Ricotta Gnocchi with Braised Radishes

Light and delicate Ricotta Gnocchi, tossed with Braised Radishes are a quick and perfect June dinner.

Leek Scapes

Leek scapes, the flower stalks produced by leek plants in June, are a once-a-year treat.  Resembling asparagus in flavor, they are versatile and delicious.  Here are three ideas for cooking with scapes, plus a recipe for braised veal.

Blueberry-Ricotta Pancakes

These are the ultimate Blueberry-Ricotta pancakes:  lots of blueberries and fresh ricotta cheese for body and moisture, brown sugar and organic cornmeal for character, and buttermilk for lightness.  

 These are my favorite pancakes ever.

Ricotta Cheesecake Brownies

These brownies are enriched with fresh ricotta cheese, both in the chocolate base and the cheesecake topping.  Just the thing for dessert after a June dinner.

Ricotta Double-Dutch Chocolate Foam Cake

This is an iconic cake, not just a chocolate cake.  Fresh ricotta and swirls of double dutch cocoa bring angel food down to Earth, producing a unique  hybrid.  Fiori di Sicilia gives a subtle orange lilt to the rich chocolate flavor, making this one unforgettable cake.  Dusted with powdered sugar, it stands on its own as a very special dessert.  It also has enough integrity and substance to serve as a delicious platform for ice cream, mousse, or pastry cream and fresh fruit. 

Ricotta Torta Rustica

Torta Rustica is a traditional savory Ricotta pie, in a bread or cornmeal crust.  I like to make it, because it goes together quickly, and uses ingredients that I usually have around.  One thing I definitely have around is Ricotta, because it's a byproduct of cheesemaking, and I just made a 9-gallon Gruyere.

Ricotta Tart with Toasted Almonds, Ginger, and Caramelized Pears

This is a ricotta tart with toasted almonds, crystallized ginger and caramelized pears, in an almond cookie crust.  It is very light and tender.   The tart can be made from ordinary ricotta, but it's also a great way to use homemade ricotta* or ricotta which is left over from cheesemaking.