Sunday, September 30, 2007

Cannolis

Inside Mike's Pastry Shop in the North End
Every time I visit Boston, I always make sure I stop by at the North End. When we were there earlier this year, I made sure I took my husband to Mike's Pastry shop. It's probably the most famous Italian bakery in Boston. There are plenty of pastry shops in the North End, but this place just makes the best cannolis. They have both ricotta filling and custard filling. To tell you the truth, the ricotta is the best--so make sure you tell them you want the ricotta filling. Anyhoo, the recipe is very simple if you just buy already made cannoli shells (easily available at most supermarkets or Italian delis) and just make the filling. These cannolis make a great accompaniment to a steaming cup of hot cappuccino.

INGREDIENTS

  • Ready made cannoli shells (12 pack)
  • 1 lb. fresh ricotta (2 cups)
  • 1/4 - 1/2 cup confectioners sugar (to taste)
  • 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
  • Special equipment: pastry bag or a make-shift ziploc pastry bag
DIRECTIONS

Make filling: Beat together ricotta, confectioner's sugar, vanilla extract and cinnamon in a bowl with an electric mixer at medium speed 1 minute (do not overbeat). Chill filling for 15 - 20 minutes.

Spoon filling into pastry bag and pipe some into one end of a cannoli shell, filling shell halfway, then pipe into other end. Repeat with remaining shells. Garnish with chocolate chips and sprinkle confectioner’s sugar over the cannolis.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Armida, You must try the Connolis served at "Anthony's Star of the Sea Room" it sits on the water in San Diego, CA, near SeaPort Village (tie required). The Connolis are made fresh and are divine! I hope they are still on the menu, heard they have changed the menu. I would give a limb for their recipe. Another place that makes fresh Connolis for you is Philipe's, located in "Little Italy" in San Diego, they are also good, but not as good as Anthony's. I love reading your posts, I miss San Diego. It's October 2007 & 91 degrees in Texas :)