Chocolate Chunk And Apricot Cannoli Food

CHOCOLATE CANNOLI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Toast the unsalted pistachios in the oven for 10 to 15 minutes or until crisp. Pull from oven, cool and finely chop. Place chopped pistachios in a bowl.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer, whip the heavy cream with 1 tablespoon of sugar until it holds a soft peak. In a large bowl fold together the whipped cream, raisins, 1/3 of the chopped chocolate, 1/3 of the chopped pistachios and 1 tablespoon of sugar. Gently fold the whipped cream mixture into the ricotta. When ready to serve, spoon the filling into a pastry bag fitted with a fat round tip. Fill the cannoli shells from each end.
• Blend the remaining chopped chocolate and pistachios on a plate.
• To garnish: Dip each end of the cannoli into the chocolate pistachio mixture.
• Cannoli can be filled and stored in the refrigerator no more than 1 hour ahead of time.

CHOCOLATE CHUNK AND APRICOT CANNOLI

Steps:

• Puree ricotta in processor. Blend in mascarpone. Add preserves; process until incorporated but some small chunks remain. Add chocolate; mix until just blended, using on/off turns (do not puree).
• Transfer mixture to pastry bag without tip. Pipe into shells. Sprinkle ends of cheese filling with coffee. Chill until cold. (Can be made 6 hours ahead. Keep refrigerated.) Sift powdered sugar over cannoli.

CHOCOLATE CHUNK COOKIES WITH PECANS DRIED APRICOTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• In a bowl whisk together, flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt.
• In another bowl with an electric mixer beat together butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in flour mixture until just combined.
• Chop chocolate into 1/2 inch pieces and stir into batter with apricots and pecans. Working in batches drop dough in heaping tablespoons about 2 inches apart onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake in upper and lower thirds of oven, switching positions of sheets halfway through baking about 12 minutes total or until golden. Cool on cookie sheets on racks for 5 minutes and then transfer with a spatula to racks to cool completely.
• Keep in airtight container at room temperature for about 5 days.

CHOCOLATE-CHUNK COOKIES WITH PECANS, DRIED APRICOTS, AND TART CHERRIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• In a bowl whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. In another bowl with an electric mixer beat together butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition, and beat in flour mixture until just combined.
• Chop chocolate into 1/2-inch pieces and stir into batter with apricots, cherries, and pecans. Working in batches, drop dough by heaping tablespoons about 2 inches apart onto ungreased baking sheets and bake in upper and lower thirds of oven, switching position of sheets halfway through baking, about 12 minutes total, or until golden. Cool cookies on baking sheets on racks 5 minutes and transfer with a spatula to racks to cool. Cookies keep in airtight containers at room temperature 5 days.

APRICOT CHUTNEY

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
• Slice the top off the half head of garlic with a sharp knife, exposing the cloves. Discard the top. Place the head of garlic on a piece of aluminum foil, drizzle with 1/4 teaspoon of olive oil, and wrap the foil around the garlic. Roast in the preheated oven until golden brown, 30 to 40 minutes.
• While garlic is roasting, place the onion and 1 tablespoon of olive oil into a saucepan over medium heat and cook and stir until the onion is browned, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in the apricot preserves, vinegar, ginger, cayenne pepper, and salt until thoroughly combined.
• Squeeze the roasted garlic cloves out of their skins, and mash them in a bowl with a spoon. Mix the garlic into the chutney; bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat and simmer until thickened, about 25 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir carefully because any splashes of chutney will be burning hot.
• Pack the chutney into sterilized jars and process to seal.