Coffee & Cannolis for St. Gianna

Robina, from Motherly Loving, shares a few ideas for celebrating the feast of St. Gianna Beretta Molla on April 28th.  Thank you Robina!

"I am having friends from our parish's Mom's Group over again for Coffee & Cannolis and to pray the rosary while our children play to celebrate the Feast of St. Gianna. I used to make my own cannolis as a child, but now I have a few select places that I buy from, with my all time favorite but far away being Venieros in Manhattan (their chocolate covered cannolis pictured above).

You could also celebrate St. Gianna's Italian heritage and make an Italian meal for dinner, some kind of yummy pasta or even pizza or eat out at your favorite Italian restaurant."

Classic Cannoli

For the Filling:
2 3/4 cups (22 ounces) fresh ricotta cheese
3/4 cup confectioners' sugar
3 tablespoons mini semisweet chocolate chips
3/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Other Ingredients:
3 dozen pre-made cannoli shells
4 ounces semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup mini semisweet chocolate chips
Confectioners' sugar, for dusting

Directions:

Make the filling: Line a sieve with a layer of cheesecloth, and set over a bowl. Spoon ricotta into sieve. Cover, and let drain in the refrigerator overnight.

With an electric mixer on medium speed, beat ricotta and confectioners' sugar until fluffy. Beat in chocolate chips, vanilla, zest, and lemon juice. Cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate.

Melt chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Dip one end of each cannoli shell into chocolate and dip into mini chocolate chips. Let set 15 minutes on parchment paper.

Transfer filling to a pastry bag fitted with a 1/2-inch star tip. Pipe filling into one end of a shell to the center, then into other end. (*You can also just use a plastic bag and spoon it in.) Repeat with remaining shells and filling. Dust with confectioners' sugar, and serve immediately.

Prayer of Saint Gianna

God our Father we praise You and we bless you because in St Gianna Beretta Molla you have given us one who witnessed to the Gospel as a young women, as a wife, as a mother, and as a doctor. We thank you because through the gift of her life we can learn to welcome and honor every human person. You, Lord Jesus, were for Gianna a splendid example. She learned to recognize you in the beauty of nature. As she was questioning her choice of vocation she went in search of you and the best way to serve you. Through her married love she became a sign of your love for the Church and for humanity. Like you, the Good Samaritan, she cared for everyone who was sick, small or weak. Following your example, out of love she gave herself entirely, generating new life. Holy Spirit, Source of every perfection, give us wisdom, intelligence, and courage so that, following the example of Saint Gianna and through her intercession, we may know how to place ourselves at the service of each person we meet in our personal, family and professional lives, and thus grow in love and holiness.  Amen.

Saint Gianna, Pray for us!