I received a gift card to offset the expense of my ingredients. By posting this recipe I am entering a recipe contest sponsored by the California Milk Advisory Board and am eligible to win prizes associated with the contest. I was not compensated for my time.
Don’t tell Mom! Has your family ever pulled that one? S0me of the best stories actually start like this. Like the time I was enjoying a meal at a local restaurant and never realized I was sitting next to funny man Danny McBride. Ok, so I was focused on the food; and for good reason. I was enjoying the world’s most luscious lime ice cream! And ever since that night, it’s been my life’s goal to recreate something as delectable.
Finally, I believe I have realized my aspiration. I have thought long and hard about the best time to roll this one out, and the time is right, because this week the Recipe Redux is showing you how easy it is to enjoy the taste of eating right when you include California dairy products. The California Milk Advisory Board (which represents over 1500 dairy families) and their nutrition partner, the Dairy Council of California, is celebrating “dairy good”. Dairy plays a vital role in contributing to an overall healthy diet and we want to encourage everyone to adopt healthy eating habits that include dairy!
Enjoying California dairy foods with meals is a delicious and inexpensive way to meet daily protein needs necessary for maintaining or increasing skeletal muscle mass, and improving body composition (increasing skeletal muscle and decreasing body fat). Dairy with meals helps meet the requirements for important nutrients many Americans are lacking: calcium, potassium and vitamin D. Given the multiple benefits of dairy, it should not surprise you, the recommendations are for 3 servings daily. You can read more about the health benefits of dairy at RealCaliforniaMilk.com and about the higher nutritional standards in milk/dairy produced in California at healthyeating.org.
Real California milk and dairy products are sold nationwide and can be identified with the Real California Milk or Real California Cheese seals on packaging.
Today I ‘m thrilled to show you how easy it is to to lighten up one of my favorite dairy desserts (the cannoli) with real California dairy. Easy as in, it takes 20 minutes to make (30 minutes to chill) and it’s no cook. Traditionally, this Italian dessert is made with a pastry shell (often fried) that’s stuffed with a mouse like filling (usually made with ricotta cheese, heavy cream, and sugar). A light version can be made by simply swapping full fat ricotta cheese for California reduced fat ricotta cheese and eliminating the fried shell. Oh, and about the lime ice cream that had me ‘ice cream absorbed’ and was this recipe’s inspiration; I’m drizzling the ricotta mouse with a fresh lime sauce and serving it ‘inside out’ with crisp wafer cookies. Please note: YOU can lighten up any dairy recipe by substituting all or half of the full fat dairy ingredient with a reduced fat or fat free dairy ingredient. This WILL MAINTAIN THE NUTRITIONAL PROFILE AND BENEFITS of DAIRY (without the fat)! Note: using dairy alternatives or substitutes will not deliver the same nutrients found in dairy.
California dairy products are both nutritious and delicious on their own, and can be used as ingredients in a myraid of recipes, from sweet to savory. Please check out the bottom of this post for more light California dairy delicious ideas!
What dairy recipe will you lighten up with California dairy?
Inside Out Cannoli with a Twist of Lime (serves 4)
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup sweetened condensed milk
- 2 1/2 Tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 1 cup California heavy cream
- 1 cup California reduced fat ricotta cheese
- 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar, sifted
- finely grated zest of 1/2 lime
- chopped pistachios, for topping
- plain crisp wafer cookies, for serving
Instructions
1. Stir fresh lime juice into sweetened condensed milk and set aside.
2. Combine ricotta, confectioners’ sugar, and lime zest in a large bowl and beat with an elcetric mixer on medium speed until smooth, about 1 minute.
3. Pour heavy cream into another bowl and beat on medium speed until stiff peaks form, about 2 minutes. (Test the stiffness by pulling a beater out of the cream. The whipped cream should hold its shape and cling to the beater.)
4. Fold one third of the whipped cream into ricotta mixture with a rubber spatula until combined and uniform. Gently fold in remaining whipped cream.
5. Spread half of the ricotta mousse into a pie plate or loaf pan. Drizzle with half of the lime sauce. Repeat with remaining ricotta mousse and lime sauce. Chill, uncovered 30 minutes or up to overnight.
6. Spoon ricotta mousse mixture into cups or bowls and sprinkle with chopped nuts. Serve with crisp wafer cookies on the side.
Jenny Shea Rawn says
How did I miss this? Love the use of ricotta & lime! Would be in heaven having this for dessert.
Diane Boyd says
It was a big hit a my house. Give it a try if you get a chance!
Mireya @myhealthyeatinghabits.com says
Diane,
Great post. Love the lightened cannoli idea, especially with the lime.
Diane Boyd says
Thank you, Mireya!
Deanna Segrave-Daly says
Ohh this is heaven to me – I’m a cannoli freak and I actually love the filling even more than the shell.
Diane Boyd says
Yes Deanna, I agree!