Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Deconstructed Chocolate Chip Cannoli Cups


My hair is gone.

You guys, my hair - my security blanket, is gone. 

Okay, not gone gone, but totally chopped off. And I am not happy about it. 

My hair had been pretty long for several years. The last time I cut it cut it was when I was pregnant with my daughter over seven years ago. I remember my hairdresser asking me repeatedly if I was sure - something about hormones and not a good time to take such drastic measures. Psssshya. Of course I was sure. It was only going to be cut to my shoulders anyway. 

It was a great cut until I washed it. Despite doing everything she told me to, it took me three times as long and about fifteen different hair products to make it actually do something. Thankfully, it was winter and my hair was tucked in a hat much of the time. Plus, my hair grew in quicker than normal thanks to the prenatal vitamins I was taking.

The big difference from then and now is I chose to chop it that short back then. After a week of complaining, I swore I would never do something as drastic as that again. A couple inches off the length? Of course. Layers? Sure, but nothing like the shoulder-length crop I had. Short hair like that doesn't suit me unless I have a 24-hour stylist at my disposal. 

However, me being me, after a few years of the same thing, I decided to get something fun for Spring. Something fresh, something a bit different - 'a bit' being the operative word. I researched some photos, found a few that I liked and off I went.

My hairdresser of eight years took a look at the photos, gave me suggestions for my hair type, told me which styles would work for me and which ones would not. All in all, very informative. We decided on a long bob; shorter in the back, tapered in the front. Nothing too extreme, but different enough than my usual style.

To make a long story short (no pun intended - holy hell this was no laughing matter), a long bob is not what I got. What I got was a graduated bob. She took EIGHT INCHES off the back of my hair, folks. EIGHT. Worst part about it is I had no idea she took that much off until she turned my head to cut and taper off the sides and front of my hair. With the towel and cape wrapped around my neck, she could have been hanging plastic Easter eggs off my hair and I wouldn't have known. 

When I realized what happened and she realized her mistake, total panic set in. I turned bright red and I started to see spots. I honestly thought I was going to throw up right where I sat. I closed my eyes until she was done while tears were falling like raindrops. I even convinced myself it would be totally fine once it was dry and styled. Nope. I got out of the chair and told her I had to leave immediately. I don't remember much after that, except there was so much hair on the floor. I briefly remember her throwing compliments at me like ninja stars as I gathered my belongings. My neck and chest were so blotchy with hives, I could barely breathe. It was horrible. 

After a hazy drive home, I had a good cry on my husband's shoulder, who tried to convinced me it was lovely. I calmed down after a while and felt a bit better. That is until only four people commented on it. Great. I've had this cut for less than a week and only four people have said anything. Not that I need validation from anyone, but this is my hair we're talking about. My husband insists it is because it doesn't look that different from the front. YOU KIDDING ME, lover? Eight inches were cut off.

Realizing there's not much I can do at this point, I got myself together, put on my big girl panties and sucked it up. Despite the fact I'm now stuck with a very lopsided haircut that takes me three times as long to do in the morning and about seventeen hair products, there are worse things happening in the world. What can one do about it now? 

I'll l tell you what. For starters, you eat your feelings with six of these cannoli cups - which I did. Cannoli is the quintessential Easter treat for me. In fact, it's my favourite pastry of all time.  Homemade shells can be time consuming to make or expensive if buying. They can sometimes be a bit messy to eat, but this alternative is easy, delicious and dribble-free. So grab a spoon, friends. I found a solution. 

Now if only I could find one to make my stupid hair grow faster. 



DECONSTRUCTED CHOCOLATE CHIP CANNOLI CUPS

1 pound whole milk ricotta cheese
½ cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste or extract
1 teaspoon orange zest - optional
¾ cup mini chocolate chips

18 vanilla wafers, finely ground
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1 teaspoon granulated sugar 

¼ cup chopped pistachio nuts

In a food processor, blitz vanilla wafers and sugar together. Add in melted butter and mix   until it comes together. Set aside. 

In a mixing bowl, stir together ricotta cheese, powdered sugar, paste or extract and orange zest, if using. Add in chocolate chips and mix well. 





In a piping bag, fitted with a large round or star opening so the chocolate chips can pass through, pipe into cups. Due to the richness of this dessert, it's best if you use 4 ounce glasses or smaller. 

Generously sprinkle with cookie crumbs and chopped pistachios. Chill for a few hours before enjoying. 

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13 Comments »

13 Responses to “Deconstructed Chocolate Chip Cannoli Cups”

  1. First, feel free to text me a picture. I know this doesn't help but I can't imagine you with short hair. Second, I love cannolis but never want to make the shell. So this is perfect. XO

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  2. I am sure you look as lovely as always!! ((HUGS)) But I hear ya, I felt the stress a few weeks ago when I did mine, why do they always go shorter than what you say. Somedays it still drives me crazy but hair keeps growing so we will be out of the woods eventually.

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  3. GIRL! You eeeeat those cannoli cups! They look deliciooous and you sooo deserve it! ahhhhh it's the worst when your hair gets messed up! I'm sure it's not as bad as you think, though, and it will grow back! *hugs*

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  4. I'm sure you look beautiful! I'm sorry it got messed up...so frustrating. But that's why you have these beautiful cups!! They look so delicious!

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  5. Oh boy...
    Was this your usual hair dresser that did this? Bob's are great, but bob's are hard. When I was in grad school, at some point I had a bob, which was ridiculously dumb because any good hairdresser would have taken 5 seconds to ask me how much time I had to style my hair and would have understood that I was doing a PhD in chemistry, and therefore, I ate all my meals and practically slept at my fumehood, therefore suggesting that a bob was not the right cut for me. Of course, the person who cut my hair didn't ask those questions, and snipped away those precious 45 minutes of much needed sleep time that were then transformed into "hair time" every morning....
    I know in my heart that it probably looks great, but I know the shock of losing all that hair, especially the first time you brush it and realize the brush has nowhere to go. It's an odd feeling, and I've been there. You just need to cry it out. Eventually you will get used to it. Maybe you'll love it soon!
    I suggest head bands and hairpins to get you through those days when you have no desire to style your hair, which in my case were numerous because I needed those 45 minutes to sleep!
    It will soon grow out enough that you will be able to even it out. Trust me, it will! But, perhaps try a different hairdresser ;)

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  6. I know this doesn't offer much comfort but I'm sure you look fabulous, girl! I can relate. I used to cry over my hair in elementary school because my dad cut it for me and he'd give me horrible, lopsided boy cuts, usually before important events like class photos. Then I cut my own hair like an idiot in high school and went to barber shops during university to save money. If it'll make you feel better, I'll email you some photos of me with my worst cuts! Feel free to keep eating away your feelings because your deconstructed cannoli cups look amazeballs. Who cares what the hair looks like when you're a culinary genius and can create such fabulous treats!

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  7. I KNOW you look beautiful, but I completely understand. If YOU don't love it, it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks. It's also funny how we always think shorter means less work, when it's actually the other way around. I hate spending time on my hair in the morning, and although I swear I'm two years past my trim deadline, I'm so worried the stylist will get all Chop Happy on me, and I'll be the one leaving the chair in tears and hives.

    Just so ya know... a lot of people don't comment on haircuts because they're either 1.) Afraid you didn't get your haircut and they end up looking like they never pay attention to your hair, or 2.) Jealous because you look fabulous and they look haggard, or 3.) Your taking care of your style makes them suddenly self-conscious about the state of their mop.

    I hope that makes you feel better. I totally just made all that shit up, but I meant well ;)

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  8. Love the idea of this dessert, and it looks so elegant the way you filled the glass. As for your hair, I can totally empathize! When I was 13, I had a foot and a half cut off, then grew it out again. I had a cousin visiting from out of town, and she was a hairdresser. Talked me into letting her give me a perm - not tight, but big enough to give my hair some body. It's thick, but very straight. OK, not problem. Then she said she was going to trim it before doing the perm. No problem. Then I blinked and all my hair was gone! I thought I was mad until my mother saw me. I thought she was going to KILL my cousin lol. Now I'm so paranoid, I always tell a stylist if it dries anywhere ABOVE my shoulder, I'll shave their head!! ;) [#PinItThurs]

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  9. Gah! Been there. Hope you're are feeling better about it all. Have a happy Easter weekend my friend!

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  10. I haven't had my hair cut in so long, it's down to my bottom almost. Don't worry about your hair, it'll grow back and I know you've heard it a lot by know but I'm sure you look great ;) I've had my share of hair cuts that went wrong. Enjoy your baked treats and bake some more! These look scrummy!!

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  11. Long hair or Short we all love you! Thanks for linking at Show Me Your Plaid Monday's. You are one of this weeks features!

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  12. Seven inches? Oh my. Well, short for summer?

    Such a creative recipe though. Looks delish!

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  13. That happened to me once. I walked out of the salon without paying! Now I have a hair dresser that I love, and as a matter of fact, when I go to see her I tell her to do whatever she wants! Now that's trust!
    Don't worry about your hair because that's the beauty of hair, it grows back.
    I'm going to make some cannolis now.

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