoring the creamy yumminess of this dessert while enjoying the Italian scenery.  I decided very last minute - literally IN the grocery store - to make this dessert for our Easter Family Luncheon.  INSIDE the grocery store meant I was going off the top of my head to recall possible needed items to make this dish.  I knew I had a package of Lady Finger cookies in the pantry.  Coffee - check (ALWAYS at home!).  Picked up some Whipping Cream.  Thought - let's make this an EASY dessert to make - grabbed a large box of Vanilla Pudding mix.  Could NOT for the life of me find Marscapone Cheese - even with asking for directions from the employees, still could not.  And if you happened to be in the chaos of grocery shopping on Saturday - THE DAY BEFORE EASTER - you can understand why I just threw in the towel, grabbing a block of Cream Cheese. 
Having checked my plan with several versions of Tiramisu, I forged ahead.  And the end result was SO GOOD!

Tiramisu - a Twist on the Classic
Ingredients:
2 cups whipping cream
1/4 cup sugar
2 Tbsp Vanilla
1/2 cup STRONG brewed coffee (instant is fine)
2 Tbsp Kahlua (can be omitted)
16 oz cream cheese
large box of Vanilla Pudding mix (sugar free is fine)
1 Package Lady Finger Cookies
Cocoa Powder for dusting

1 - In mixer, pour whipping cream.  Add sugar.  Beginning on low, start whipping the cream.  Beat till whipped.  Add vanilla pudding mix.  Add cream cheese in small portions.  Blend well.  Set aside.
2 - Combine coffee and Kahlua.  Pour into a shallow dish for dipping Lady Finger cookies.
3 - Dip cookies 2 at a time in coffee.  Leave cookies on each side in the coffee for about 30 seconds to 1 minute.  They absorb the liquid quickly. Only do 1/2 at this time.  Line the bottom of an 8X8 dish with the cookies.
4 - Top with 1/2 of the cream cheese mixture.  Save other 1/2 for next layer.
5 - Dip the rest of the cookies in coffee, layering on top of the cream cheese mixture.
6 - Dust with cocoa powder if you would like.
Enjoy!
6 - Top with rest of cream cheese mixture.

Shared over at Mouthwatering Mondays, Mangia Mondays