Dessert

No Bake Summer Dessert Peach and Strawberry Cannoli

July 26, 2012

Welcome to my new home!  Come on in!  It’s been some time since I’ve “opened” my home and welcomed in my friends and family, gathering around the table, sharing laughter, stories, great food and drink.  We’ve got lots of catching up to do; I’m so behind on all that has been happening, baking and cooking in your lives and cucinas!

As for me, I’m settling in, finally. New job, new state, new home, new kitchen and a new chapter of my life!  Hmmm..so Spicegirl, just what does that mean?  Well, pull up a chair, grab a cannoli and I’ll fill you in.

I’ve launched Chapter 4 of my life.  Chapter 1 was childhood, a very happy childhood, raised in a loving Italian family.  I cherish every moment and memory.  Chapter 2 rolled into my marriage and babies, Supermom, hostess with the mostess, I did it all AND kept up with the Joneses!  Chapter 3 of my life had me packing up the dog and my young children and heading to Florida.  No longer caring about the Joneses, living the Florida lifestyle, sitting by the pool on Thanksgiving day while my family up North was freezing, yet as a single mom you’d be lucky to catch me between work, baseball games, diving practices, carpooling, teen drama, college life and constant prepping and cooking seven course dinners from scratch while whipping up cheesecakes on the side!  Whew!

Chapter 4 brings me to Atlanta with 180 boxes, 257 items and 9 cases of liquor!  Just where did that all come from?!  I’m not sure but I do know where it’s going…goodbye!  So Chapter 4 of my life is all about less.  Less stuff, less crazy running, less striving for perfection, less complicated more simplicity!

Italian cooking is truly my passion, love and favorite way to cook and eat.  It comes from my heart and evokes wonderful memories.  Where I once had a pantry overflowing with all sorts of ingredients and an over abundance of dishes, cooking and baking gear, I’ve downsized considerably to only the basics for cooking and baking Italian dishes.  Now when I desire a meal other than Italian such as Mexican, Asian or French, I’m going out to dine! 

Casual cooking and baking is especially appealing during these hot summer months.  And no bake desserts are truly a treat.  I have to admit, even in my make from scratch everything days, I only made cannoli shells once in a cooking class.  I guess once was enough for me as I’ve always purchased my shells.  I like to order mini shells from Golden Cannoli.  Having a box or two in my pantry is a necessity!

I can easily prepare the filling ahead, scooped into a ziplock bag and stored in the fridge for several days.  I’m ready to fill a cannoli at a moments notice!  The filling will keep for about 4-5 days, getting me through a weekend dinner party and a few days after.  Dipping the shell ends in chocolate and then chopped nuts, sprinkles or candies adds a special touch.  The filling traditionally is made with ricotta and/or mascarpone mixing in flavorings such as Amaretto, Grand Marnier, Marsala wine or pure vanilla extract.  Extras could include chocolate, pistachios, candied or dried fruit as I did in my first cannoli post.

This summer I had the idea to add fresh fruit – peaches and strawberries.  Chopped up tiny, I stirred in the peaches with Grand Marnier and filled it into the white chocolate dipped shells and crushed pistachios.  For the strawberries, I flavored the filling with strawberry liquor and added in mini chocolate chips.  This filling went perfectly with chocolate covered shells.  The fruit added a fresh sweet bite to the creamy ricotta/mascarpone blend. 

Be forewarned they taste incredibly delicious to addiction but to a cannoli purist the first taste of fresh fruit in their cannoli is unexpected but quickly followed by a smile of flavorful delight!

Cannoli

3/4 cup whole milk ricotta – drain overnight or several hours with a cheesecloth

3/4 cup marscapone cheese, room temperature

1/4 cup fine sugar

1/2 teaspoon Grand Marnier or Amaretto or liquor of your choice

1/2 cup finely chopped fresh fruit – peaches or strawberries

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon salt

Option to dip ends in chocolate:  melt about 1/4 cup chocolate chips and quickly dip ends into the chocolate followed by dipping in nuts or spinkles.

Optional to decorate:  melted chocolate, mini chocolate chips, sprinkles, pistachios or almonds finely chopped

Mix all ingredients together.  Cover and refrigerate until ready to use, at least a few hours.    Use a pastry bag or a plastic bag, corner snipped, to squish the filling into each end of the cannoli.   Serve immediately or refrigerate until ready to serve, about 2 hours ahead.  Makes about 16 mini cannolis or 8 large.

I love being in the kitchen. Early mornings, soft music, a hot espresso. Easing into the preparation of delicious meals. Glancing through cookbooks, gathering inspiration and planning my day. I look forward to the cycles of the seasons, the pleasures of tasting and savoring and sharing this with those dear to me. Weekends are special to me as my week days are often rushed, but still I create the ambiance, light the candles, set the table and uncork the wine.

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53 Comments

  • Judy@Savoring Today
    July 27, 2012 at 8:12 am Reply

    Linda, so glad to see you have settled into your new place and kitchen! 🙂 There is just no place like the place we call HOME. Peace cannoli with white chocolate and pistachios? Oh yes! The peaches have been fabulous lately, this is a delicious idea. Here’s to chapter 4!

  • betsyb
    July 27, 2012 at 11:23 am Reply

    It’s so wonderful to see you back, Linda, and I’m glad you’ve settled into Chapter 4 and Atlanta…just in time for a hot summer! I missed your posts and was so happy to see you again. These cannoli look delightful and I just love the use of fresh fruit in them.

      • betsyb
        July 27, 2012 at 2:41 pm

        Hard to say about the winter, Linda. Last year we practically didn’t have one! But sometimes, it does get as cold in winter here and we do occasionally have snow. It’s been an unusually hot summer for everyone this year, I think!

  • Lisa
    July 27, 2012 at 3:28 pm Reply

    Welcome Back! congrats on chapter 4 of your life, looking forward to catching up and reading your posts. I’ve been taking a break with blogging……I can’t keep up with kids, life, work, and posting. I like simplicity, it is good. Yum, fresh fruit in cannoli………sounds wonderful!

  • kristy
    July 27, 2012 at 6:26 pm Reply

    Welcome back Linda! I was so excited to read your post last night. I love the sound of Chapter 4 – simplification! We all need that in our lives. 🙂 And I like you, need to feel settled or the rest of my life is just out of sync. Looking forward to following along in your new chapter. 🙂 Missed you!

    • spicegirlfla
      July 27, 2012 at 10:00 pm Reply

      Hi Kristy, Thank you for your kind words and thank you for sending me notes checking in on me! I’m happy to feel that I can get back to blogging; it’s funny how it became such a part of my life and having to say “I use to blog” just made me want to get back even more!

      • Kristy
        August 3, 2012 at 11:24 pm

        You’re welcome Linda! I knew you were going through some new challenges and you’ve always felt like family to me. 🙂 Happy to have you back blogging too. It is funny how much a part of your life and who you are it becomes – and so quickly too. 🙂

  • Charles
    July 27, 2012 at 8:13 pm Reply

    Hi Linda – I hope this means I’ll be seeing you more active now… I’ve missed your posts, and your fabulous biscotti!!!

    I hope everything is settling down now and you can finally start relaxing – it sounds like it’s been very hectic! Your cannoli look absolutely divine… especially the chocolate coated ones I must say. Would love to tuck into those!

    • spicegirlfla
      July 27, 2012 at 10:02 pm Reply

      Hi Charles, yes I do hope to get back into my routine again! Especially missing reading other blogs and getting so much inspiration! I’ve got alot to catch up on! I do finally feel that I’ve done enough to feel settled – we always have something to do – but those are things that can wait!

  • Kathy
    July 28, 2012 at 8:56 am Reply

    Good to see you back, Linda! Wishing you loads of luck with your new life! I love the Atlanta area, maybe because I have two wonderful grandsons there.
    Love your beautiful cannoli…I will have to give them a try! The added fruit in the filling sounds amazing!

  • cecilia g
    July 28, 2012 at 12:51 pm Reply

    Well that sure took long enough Linda darling.. we missed you and your wonderful smile.. I LOVE that you are simplifying. LOVE that you are happy and look forward to lots of good Italian food! I am so glad you are happy in your new home.. Chapter 4 is going to be fantastic.. Welcome back love celi

    • spicegirlfla
      July 28, 2012 at 4:35 pm Reply

      Oh Celi, settling in took me so much longer than I ever thought! But I’m glad I took the time to downsize, I feel alot better! You know I always envied your life – you work hard but I love the simplicity!

  • Greg
    July 29, 2012 at 10:59 am Reply

    I saw these the other day and have been meaning to comment. They’re beautiful and am glad to see you back and settled in. Also, you put the idea of buying ricotta in our heads!

  • Barbara Bamber | justasmidgen
    July 30, 2012 at 12:11 pm Reply

    I can’t tell you how glad I am to see you here.. and I love your new photo on the steps of your brand new home!! This must have been a tough month moving and, most of all, downsizing.. and I must say, it looks good on you!! I’ve wanted to make cannoli’s but haven’t because I didn’t know you could buy those little shells! Thanks so much for the lovely recipe and look forward to many more!! xx Smidge

    • spicegirlfla
      July 30, 2012 at 7:46 pm Reply

      Well, now making cannoli is super easy! Thanks for your kind comment Barb, I’m glad to be back. Can’t wait to visit you now, I’ve been missing your serene, poetic writing and wonderful recipes!

  • Kitchen Belleicious
    July 30, 2012 at 9:44 pm Reply

    oh we have missed you! So glad you are back and loving the new profile pic on the sidebar and blog changes. It looks fresh and fun! that cannoli is calling my name. I am all for no bake desserts especially since it is 100 here in houston

  • Geni
    August 1, 2012 at 2:27 pm Reply

    Hey Girl, I don’t know how these didn’t end up in my mailbox? Maybe i’ll resubscribe. I was happily surprised today to pop by and see TWO NEW POSTS! I’m very excited to try these cannoli recipes. I will surely impress my guests next party. I’ve missed your posts, your food and the fun your bring to the blogosphere. So glad you are settled in now. I love the idea of simplifying. I just need to figure out HOW! Moving is a great way to kick simplifying into high gear though, but I am not quite ready for a move.

    P.S. How’s the pup settling in? 🙂

  • Kelly @ Inspired Edibles
    August 4, 2012 at 7:24 pm Reply

    Ah, Linda, I’m so happy to see you back!! I checked in from time to time over the past several months… and here you finally are – yay!! Thank you for sharing your journey and the various chapters of your life; there’s something to that simplicity thing after all, isn’t there? Welcome Back beauty. So happy to see you here again.

  • Hotly Spiced
    August 6, 2012 at 5:04 pm Reply

    Great to have you back. Moving can be so traumatic. I hope you’re settling in to life in Atlanta and that the new job is working out well. Love the look of the cannoli xx

  • ChgoJohn
    August 7, 2012 at 6:16 pm Reply

    Welcome back, Linda!
    I’d no idea you’d returned to us. Somehow I was unsubscribed to your posts. It’s fixed now and I promise you heads will roll! Glad you’re doing well and I hope the new job is all that you’d hoped it would be.
    I’ve been on a cannoli “kick” lately, buying 1 — OK, 2! — every week when I get to “my” Italian market. If ever I make these, I’d better have people lined up waiting for them or I’ll soon be eating them all while seated in front of the television. Tsk. So little discipline.

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