HOLY CANNOLI CAKE

January 1, 2015

A cold, rainy day in Texas

Our New Year's menu rarely changes. It's been this way ever since I was little! Mother's roast pork and sauerkraut! Mother and Daddy were born Yankees....from Ohio. Miss Judy and my brother Steve, were also born in the buckeye state, Yes, I am the ONLY REBEL in the family...having been born in Vicksburg, Mississippi! And...proud of it too! This will always be our New Year's dinner tradition! This is strictly a "YANKEE thang!" Now funny thing is, here comes Miss M, having been born in Biloxi, Mississippi and she goes and falls in love with an Ohio Yankee herself! This has become her tradition also! Southerners celebrate the new year with black eyed peas and ham usually! I tried to add black eyed peas to the menu, but for some reason, they were scarce this year. So.....we shall dine on the greens in the way of green beans for the darling and roasted Brussels sprouts for me! Miss M tells me this represents "wealth" for the coming year. Hey, I'll go with that, won't you?

But, now you know when you drop by Estelle's we are going to tempt you with a divine sweet ending! Today, it's the Holy Cannoli Cake! YUM-O!!!!! I have had two requests for this to be the birthday cake this summer! Yeah baby....we have a winner here! Y'all enjoy!

Holy Cannoli Cake

1 box white cake mix, plus box ingredients

1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk

2 cups ricotta cheese

2 cups mascarpone cheese

1 t. vanilla

1 1/2 cups of powdered sugar

1/2 t. cinnamon

3/4 cup mini chocolate chips

powdered sugar for dusting

Bake white cake mix according to the package directions in a 9" x 13' baking dish. Allow the cake to cool completely. Poke holes in the cake and after reserving 1/2 cup of the sweetened condensed milk, pour the remaining can of milk all over the cake. Cover and refrigerate for one hour. In a mixing bowl, combine the ricotta, mascarpone, and vanilla with a hand mixer. Add the powdered sugar and cinnamon, Mix until smooth. Add the reserved 1/2 cup of sweetened condensed milk to this mixture and mix well. Spread this cannoli topping over the cake. Sprinkle with mini chocolate chips and dust with powdered sugar. Keep refrigerated! 

Postscript....New Year's Day, 2015

As I posted a few days ago, the past month, no correction....the past three months have been a rather stressful time for Miss M and her family. First Luke's unexpected illness two weeks prior to Halloween, ending up with emergency surgery on Halloween night. Then, the necessary cancellation of their Thanksgiving holiday visit to Texas due to Luke's post surgery restriction, and now Jay's dad's unexpected stroke. Dealing across the miles with parents who are aging is extremely difficult. We have been there and we have dealt with this. It's never, never easy. So.....after a whirlwind of Christmas activity, a brief celebration on Christmas day, off to Ohio they flew. It's been stressful to say the least. We try to help our parents, the best we can, in the shortest amount of time we have. They changed their flight departure date to stay longer. Luke's Nonno has been transferred from an Acute Rehab hospital, to a sub-acute Rehab community. It's lovely...it's the best it can be under the difficult circumstances. Here's the silver lining in this scenario....Luke. He is such a trooper! The sheer joy he brought to his grandfather upon arrival of his visit will never be forgotten. I mean, just look at this kid and his smile...his infectious upbeat, zany personality. So today, on January 1st, Luke insisted on riding in the ambulance with his Nonno as he was being transferred to another new facility. Imagine the apprehension and fear of the unknown that you would experience. What comfort this little six year old would bring to his aging Grandfather on this ride. Just imagine the bravery of his little grandson. Offering comforting words along the way....telling him what a lovely place he would be going to.....all the great things that he would have....good food, a beautiful place to reside for a bit...wow...I am just in awe of this! Don't you see it.....the blessing.....this precious blessing that has been given.....it was a silver lining if there ever was one........

Love, Estelle’s