Sicilian Fried Pastries with Coffee Filling (Sicily)

Desserts

Ingredients

Cannoli Pastry Shells - 12

Egg yolk - 1

Sugar - 2 1/2 tbsps

All purpose flour - 4 tsps

Warm milk - 1 1/4 cups

Lemon peel or vanilla, to taste

Ricotta or cottage cheese - 1/2 pound

Confectioners sugar

Instant coffee, dissolved in a few drops of boiling water - 2 1/2 tsps

Beat the egg yolk in a small pan, add the sugar and continue beating until the mixture thickens. Add the flour and again beat until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Put the pan on the heat and gradually add the milk, stirring vigourously all the time. Add the lemon rind or vanilla, and continue stirring until the sauce is thick and smooth. Beat for a moment or two, then leave to become quite cold. Discard the lemon peel if used.

In another bowl mix together the ricotta, 1 cup confectioners sugar and the instant coffee, then beat in the custard. Fill the cannoli with this mixture, arrange them on a serving dish and dust generously  with sifted confectioners sugar. Serve immediately.

Serves 6