Saturday, November 28, 2009

Daring Baker's November Challenge - Cannoli

The November 2009 Daring Bakers Challenge was chosen and hosted by Lisa Michele of Parsley, Sage, Desserts and Line Drives. She chose the Italian Pastry, Cannolo (Cannoli is plural)........


Ta da!

Ok, I'm a few (24) hours late posting this challenge, but it really wasn't my fault!


It was the sun's fault.


Yes, the sun. If you have ever been to the north in the Fall/Winter you may have noticed a lack of something. Sun. Yes people, we invented SAD. The sun went on vacation to Florida for a week and then another week and...yeah, you get the idea.


I refused to do the challenge until I had natural light to photograph my cannoli! It was a great excuse!


Yesterday the sun came out.


Entonces - aqui estan!


If you want the recipe, please go to Lisa Michele's site.


We start with a dough.

An amazing dough!

It went together like a dream and felt like a Granny's bingo wings.

Of course, if your Granny makes cannoli she probably doesn't have bingo wings, 'cause cannoil take some WWF upper body strength.

Good.

Work up an appetite for those cannoli.

P.S. I used a nice riesling wine in this.

Rolling the dough out.
Use those muscles!
I tried to use a pasta maker loaned to me by my parents.
Stupid machine ate half my dough before I gave up using it.
I found taking a small piece and rolling it out super, super thin and then wrapping the piece around the cannolo form worked the best.



My cannoli forms.
Long story.
My part of the country is better known for leftsa, than for cannoli, so it was impossible to find cannoli forms.
Except.....my Mom went to the local hardware store and found these lengths of pipe for me!
Yay! Copper!
Very heavy.

Are real cannoli forms heavy?




Rolling dough around form.




Dough ready for frying.



Dough fresh from the fryer.





Cannoli with ricotta/lemon filling and cinnamon Red Hot pear sauce.

I canned the pear sauce* myself.







Fancy tea party, anyone?





My entry for the Royal Foodie Joust.

Cannoli with ginger/fennel/cinnamon pear sauce.



So, what did I think of this challenge?

It was a good one.

It expanded my cooking horizons.

I tried cannoli in a Little Italy bakery 2 years ago, but I wasn't too impressed.

Homemade cannoli are much better.

And my pear sauce is awesome. ;)


*Red Hot Pear Sauce


Remember 3 months ago when I asked you all what I should do with a ton of pears?

And you suggested pear sauce?


Ta da!

3 months later.... Recipe here

I decided to try out a savory cannoli idea. I used a slice of locally made smoked cheddar, pickled herring and a dollop of my own pear chutney. It was good.








14 comments:

  1. WOW ricotta/lemon filling and cinnamon Red Hot pear sauce what a flavour combination and a filling of ginger/fennel/cinnamon pear sauce sounds delicious. Your shells are so nice with lots warts and blisters. Well done cheers from Audax in Australia

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  2. So pretty, so light looking. I love how your cannoli turned out. And yes lots of upper body strength

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  3. Beautiful, beautiful shells,,so light, blistery and golden..and I'm in tastebud lust with your cinnmaon red hot pear sauce! So glad it worked well for you, and I wish I could taste! Thanks for deep frying with me this month, heavy opipe forms and all!

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  4. I think it looks great! And I love how it fit the description of both of the challenges! Nice job with the pear sauce too! :)

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  5. Oh how fun! And so creative! I loved reading the tale. Thanks so much!

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  6. Lefse and no sunlight. Sounds like you live in my part of the world. Uff da! Those cooper pipes look heavy : ) My cannoli forms were almost as light as feathers. Your cannoli look wonderful but the red hot cinnamon pear sauce is really making my mouth water!

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  7. Loved your very easy to read post :) Pear sauce sounds super scrummy. Hope you get more sunshine soon!

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  8. Your shells look fantastic! Look so light and crispy. Your Red Hot Pear sauce sounds yummy too! Fantastic "baking" :)

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  9. Great job on your cannolis! What an incredible idea for your sauce!

    Natalie @ Gluten a Go Go

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  10. Fancy copper cannoli forms!
    Your cannoli look perfect!

    PS I can recommend the adjustable rings rolling pin :)

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  11. Beautiful!

    Congrats on the Joust!

    Enjoy!

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  12. Fantastic work on this challenge, those flavors sound wonderful! Makes me almost want to make more cannoli. ... Almost. ;)

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