Sometimes the "Real" thing isn't always the best!

So last week I went to New York City to take my daughter for her 16th birthday. It was our first time there, an eye opening experience for sure! We had a great time, sure there were some scary moments, but they were just that, brief moments that passed quickly, always followed by something fun and exciting.

For those of you who don't know me well, I am a constant baker. If the kitchen is clean I must destroy it and make something absolutely delicious and sinfully fattening! 

 I have recently been making what I was calling connoli's. I made up the recipe, it consisted of a pastry shell made with butter and whipping cream, vanilla, sugar and eggs. The filling is a delicious blend of cream cheese, whipping cream, cheesecake pudding and non dairy whipped topping, can you imagine it? It is deliciousness at it's best. I cooked the pastry on a circle of parchment paper and then when it was still hot, I hurried and rolled it onto a wooden dowel.  

Now it's important to know that I have Never looked at a "Real" connoli recipe or even had a connoli, I have seen them before (not even sure where?) and that's all I have known of them. My made up version are delicious and when I make them I can easily down like 8 in no time at all which I believe calculates into 6, 432 calories- YUM!  

So back to my story, My daughter and I made our way to Little Italy. I said "I have to buy a "Real" connoli so I know if mine are even close to what they are supposed to taste like". I was very excited to taste it and since we were documenting our entire trip with photos, I had my daughter take pictures of me eating my first "Real" connoli. Oh, here goes I thought, I am so stinkin excited. Well, I really don't have to say too much, the pictures tell it all! 

Let's just say it was my first and my last "Real" connoli! I am including my own made up recipe for those of you who may have given up on connoli's all together or had a first experience like I did-it was very traumatic, I am currently in counseling- don't worry I will be OK. 

My recipe is delicious and worth making! The connoli I tasted that dreadful day in Little Italy almost changed my life, but I quickly recovered and am determined to change the authentic connoli recipe forever. Why stick with the old if it is absolutely disgusting? Come-on people let's change the world for the better. Make My connoli's and together we Will Make a Difference! 

Genz "Real" Connoli's

Ingredients

• 3 egg whites
• 3/4 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup butter, melted and cooled
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons whipping cream or 1/2 &1/2
• a pinch of salt

• Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets, or line with parchment paper circles.
  2. In a large glass or metal bowl, whip egg whites and sugar on high speed of an electric mixer until frothy, about 2 minutes. Reduce speed to low, and stir in melted butter, vanilla, almond extract, water and flour one at a time, mixing well after each. Consistency should resemble pancake batter. Spoon the batter into 4-6 inch circles on the prepared baking sheets. Leave room between them for spreading. Don't make too many at a time about 5or 6.
  3. Bake for 5 to 7 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the edges begin to brown slightly. Quickly remove one at a time from the oven and peel off the paper and roll onto a 1 inch wooden dowel.

  Let them cool, and then fill with the uttermost delicious creamy filling (recipe below) 
  Creamy Filling
  1 8 oz pkg of cream cheese (softened at room temperature)
  1 large tub of cool whip (or a knock off brand)
  1 box of Jell-O cheesecake pudding (the small box)
  1 cup whipping cream
  Mix whipping cream and pudding and let sit for a minute or two, then mix in the cream cheese with an electric mixer, then fold in the cool- whip. Put it into a pastry bag with a round tip (like a #10) and squeeze into the cooled connoli shells. You can add mini chocolate chips to make it more authentic, but I prefer not to. This filling is also what I use to fill my vanilla, pineapple and carrot cupcakes. It is so yummy! 
  Enjoy and thanks for supporting my cause by changing one cannoli recipe at a time! 
  Love Ya all so very much! -Gen-
  P.S. I did come home and read several cannoli recipes, trust me, just make mine!