Recipe of the Week:

Ricotta Cheese and Herb Ravioli with Asparagus Cream Sauce

By CHEF LORETTA PAGANINI

These ravioli are the Paganini family's Easter tradition

My husband’s grandfather, Emilio, came to the United States as a young man from Genova, Italy, and continued the tradition of making fresh ravioli for special occasions, especially the holidays for the whole family to enjoy Serves eight (Chef tip: To make egg wash, mix together in a small bowl one large egg and one teaspoon of water )

Egg wash, as needed

Basic dough:

2 cups Italian “00” or all-purpose flour

2 large eggs

1/4 cup dry white wine

1 teaspoon sea salt

Filling:

2 clove garlic, minced

2 tablespoons fresh herbs (chives, Italian parsley, basil)

4 cups whole milk ricotta cheese, well drained

1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

1 large egg

1 teaspoon sea salt

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground white pepper

To make the dough, place the flour on a wooden board and form into a mound Make a deep well in the center and break eggs into it Add the wine and salt Use a fork to break up the eggs and mix the contents of the well.

Slowly add flour, beginning at the top of the well so the walls collapse and blend into the mixture When flour is almost totally absorbed begin kneading, pressing with the palms of your hands Knead the dough for about 20 minutes, until it is smooth and elastic (If dough is dry, add a few drops of water If sticky, add a sprinkle of flour )

Gather the dough into a ball, place in a mixing bowl, and cover with plastic wrap

Let rest for 30 minutes (To test for readiness, punch the dough with your index finger If it springs back, it is done )

In a large bowl, mix all filling ingredients together: ricotta, eggs, garlic, herbs, parmesan, salt and pepper Set aside

CROW Calendar

The Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife's Visitor Education Center, at 3883 Sanibel-Captiva Road, Sanibel, will present the following:

∫ Today, April 1 9

Triage of Wildlife Patients at 11 a m

The program will discuss the steps CROW's veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and wildlife rehabbers take when wild animals are admitted to the hospital for treatment

∫ Thursday, April 2 0

Program of the Week at 11 a m

The program will cover a variety of topics related to wildlife and patient care at CROW

∫ Friday, April 2 1

Wild Babies at CROW at 11 a m

The program will discuss the different wild babies admitted at CROW, including birds, mammals, and reptiles It will cover how CROW's certified wildlife professionals treat, raise, and prepare the babies for release back to the wild.

Admission to the center is free for a limited time It includes the above daily pres entations , and no res ervations are required to attend

F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n , v i s i t http://www crowclinic org/ or call 239472-3644

Live the love that never dies

I m u s t c o n f e s s t h a t I used to pull out the periwink l e f l o w e r s t h a t w o u l d appear in our yard In spite of the fact that they were cheerful and colorful, they were not invited and did not fit the landscape plan. But after Hurricane Ian radically changed our yard, making it mostly a grey, moonlike expanse, the periwinkles came back, and I have decided to leave them and to love them.

Rev. William

Van Oss

They have transformed the dull greyness with depth and color They are beautiful and alive They keep on spreading in spite of the p o o r q u a l i t y o f t h e s o i l beneath them They give me hope and make me smile New life is returning to our yard and to my heart

Faces on Faith

Followers of Jesus have j u s t c e l e b r a t e d t h e g r e a t “three days” when we journeyed with Jesus from the noisy streets, to the upper room, to the trial and execution and to the empty tomb In the center of that story stands a cross where lovein-the-flesh was thought to have been killed But that was not the end of the story New life emerged from that d e a t h N e w h o p e s p r a n g forth in the midst of grief and sadness Death would not have the final word The love that he came to bring would never die He commissioned his first followers, and he commissions us, to “go” and “tell ” Live it “Live the love that never dies ”

See LOVE, page 25

To assemble ravioli, roll out a long thin sheet of dough and cut it into 12-by-6-inch pieces. Place one piece of dough on a ravioli tray, lightly brush with egg wash. Fill each ravioli chamber with a teaspoon of the prepared filling, top with a second sheet and seal with the help of a rolling pin Invert the tray and cut ravioli and place on a parchmentlined cookie sheet Repeat the process until all the pasta and filling has been used

Cook the ravioli in boiling salted water for about 4-5 minutes and then toss it with asparagus cream sauce

Asparagus Cream Sauce

This creamy and delicious sauce’s flavor is enhanced by fresh herbs and asparagus This is a favorite dish of my city Bologna, Italy, where the sauce is made many times with the addition of prosciutto Makes about 2 cups (Chef tip: Store your fresh herbs in a container filled with water in the refrigerator.)

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1 shallot, minced

1/4 cup dry sherry wine

2 cups heavy whipping cream

1 bunch asparagus, trimmed and cut into thin pieces, reserve the tips

2 teaspoons fresh chives, chopped

2 teaspoons fresh dill, chopped

1 tablespoon fresh Italian parsley, chopped

1 teaspoon sea salt

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground white pepper

In a medium saucepan, cook shallots in olive oil until translucent and soft. Stir in sherry and cook until wine is evaporated

Add in cream and asparagus, reserve the tips and bring to a boil Reduce until sauce thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon

Add in fresh herbs and asparagus tips Toss with cooked ravioli Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and serve at once

Island Worship

∫ Bat Yam Temple of the Islands

2050 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel (Sanibel Congregational United Church of Christ), https://www batyam org/, https://www facebook com/batyamsanibel/

Rabbi Stephen Fuchs and Cantor Rabbi Sunny Schnitzer

Sabbath service on Friday at 7 p m at the Jewish Federation of Lee & Charlotte Counties, at 9701 Commerce Center Court, Fort Myers, and via Zoom For Zoom links, email batyamsanibel@gmail com

∫ Captiva Chapel by the Sea

11580 Chapin Lane, Captiva, 239-472-1646, https://www captivachapel com/, www facebook com/Captiva-Chapel-By-The-Sea

Rev Larry Marshall

In-person service on Sundays at 11 a.m. through April. Services will be videotaped and posted on the chapel's website and Facebook page Services from the past season can also be found online

∫ Chavurat Shalom of Southwest Florida www chavuratshalomofsouthwestflorida org

Lecture and discussion on Thursday at 11 a m via Zoom Torah Talk on the third Thursday of each month at 11 a m via Zoom Friday Shabbat service at 7:30 p m via Zoom Len Minsky Current Events discussion on Saturday at 11 a m via Zoom For Zoom links, email ChavuratShalom@gmail com

∫ Sanibel Christian Science Church

2950 West Gulf Drive, Sanibel, 239-810-1077

Due to the hurricane, it is not currently holding services

∫ Sanibel Community Church

1740 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, 239-472-2684, https://sanibelchurch com/, https://www facebook com/sanibelchurch/

Pastor Jeramie Rinne

Sunday service at 10 a m in the SCC Sanctuary Sunday service at 4 p m at the Fort Myers Community Church, at 8440 Cypress Lake Drive, Fort Myers Services will be recorded and posted on the SCC's YouTube channel on Monday

∫ Sanibel Congregational United Church of Christ

2050 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, 239-472-0497, https://www sanibelucc org/, https://www facebook com/sanibelucc/

Senior Minister Dr Mark Boyea

Sunday service at 10 a m at The Refuge Church, at 1901 Brantley Road, Fort Myers.

∫ St. Isabel Catholic Church

3559 Sanibel-Captiva Road, Sanibel, 239-472-2763, https://www saintisabel org/, https://www facebook com/stisabelcatholicchurch/

Father Ed Martin

Friday Mass at 9 a m Weekend Masses on Saturday at 4 p m and Sunday at 10 a m

∫ St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church

2304 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, 239-472-2173, https://www saintmichaelssanibel org/, https://www facebook com/saintmichaelssanibel/

Rev William “Bill” Van Oss

Service with optional healing prayers on Wednesday at 9 a m at the Peace Lutheran Church, at 15840 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers. Sunday service at 11:30 a m at the same location, followed by a coffee hour in Fellowship Hall

Refuge’s ar tist-in-residence on exhibit

through Thursday from 9 a m to 5 p m The refuge is at 1 Wildlife Drive, Sanibel REFUGE/DDWS

Shell Point to present concer t

T h e S h e l l P o i n t R e t i r e m e n t Community will present the Florida Gulf Coast University Jazz Ensemble and special guest Saturn Quartet on April 24 at 7 p m on the Connie Brown Hall Stage at the Tribby Arts Center, at 17281 On Par themed concert will feature the music of New Orleans, from Louis Armstrong and

Jelly Roll Morton, to Benny Goodman and more. The New Orleans-based Saturn Quartet is comprised of members of the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra Tickets are $25 For more information or tickets, visit https://www tribbyartscenter com/ or call 239-415-5667

SHELL POINT RETIREMENT COMMUNITY

REFUGE/DDWS

The winning cartoons are on display in the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge's Visitor & Education Center on Sanibel.