Sweeten Ricotta Cheese

Ricotta can be used in pasta dishes or pizza, as well as desserts.

Ricotta cheese is often compared to cottage cheese. It is In fact a by-product of cheese-making, as it is made from whey that has separated from the curd. Ricotta, Italian for "recooked," can be an ingredient of cheesecakes, puddings and other desserts, as well as salads and pasta dishes. It may be made from the milk of cows, goats, sheep or even water buffalo. Some cooks prefer to make their own ricotta by cooking whole milk with vinegar or citric acid.

Instructions

1. Put the ricotta in a mixing bowl.

2. Add sweetener to taste. You might want to start with 1 part sweetener to 12 parts ricotta. For example, to 12 oz. ricotta, you would add 1 oz. (2 tbsp.) of raw, granulated or confectioners' sugar. Mix until combined. Taste the mixture and add more sweetener if you prefer.

3. Add flavoring such as vanilla or almond extract if you like. Spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg or cloves, and flavorings such as lemon or orange zest can be delightful additions to sweetened ricotta.

4. Spoon over desserts or berries, use as a spread or eat as is.

Tags: made from, pasta dishes