Lobster Polenta Pizza

Ingredients:

1 box instant polenta
8 ounce mascarpone cheese, at room temperature
2 heads roasted garlic
8 ounces fontina cheese, freshly grated
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 to 4 lobster tails, raw and removed from shell
1 jar semi dried cherry tomatoes
fresh basil leaves for topping
freshly grated parmesan cheese for topping

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

Prepare the polenta until it is just thickened, then spread it out into a thin layer on a nonstick baking sheet. Bake the crust for 20 to 25 minutes, or until it is slightly crispy and set in a crust. Remove and let the crust cool slightly.

Add the mascarpone to a bowl. Squeeze the roasted garlic cloves into a smaller bowl and add a pinch of salt, then mash well with a fork. Add the garlic to the mascarpone and stir until combined.

Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add olive oil and butter. Add the lobster tails and cook until they are just opaque and bright red in color - be sure to not over cook since they will cook more in the oven. Remove from heat immediately and sprinkle with a pinch of salt and pepper. Allow to cool slightly then chop into pieces.

To make the pizza, spread the roasted garlic mascarpone over the crust, leaving an inch or so around the ends. Sprinkle three quarters of the fontina on top, then add the lobster pieces and the cherry tomatoes. Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and the crust is crispier. Remove from the oven and sprinkle with fresh basil leaves and parmesan cheese. Cut into slices. Serve immediately.

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Cannoli Bites

45-48 bites

Ingredients

Cannoli cups:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting work surface
• 2 1/2 Tbsp granulated sugar
• 1 tsp cocoa powder
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1 pinch nutmeg (optional)
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 cup butter, melted
• 1 large egg white
• 6 - 8 Tbsp apple juice or grape juice
• 2 Tbsp white wine vinegar (red wine vinegar or plain white vinegar would be fine)
• Vegetable oil cooking spray

Cannoli Filling

• 12 oz whole milk Ricotta cheese, strained
• 8 oz Mascarpone cheese
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar (You can add 2 Tbsp more if you'd like it a little sweeter)
• 1/3 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
• powdered sugar, for dusting (optional)
• Optional toppings:
• Melted chocolate, chopped pistachios, sprinkles, toasted sweetened coconut

Instructions:

For the cannoli cups:

• Add flour, granulated sugar, cocoa powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt to a food processor and pulse until blended. Pour in melted butter and pulse until well combined then add egg white and pulse until blended. In a bowl combine juice and vinegar, with processor running slowly pour in juice mixture and pulse just until mixture begins to come together. Divide dough into two pieces, shape into balls and transfer to a resealable bag. Chill in refrigerator 30 minutes - 1 hour. Preheat oven to 400 degrees during last 10 minutes of refrigeration.
• Meanwhile prepare filling. In a mixing bowl, using a rubber or silicone spatula, blend together Ricotta and Mascarpone cheese while running and pressing mixture along bottom of bowl to remove any lumps. Fold in powdered sugar. Cover and chill 30 minutes (or until ready to use).
• Roll each chilled dough out on a lightly floured surface (dust top with flour too) into a 14-inch circle, to about an 1/8-inch thickeness. Cut into circles using a 2 1/2-inch round biscuit cutter. Transfer rounds to an ungreased mini muffin tin, pressing evenly into sides and bottom of muffin well. Spray tops evenly with vegetable oil spray. Bake in preheated oven 11 - 13 minutes until lightly golden. Remove from oven and transfer to a wire cooling rack to cool completely. Once cool dip tops in chocolate if desired then into coating if using (such as pistachios) and allow chocolate to set.
• Remove cannoli filling from refrigerator, transfer to a piping bag fitted with a tip (or you can use a large resealable bag and cut the tip of the end). Pipe filling into cups and sprinkle with chocolate chips and dust with powdered sugar. For best results serve within 2 hours. Store in refrigerator.

 Enjoy!

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