Cannoli

You can buy the shells at AJ's or make them yourself if you have the forms. But once you have shells, here is a great filling for them. The recipe comes from Maggiano's in Scottsdale. Thank you to Carolyn Denham for being the brave one to make and bring them to the club meeting.

1 cup Ricotta Cheese

½ cup sugar or honey

1 TBS of fresh squeezed orange juice

1 Tsp of orange zest

¼ cup semi sweet chocolate chips

Mix by hand, rather than a machine, to keep the texture thicker. Also, you can eliminate the fresh squeezed orange juice and add 1 tsp of orange flavoring (or another kind if you prefer)

You may also want to melt some additional chocolate chips and dip the ends of your cannoli shells in it. Use any leftover chocolate to drizzle on the filled shells.

Delicious Homemade Hot Fudge Sauce

Hot Fudge Sauce

by Grant Call

1 stick butter

1/4 to 1/2 cup cornstarch (depending on desired thickness)

2 heaping tbsp cocoa powder

1/4 tsp salt

Boil the above until smooth and bubbly

Remove from heat and stir in 2 cups of sugar

Add back to heat and then add 2 cups half and half

Stir until it boils well to thicken, but be careful as it will foam and boil over.

Remove from heat and add 1-2 tsp vanilla.

Let cool a little before serving over ice cream, or use as a dip for bananas.

Stores well in fridge for one month.

Luscious Layers Pudding Dessert

Luscious Layers

By Alicia Peterson

1/2 c. margarine or butter

1 c. flour

1 c. chopped nuts (I use pecans)

Mix together until it is like small balls. Press into the bottom of a 9x13 pan and bake at 325 for 25 mins. or until golden brown.

1 c. powdered sugar

1 8oz pkg cream cheese

1 c. cool whip (I use off brand)

Mix together the cream cheese and pwd. sugar. Then fold in cool whip. After "crust" is cool put this layer ontop carefully. If you're not careful the crust will come up as you try to spread this layer on. I usually drop small portions all over the crust and then layer out carefully.

1 8 oz. pkg (or similar size) chocolate pudding

Put this layer ontop of cream cheese layer. (Some recipes call for a small layer of vanilla pudding and a small layer of chocolate pudding, but I just put one bigger layer of chocolate)

Top it off with Cool Whip (or off brand).

Chocolate Lover's Bundt Cake

Chocolate Lover's Bundt Cake

Contributed by Jenny Farley

1 pkg chocolate cake mix

1 pkg instant chocolate pudding

1 c. sour cream

4 eggs

½ c. water

½ c. oil

1 12 oz pkg chocolate chips

Beat together cake mix, pudding, sour cream, eggs, water and oil for 10 minutes. Stir in chocolate chips. Place in greased bundt pan and bake at 350 degrees for 55 minutes. Sprinkle with powdered sugar and garnish with raspberries.