Cannoli Pound Cake – Ricotta / Pistachios

Who doesn’t love the tastes of traditional Cannoli & now we can enjoy all of its glory in a Pound cake! It’s perfectly moist and slightly dense but still light and packed pull of flavors !

Ingredients

• 1 Orange
• 3 Large eggs
• 1 1/2 cups of All Purpose flour
• 2 1/2 teaspoons of Baking powder
• 1/2 cup of mini chocolate chips (plus a little more for topping just before you bake)
• 1/2 teaspoon Cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon of fresh or dried nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon of salt
• 1 1/2 cups of organic sugar
• 1/2 cup of pistachios lightly chopped
• 3/4 cup salted good quality & softened butter
• Approx 15 oz of Ricotta cheese

What to do:

• First preheat your oven to 350 & grease your 9 x 5” loaf pan. Then line the on with parchment paper (perfect for lifting out this heavier pound cake) you can also use a Bundt pan if you’d rather but make note of the reduced baking time.
• In a large bowl add your softened butter and sugar (I used a stand mixer but you can also use a hand mixer if you don’t have one) and mix on high to cream the mixture. Approx 3-4 mins
• Now add in the ricotta and mix until it looks light and fluffy about 5 mins!
• now add in the the eggs 1 at a time and beat until incorporated
• in a separate bowl mix the dry ingredients and whisk together. (Flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt and nutmeg) now add the dry mixture into the wet mixture and beat on med slow just until it’s incorporated, don’t over mix.
• Now fold in the chocolate chips & pistachios and orange rind lightly just until mixed through.
• Now transfer into your loaf pan (or Bundt pan) and smooth out then a tap or 3 on the counter to even out. Put in the oven for between 1 hr and 5 mins to 1 1/4 hours depending on your oven (or 40 to 50 mins if you are using a Bundt pan) then teste for doneness by inserting a tooth pick into the center and if it comes out clean your set to take out (remember it still continues to bake a little after taken out.
• Cool in the lot pan for approx 15 mins & then gently lift out of the pan my the parchment paper & cool completely on a cooling rack.

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Now find a perfect plate once cooled and here is where you can add your final touch to enhance that cannoli experience. Simple touch of dusting with inching sugar is just perfect but up next for me is a simple ricotta, orange & icing sugar drizzle which I will add photos of when I try it!

Prep time: approx 10 mins

Bake time: approx 1.05 to 110 mins

Calories: approx 385 and approx 24 servings depending on your slice size

Focaccia Please

One of the most beautiful things to make is homemade bread and the satisfaction of the perfect bite brings you back again and again. Focaccia it is today !

What you need:

• 3 cups 00 Italian Flour + 2 cups all purpose (a little extra in case.
• 2 cups warm water
• 1 tablespoon sea salt
• 1 packet active dry yeast
• 1 tablespoon organic sugar
• 1 cup extra virgin olive oil

What you will do:

• Put the sugar & yeast into the warm water. Stir gently and let sit to activate in a warm area for at least 15 mins.
• Meanwhile add your flour, salt, 1/2 cup olive oil into a mixing bowl (I used a stand mixer with a bread hook). Now add in your yeast mixture and put on medium speed to incorporate all the ingredients (approx 5-6 mins)
• Now pull the dough out into a clean floured surface and knead approx 2 more times. Sprinkle with a little more flour if your dough is to sticky. Coat your mixing bowl with olive oil and put your dough back in the bow and cover with plastic wrap- now set aside in a warm dry area to let your dough rise for at least 1 hour or u til the size has almost doubled.
• Now get a hello roll Pan / cookie sheet and pour the second half cup into the pan. Put the risen dough into the pan and stretch out to fit the pan, now turn it over to coat the other side. Now super important! Take both panda and poke your fingers across the whole sheet right through, yes right through, this is what creates the scraggly bits or texture.
• Now put to the side and let rise again till it doubles and set the oven to 425 F

• Now liberally sprinkle coarse salt or Malden salt across the whole dough sheet and add any her you wish (I used fresh rosemary and drizzle with some more olive oil.
• Put in the oven fro between 25-30 minutes

• Now when it looks golden brown pull out and cool – cut with scissors & enjoy!

This will be heaven on earth and should t last long! If you need to you can always reheat to crisp up! Sever with olive oil and your favorite vinegar or just by itself. Buon Appetite ! You will make this again!

McHappy Day

Happy McHappy Day  everyone! 

Please get out today or online and  support this great cause. The proceeds from the sale of Big Macs and hot coffees / happy meals go towards the Ronald McDonald House Charities and bring more joy to families through the toughest time one could ever imagine. 

Even if you aren’t a fast food lover the cause is bigger than that and you could donate directly if that is your wish through the link below.

Click here to donate on the McDonalds site
This cause can’t be underestimated as the dollars generated go directly to where it says! The Ronald Macdonald House Charities 

Support the cause please and bring comfort to those who most need it at a terribly challenging time in children and families lives. 

“You Gotta do this!”