Sunday 11 December 2011

Rose di Natale (Christmas Roses-filo and ricotta pastries)







She walked out of the door. As always, barefoot. The grass was cold under her feet. The hydrangeas, still beautiful but  dry as paper, a reminder that Summer must have been here, as she could still see "signs" The old fashioned roses, sporting small, bright red hips were still trying to sing a song, but the frost on the ground told a Winter story.
Her mother had been born in the month of December "A Winter Rose" a pretty bud, later in full bloom.  Throughout her life,  her petals displayed a rainbow of coulours: one for every season and for every day of her life.
I was thinking about my mother, today. It will be her birthday in a week... the last rose shed its petals today... I can see them on the ground. It must be nearly Christmas!
With her in mind, I decided to make myself feel "happy" and maybe cook something for Christmas that she would have liked. I bought some ricotta, yesterday, and filo pastry. With my beautiful green limes and some chocolate, I could make some roses... sweet Christmas roses!

Rose di Natale
Christmas roses

Sweet filo pastry "roses" filled with ricotta cheese

INGREDIENTS:
Makes 7-8
1 pack frozen filo pastry
350 g (12 oz) ricotta cheese
icing (confectioner's sugar)
as much or as little as you like
1 green lime, or lemon
one egg yolk
about 8 squares chocolate
vanilla extract
some melted butter
(for the filo pastry)

Before you start, prepare your ingredients: break the chocolate into small pieces, and peel your lime, as you will need its fragrant zest.





Next, put your ricotta in a bowl, then add your sugar, zest, egg yolk and chocolate. Mix all the ingredients to form a smooth creamy, sweet mixture.





Place your  filo pastry onto a surface and, with the help of a pastry brush, "paint" 3 sheets with melted butter. Keep the sheets layered. Now, with a sharp knife, cut the pastry into 7 or 8 squares (each of these will have three layers of fillo... it's extremely thin!)





If you have a patty tin, brush each "hole" with butter, then  press a square of the pastry layers into the middle of seven or eight of the "holes", so there is room, at the base of each, for the filling.





 The pastry looks better if it's a bit "messy." I gathered it, so it would look like a rose. Fill each of the "roses" with some ricotta mixture, then bake, 200 C, Gas 6,  400F, until the pastry looks golden, but don't let it burn. Also check that the bottom of your fillo "roses" is cooked.





I thought my Christmas roses looked beautiful and I know they will taste delicious! (They can be frozen until Christmas!)




 My  Christmas Roses look very pretty!

18 comments:

  1. They look pretty and tasty. I find I am thinking about my Mum a lot at the moment.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Lindy... I know what you are saying, believe me. I just try to keep her alive any way I can.

    Try to have a happy Christmas.

    ABBRACCI

    ANNA
    xx

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anna! These look really pretty and delicious and sophisticated! I love roses in every way but I think it would heart me to these beauties... Abbraco molto grande...

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hello Anna -this is a beautiful tribute to "Queen of all Roses aka your dear mother"

    I love hearing of her and your recipe is no doubt delicious
    Helen x

    ReplyDelete
  5. Emily, if you made these cakes, beautiful or not, you would eat them! If you've ever had cannoli, the filling is the same. I love sweet ricotta!

    BUONA NOTTE, CARA...

    ANNA

    XX

    ReplyDelete
  6. Helen,

    I was telling a friend, this evening, that this is my mum's blog. I do it for her. When someone goes (and she "went" long before she died) it's good to remember the good times and all the things they did.

    My mother was very joyous and had a very "naughty" laugh. She had so many funny stories to tell... she was so nice! I miss that laugh!

    Thabk you for your comment, Helen!

    CIAO

    ANNA
    xx

    ReplyDelete
  7. Dear Christa,

    I think I called you "Emily" in my reply to you. Sorry! I know you are Christa!

    CIAO

    ANNA
    xx

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hi Anna, I'm so glad to be back! These roses are so beautiful and so are the words you wrote in the beginning of your post! Have a lovely new week!

    Kristin xo

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hello Anna, How lovely, as always, to find you have written a post! I always look forward to them. The Christmas roses look so very tasty and are such an unusual idea, a lovely Christmas treat and a perfect tribute for your Mother.I hope you are not finding this time of year too painful, sending you love and best wishes. Jane xx

    ReplyDelete
  10. I am thinking about you and your Mum, what a lovely thing to do. The pastry looks delicious. sending you love xx

    ReplyDelete
  11. The roses look very pretty.
    I'd like to taste one (or two)!!!!

    ♥ Franka

    ReplyDelete
  12. Hi Kirstin! Nice to see you here!Thank you so much for reading my post. Sharing my thoughts means a lot to me. Thanks...

    A lovely week to you, too!

    ANNA
    x

    ReplyDelete
  13. Jane, I can never feel sad when I think about my parents, as I was blessed with a wonderful mother and a father who "Was not a man, but an angel" - my sister's words. What makes me sad is remembering her eyes... and I am going to stop here, Jane, because I am...

    I'm glad you liked my "roses" very pretty and delicious!

    Ciao

    ANNA

    xx

    ReplyDelete
  14. Ciao, MissLittleJeans and fantastic kitties. They looked lovely in their party clothes!

    Thank you for sending love my way. If you like cooking, maybe you might try to make my cakes. Your cats might like to "help"...

    Thanks for coming to say ciao!

    Enjoy the rest of the evening.

    ANNA
    x

    ReplyDelete
  15. Nice!!! Gio'
    http://remenberphoto.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  16. Grazie, Gio`. E... tanti cari saluti alla bella Pesaro!

    ANNA

    ReplyDelete
  17. Que bello...
    I say it again Anna.. you should write a book.. your written words are touching
    Your mother Rosa, would be so proud of you..
    Ingenious to think of filo and making it into a rose, they look scrumtious..
    Ciao Anna..e "muito obrigada"
    val

    ReplyDelete
  18. Val, I accept and value the compliments of an artist such as you. If my mother could see my blog she would be totally "chuffed" as they say. I know she would love all my photos, so bright and vibrant! And the food!

    The book idea sounds good to me, and it's one of the reasons behind starting a blog. I will have to push myself a little bit, I think! Thank you for the encouragement

    CIAO e GRAZIE!

    ANNA

    ReplyDelete