CHEESECAKE FILLED CANNOLIS

The kids that I have in my class continue to amaze me. I was brave to attempt making CHEESECAKE FILLED CANNOLIS on our very first day of class. All of the students did such an amazing job making the filling, and then blew me away when I taught them how to "PIPE" the cannolis, using only a Ziploc bag.

CHEESECAKE FILLING: (take about 5 minutes to make)

(***and fruit dip)

1   - 8oz package of cream cheese (you can use low fat if you are watching the fat content, but the regular cream cheese works the best)

1  - regular sized tub of Cool Whip Topping- softened but still cold (you can use low fat or fat free if you choose)

2 teaspoons of sugar (this can be optional because I think that the Cool Whip adds enough sweetness- but it is up to your taste preferences)

1 teaspoon on Vanilla Extract

Store bought CANNOLI SHELLS & GALLON SIZED  ZIPLOC BAGS

DIRECTIONS: 

 1.  Using an electric beater, mix together all of the ingredients until fully incorporated and firm.

2.   Using ZIPLOC gallon sized bags or a piping instrument for cakes/cupcakes, fill the bag, zip the end closed and cut a small hole in one corner in the bottom bag on one side only.

3. Pipe the filling into the Cannoli Shells. Sprinkle with toppings of your choice if you wish and enjoy!

*** This same recipe can be used when serving fruit platters and used as a dipping sauce for the fruit. You can play with the consistency of it by adding in a tablespoon or two at a time of fat free half and half, or another type of milk. Add slowly by the tablespoon mixing after each addition until you reach the desired consistency.

About TRADITIONAL CANNOLIS:
Real Italian Cannolis use a much different recipe, so I just wanted to note that as delicious as these are, they are not suppose to taste like traditional Cannoli cream, but they are very delicious. 

I am often asked about making real Cannolis. Many people don't know that high quality Cannoli Cream uses a type of cheese called "IMPASTADA Cheese"(know as the "Cadillac of Cheeses". It is similar to Ricotta cheese, but has a smoother consistency and less moisture.

Impastda cheese is difficult to find and I have only seen t sold in large quantities (like 10 lb bags), so unless you are planning to make 10 lbs of Cannoli Cream, you might be better off attempting to make the filling with Ricotta Cheese (allowing it to strain through cheese cloth overnight in the refrigerator...... or visiting an Italian Bakery and just buying them there and saving yourself the work and money. Another alternative is Marscipone cheese, but this too has a different texture and taste, but is still delicious.

Here is a website that gives you a picture walk through on how to make Cannolis from scratch... shells and all......

http://www.inner-gourmet.com/2010/02/recipe-holy-cannoli.html

Numerous Variations of my version of Low Fat Cheesecake Dip can be found here:

http://www.yummly.com/recipes/low-fat-cheesecake-dip

FUN SHAPED SANDWICHES to promote HEALTHY EATING

FUN SHAPED SANDWICHES TO PROMOTE HEALTHY EATING

In class we simply used cream cheese and fruit jelly and bread and some fun cookie cutters to create a snack that was fun to eat!

Below is an article taken from

http://www.squidoo.com/shaped-sandwich-kids-sandwich

on making lunch for kids both HEALTHY & FUN and using BENTO BOXES in place of traditional lunch boxes.

Use Kids Sandwich Cutters for Lunch and Teatime Fun!

Do you want to make something a little more inspiring for your kids' lunchboxes than limp, soggy sandwiches? Do you have trouble getting them to eat their sandwiches at all, no matter how yummy you try to make them? Or perhaps they love sandwiches already, but you simply want to have some fun!
Shaped food of any kind is always a hit with kids. While shaped pre-packaged food is not always that healthy, making your own shaped sandwiches is easy and you have full control over the content, so can make them as healthy as you want! All you need is a selection of cookie cutters or sandwich cutters.
You can find out more about Kawai (cute) Bento here on Squidoo, at The Kawai Bento Club!
Make faces, characters, people, animals and anything else that grabs your imagination out of a sandwich, and build an entire lunchbox around them! For example, use fruit and vegetables as rocks, bushes and other landscape features to accompany an animal sandwich.

You can buy Bento boxes to put the lunch in, which have divided sections in which to put the different elements of your Bento meal.
Make faces, characters, people, animals and anything else that grabs your imagination out of a sandwich, and build an entire lunchbox around them! For example, use fruit and vegetables as rocks, bushes and other landscape features to accompany an animal sandwich.
You can buy Bento boxes to put the lunch in, which have divided sections in which to put the different elements of your Bento meal.
You can buy Bento boxes to put the lunch in, which have divided sections in which to put the different elements of your Bento meal.

The trend of Bento is also growing in popularity, where the food in a lunchbox is turned into a wonderful miniature scene, so if you're inspired to try this, a shaped sandwich is a great place to start. Shaped sandwiches are also ideal for children's parties and other events!

Bento is a boxed meal, that is art as well as a healthy meal. Originating in Japan, it consists of a healthy lunch in a box, made to resemble cute characters in a cute setting.

OREO TRUFFLES

OREO TRUFFLES

1pkg.  (8 oz.) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened
1pkg.  (15.5 oz.) OREO Cookies, finely crushed (about 4-1/4 cups), divided
2pkg.  (8 squares each) BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Chocolate, melted

MIX cream cheese and 3 cups cookie crumbs until well blended.

SHAPE into 48 (1-inch) balls. *Dip in melted chocolate; place on waxed paper-covered baking sheet. 

Sprinkle with remaining cookie crumbs.REFRIGERATE 1 hour or until firm. 

Store in tightly covered container in refrigerator.

* In class, our variation omitted dipping them in chocolate due to the hot weather-

 and instead, we topped them with different flavors of MAGIC SHELL and put 

them right into the freezer. YUMMY!!

Recipe taken from http://www.kraftrecipes.com/recipes/easy-oreo-truffles-95085.aspx

COPY CAT CLASSICS

EVERYONE LOVES SOMETHING SWEET .................

Easy Pudding Pie

(each kid can make their own small dish with this recipe)

Because we are doing a "no bake class" we used a cookie crumble as a crust that required no baking

Crust:

5 OREO cookies (crushed up in a plastic bag)

Filling:

Instant JELLO pudding (vanilla & chocolate)

Topping:

Cool Whip

Kids are instructed to mash up their cookies for the crust. Then follow the box directions for the pudding and topped it off with some Cool Whip.

How to make a full pie:

Ingredients

• 1 (9 inch) prepared graham cracker crust
• 1 (5.9 ounce) package instant chocolate pudding mix
• 1 (8 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
• 
  

Directions

1. Make instant pudding according to directions on box.
2. Dump pudding into pie crust.
3. Spread whipped topping on top of the pudding.
4. Refrigerate until not too gooey.
5. **trick....** COVER THE PUDDING PIE WITH PLASTIC WRAP BEFORE REFRIGERATING- MAKE SURE TO PRESS THE PLASTIC WRAP SO IT FULLY TOUCHES ALL OF THE PUDDING. THIS WILL PREVENT A "SKIN" FROM FORMING ON THE PUDDING'S SURFACE****

FEELING REALLY ADVENTUROUS?

 FOLLOW THE LINK BELOW THE PICTURE ON HOW TO :

MAKE YOUR OWN PUDDING - from Scratch

Making Pudding Pie from Scratch

HOMEMADE KIT KAT BARS:

INGREDIENTS

serves Makes approximately 32 bars, active time 45 minutes, total time 2 hours, 45 minutes

• 75 Club crackers (about one box)
• 1/2 pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter
• 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 1 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
• 1/2 cup milk**
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• 2/3 cup creamy peanut butter**
• 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup butterscotch chips **

** These items were omitted due to allergy reasons in the classroom. We also only used the microwave and did not cook the butter & sugar mixture, When doing this on the stove, you will get a thicker consistency to your final product- (we just don't have a stove).

PROCEDURES

1. 1
   Line 9- by 13-inch rectangular baking pan with one layer of Club crackers (you may need to break some to fit).
2. 2
   Melt butter in large saucepan over medium heat. Add graham cracker crumbs, dark brown sugar, milk, and granulated sugar. Bring to boil. Boil for five minutes, stirring constantly. Remove pan from heat. Pour half of butter mixture over crackers in pan. Smooth surface with spatula.
3. 3
   Arrange another layer of Club crackers over butter mixture. Pour remaining butter mixture over surface. Smooth surface with spatula. Arrange a third layer of crackers over top.
4. 4
   Combine peanut butter, chocolate chips, and butterscotch chips in small saucepan. Melt over medium-low heat, stirring constantly. Spread evenly over crackers.
5. 5
   Cool to room temperature, then cover and refrigerate two hours. Cut into 2-inch bars. Bars will keep for two weeks, stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.