Cannoli

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Cannoli are Italian pastry desserts. The singular is cannolo, meaning “little tube”, with the etymology stemming from the Latin "canna", or reed. Cannoli originated in Sicily and are an essential part of Sicilian cuisine. They are also popular in Italian American cuisine.

Cannoli consist of tube-shaped shells of fried pastry dough, filled with a sweet, creamy filling usually containing sweetened ricotta cheese (or occasionally, but less traditionally, mascarpone) blended with some combination of vanilla, chocolate, pistachio, Marsala wine, rosewater or other flavorings. Some chefs add chopped candied fruit (citron, orange peel, or cherries). They range in size from "cannulicchi", no bigger than a finger, to the fist-sized proportions typically found in Piana degli Albanesi, south of Palermo, Sicily. Regardless of size, the shells should be filled as late as possible to avoid becoming soggy, thus losing the crunchiness that provides contrast with the softness of the filling.

1 History
2 Italian-American variants
3 In popular culture
4 References
5 External links

[edit] History

Cannoli on display

Originating in the Palermo area, cannoli were historically prepared as a treat during Carnevale season, possibly as a fertility symbol; one legend assigns their origin to the harem of Caltanissetta.^{[citation needed]} The dessert eventually became a year-round staple throughout what is now Italy. As with Sicilian cassata, Sicilian cannoli probably date back to the time of Arab dominion.

[edit] Italian-American variants

The versions Americans are most familiar with tend to involve variations on the original concept. This is possibly due to adaptations made by Italians who emigrated to the U.S. in the 1900s and discovered limited availability of certain ingredients. The cannoli sold in Italian-American bakeries today usually still contain ricotta, but mascarpone is a less common alternative. Sometimes the filling is a simple custard of sugar, milk, and cornstarch. In either case, the cream is often flavored with vanilla or orange flower water and a light amount of cinnamon. Chopped pistachios, semi-sweet chocolate bits, and candied citrus peel or cherries are often still included, dotting the open ends of the pastry. Chocolate sprinkles are sometimes used as a garnish for cannoli in the United States.

[edit] In popular culture

Cannoli are mentioned in a famous line from the film The Godfather by Clemenza, whose wife asked him to bring home a few. A planned murder takes place during the outing, and while Clemenza and his accomplice are preparing to depart the scene, he instructs: "Leave the gun. Take the cannoli."
- This line is parodied in an episode of Shadow Raiders. But in the Shadow Raiders universe, Cannoli are large grub-like creatures, which apparently serve the same function for the residents of Planet Bone.
- Another parody of the line is found in a "Tony Pajamas" sketch on The Amanda Show, in which Tony's pal Paulie (Josh Peck) is injured and Tony (Drake Bell) instructs his bodyguards to "Leave Paulie. Take the cannoli."
- Another parody was in the TV show Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations in the New Jersey episode, in which, after ordering a dozen cannoli from a local Italian pastry shop, Mario Batali, Bourdain, and a pastry chef are driving to another restaurant and Batali stops by the side of the road ostensibly to urinate while the pastry chef assassinates Bourdain. The episode ends with Bourdain slumped over the steering wheel of his car while Batali says "leave the gun, take the cannoli."
In The Godfather Part III Connie (Talia Shire) kills Don Altobello (Eli Wallach) with a poisoned cannolo.
Take the Cannoli: Stories from the New World (Touchstone, 2003; ISBN 0-7432-0540-5) is the title of an essay collection by author Sarah Vowell.
The "Berzerker" of the Star Trek episode "The Doomsday Machine" is often called "The Great Space Cannoli" by fans.
In Death Wish V, Charles Bronson uses a cannolo laced with poison to kill a mobster who helped murder his fiancee.
In the HBO series "The Sopranos", the main character, Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini), shows a regular taste for cannoli, occasionally making the dessert part of the plot.
Frank Barone (Peter Boyle) of Everybody Loves Raymond is regulary accused by his family of eating up all the cannoli made by his wife Marie.