Welcome to our new page of “fooler” foods easy enough to have all the time but good enough to save for a special occasion ~ date night, a special night to “cook for the cook,” or a youth cooking project for the family. Easy and elegant.

(Shhh! No one needs to know you didn’t spend hours in the kitchen!)

5-minute Mini Cannoli

Needed: small container of ricotta cheese, sugar (granulated or powdered), bowl to make the filling, 2 or 3 mini shells per person, table knife and spoon to fill the shells. Chocolate chips, minced candied fruits, ground pistachios, powdered sugar, mint leaves are optional add-ins and garnishes.

For each basic cannoli, stir together 2 tablespoons of ricotta cheese and 1 teaspoon of sugar. Just before serving, fill each shell and garnish as desired.

Product notes: The most authentic part of this recipe is the mini shells. I buy ours at the wonderful Urzi’s Italian Market in St. Louis, MO, but mini shells are readily available online if there isn’t an Italian grocery store or international grocery aisle near you. A 15-ounce container of ricotta will fill at least 15 mini shells.