I want to start by saying Thank You for all of the congratulations on my engagement. I’m so excited and seeing all of your comments definitely made my day!  Since you were all so sweet – I’ve got a sweet recipe for you!

This dessert was part of my Luxury Dinner Party and it was just the sweet ending I was after – something delicious, not too heavy and simple to throw together. I got a few requests for the recipe so I thought I would share it with you all, but I won’t tell your guests how easy it is. Promise.

My first experience with cannoli was in Boston, at the famous Mike’s Pastry in the North End, and it has forever changed me.  The crunchy shell and smooth, creamy filling are like the lovechild of a cheesecake and a cheese course. In other words, the best kind of dessert out there in my opinion. You can keep your chocolate, just let me have the cheese!

I chose to forgo the cannoli shells as I didn’t have time, nor do I have the equipment to make them (maybe someday) and I’m not aware of any local Italian Bakery’s where I could buy them. Locals – am I missing some great Italian bakery? And in my non-Italian opinion, the filling is the best part anyways.

Cannoli Cream - 6-8 servings

Whisk all ingredients together until smooth.

Let chill. I put the cheese mixture in a plastic bag, cut the corner and piped over berries.

Oh and if you’ve got any leftover? It makes an excellent addition to morning coffee. A little naughty, I know. 1 Tbsp cannoli cream + 2-3 Tbsp milk, mixed until smooth with hand-held frother + coffee = extra delicious coffee.

All good meals start with prosecco. Don’t believe me? Try it.

Luxury Dinner Parties conjure up an array of memories – I think of my Aunt Frances whose parties always included champagne and caviar. I think of Dinner Club, my parents group of 4 couples who have dinner together once a month and have been doing so for almost 30 years. I’d say they know a thing or two about dinner parties. I think of my friend Mercedes who always has the perfect place settings and exceptional desserts.

But I haven’t hosted many dinner parties on my own. I generally fall back on cocktail party type get togethers. I’m not sure why – maybe because our table only seats 4, our dishes are terrible and honestly, I don’t particularly like having to leave the party to finish a meal in the kitchen!

Challenge #3 was about to change that. Hosting a Luxury Dinner Party for at least 4 was the challenge and I have to say that planning, preparing and enjoying the company of family over dinner was just that – enjoyable. You can expect to see more dinner parties from me!

Planning Ahead:

• Theme: pick a theme and carry it out throughout all courses, drinks and decor
• Timing: dinner parties require time management and planning ahead. Sure I would have loved to make the gnocchi from scratch but yoga, work and a drive to Wisconsin did not allow that time – my meal needed to come together quickly. I also know that not everyone has full days to spend on dinner parties. I had about an hour to prep for my meal, and sometimes you may only have an hour (or worse!) but you can make it work!
• Place Settings: I prefer white plates and cloth napkins with simple decor. Fresh flowers are always a nice touch.

The Menu:

• Courses: I rarely make a dessert but this occasion called for one. Decide how many courses you will serve.
• Food: I started with the gnocchi to go along with my Italian theme and since that would be somewhat rich, I wanted the other courses to remain light. Feeling stuffed may mean the food was fantastic but it certainly isn’t an enjoyable way to end the evening. Let’s also not forget that I’m a Nutritionist and a strong believer in portion control.
• Drinks: I always like to start with prosecco, whether the meal is an Italian one or not. I also served Italian Red & White wines as well as beer.

Antipasti: Antipasto Platter: Olives, Artichokes, Roasted Red Peppers, Prosciutto & Pecorino Romano

Insalata: Garden Lettuce & Parsley Salad with Lemon Viniagrette

Gnocchi: Potato Gnocchi with Olive Oil & Parmesan

Dolci: Cannoli Cream with Fresh Berries

Most importantly however is that the host should never be stuck in the kitchen the whole night. You should choose dishes that can easily be made ahead of time, or can be thrown together rather quickly at the end. It’s imperative that the majority of the prep is complete by the time your guests arrive. Oh, and have fun! That’s what it’s all about anyway – sure lucious food makes for a great party, but it all comes down to the company you share it with!

Buon Appetito!

Thanks for your support in getting me to the next round! Voting starts tomorrow for Challenge #3!