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!
They look pretty and tasty. I find I am thinking about my Mum a lot at the moment.
ReplyDeleteHi Lindy... I know what you are saying, believe me. I just try to keep her alive any way I can.
ReplyDeleteTry to have a happy Christmas.
ABBRACCI
ANNA
xx
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...
ReplyDeleteHello Anna -this is a beautiful tribute to "Queen of all Roses aka your dear mother"
ReplyDeleteI love hearing of her and your recipe is no doubt delicious
Helen x
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!
ReplyDeleteBUONA NOTTE, CARA...
ANNA
XX
Helen,
ReplyDeleteI 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
Dear Christa,
ReplyDeleteI think I called you "Emily" in my reply to you. Sorry! I know you are Christa!
CIAO
ANNA
xx
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!
ReplyDeleteKristin xo
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
ReplyDeleteI am thinking about you and your Mum, what a lovely thing to do. The pastry looks delicious. sending you love xx
ReplyDeleteThe roses look very pretty.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to taste one (or two)!!!!
♥ Franka
Hi Kirstin! Nice to see you here!Thank you so much for reading my post. Sharing my thoughts means a lot to me. Thanks...
ReplyDeleteA lovely week to you, too!
ANNA
x
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...
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you liked my "roses" very pretty and delicious!
Ciao
ANNA
xx
Ciao, MissLittleJeans and fantastic kitties. They looked lovely in their party clothes!
ReplyDeleteThank 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
Nice!!! Gio'
ReplyDeletehttp://remenberphoto.blogspot.com/
Grazie, Gio`. E... tanti cari saluti alla bella Pesaro!
ReplyDeleteANNA
Que bello...
ReplyDeleteI 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
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!
ReplyDeleteThe 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