CANOLLI RECIPES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, using an electric mixer with whisk attachment, beat egg yolks and sugar until thick and pale, about 5 minutes. Add mascarpone cheese and beat until smooth. Add 1 tablespoon of espresso and mix until thoroughly combined.
• In a small shallow dish, add remaining espresso and rum. Dip each ladyfinger into espresso for only 5 seconds. Letting the ladyfingers soak too long will cause them to fall apart. Place the soaked ladyfinger on the bottom of a 13 by 9 inch baking dish, breaking them in half if necessary in order to fit the bottom.
• Spread evenly 1/2 of the mascarpone mixture over the ladyfingers. Arrange another layer of soaked ladyfingers and top with remaining mascarpone mixture.
• Cover tiramisu with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, up to 8 hours.
• Before serving, sprinkle with chocolate shavings.

Steps:

• To make shells, mix flour, sugar and salt in a bowl.
• Cut in butter.
• Add egg yolks; stir with a fork.
• Stir in wine, 1 tablespooon at a time, with a fork until dough clings together.
• Form a ball with the dough and let stand for 30 minutes.
• Roll dough almost paper thin, on a well-floured surface.
• Using the rim of a margarita glass (about 3-4 inches across), make circle imprints into rolled dough.
• Using a paring knife, make sure circles are cut all the way through.
• Roll each circle of dough around a metal cannoli tube, overlaping the ends and press to seal, flaring out the edges slightly.
• Fry one or two at a time in hot melted shortening (about 360°F) for approximately 1 minute, turning to brown all sides.
• Remove from hot grease and drain on paper towels, seam side down.
• Let cool a minute or two before trying to remove metal tube.
• To remove the tube hold cannoli shell down on the paper towel and carefully slide the tube out one end.
• Leave cannoil shells on paper towel, seam side down to cool completely.
• ~NOTE~Shells can be stored in airtight containers and made several days prior to filling.
• For filling, drain ricotta cheese over cheesecloth if ricotta is watery.
• Combine ricotta cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until combined.
• Squeeze Maraschino cherries with paper towels to remove all liquid.
• (If you don't squeeze them good, you will have a pink water filling!).
• Stir in cherries and chocolate chips into the ricotta mixture, being careful not to over mix.
• For a lighter filling, you may whip 1 cup of heavy whipping cream to form stiff peaks, and fold into filling mixture at this step.
• Chill filling for about 30 minutes before piping into cooled cannoli shells.
• You may garnish the cannoli by sprinkling powdered sugar on top.
• Whipped cream, a cherry, and shaved chocolate can also be used to garnish the top.
• Keep refrigerated until time of serving.