Cherry Cordial Chocolate Souffle

1 tablespoon brandy or rum
10 maraschino cherries with stems
8 eggs
1 envelope unflavored gelatine
1/4 cup water
1 cup milk
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
8 (1 ounce) squares semisweet chocolate
1 teaspoon rum extract
Whipped cream

Pour brandy or rum over cherries in a small bowl, place in freezer, turning cherries a few times.

Prepare an ungreased 5 to 6 cup souffle dish: Fold a piece of wax paper, 25 inches long in lengthwise wrap around dish to make 3 inch stand up collar, hold in place with string and paper clip.

Soften gelatin in water, heat milk slowly in saucepan until bubbles start to appear around edge. Separate eggs, beat yolks slightly with 1/4 cup sugar. Pour hot milk into yolks, beating constantly, return to saucepan and cook over low heat stirring constantly until custard starts to thicken and coats the spoon. Remove from heat, stir in soften gel, add rum extract, strain back into bowl.

Melt chocolate squares in small bowl over boiling water. Remove cherries from brandy or rum. Dip cherries into chocolate, placing on wax paper. Add remaining chocolate and brandy, rum from cherries into yolk mixture, beat smoothly. Place bowl into larger bowl filled with ice. Chill at room temperature, stirring often until as thick as unbeaten egg whites.

Beat egg whites until foamy and double in volume. Add remaining 1/4 cup sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating until meringue stands in firm peaks. Beat about 1/4 of meringue into thicken chocolate mixture. Fold remaining into chocolate. Spoon into souffle dish. Chill several hours.

Just before serving, remove collar, garnish with whipped cream and chocolate cherries.

Serves 10.