Herb Green Ricotta Pate With Sweet Pepper Sauce Food

GREENS WITH SPICED BUTTER AND FRESH RICOTTA

Steps:

• First, make the ricotta cheese: Line a sieve with two layers of cheesecloth. Combine the milk and 1 teaspoon of the salt in a 3-quart or larger saucepan over medium-high heat. Watching the pot, bring the milk to a gentle simmer at the edges, and then whisk in the vinegar. The milk will separate into white curds and yellowish whey. Let it sit 10 minutes to allow the curds to gather together, then gently pour the curds through the cheesecloth-lined sieve, saving the whey for another purpose (such as stock for soup making). Drain the curds until you have creamy curds, and set aside.
• For the spiced butter, combine the butter, black peppercorns, cumin, cloves, bay leaves, ginger root slices and cinnamon in a small saute pan over medium heat and cook until the butter browns at the edges, about 3 minutes. Let the butter steep until just warm to the touch. Pour the contents of the pan through a fine-mesh sieve, pressing on the solids to remove all of the butter. Discard the spices and ginger.
• Heat a 12-inch or larger skillet over high heat. When hot, add the spiced butter (holding back the brown deposits at the bottom of the bowl), minced ginger, collard greens, the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and the ground pepper, stirring to coat the greens with the butter. Cook over high heat, stirring often, until tender, about 3 minutes. Add the brown butter bits at the bottom of the bowl, and stir to combine. Transfer the greens to a shallow platter, garnish with dollops of fresh ricotta and serve immediately

HERBED CREPES WITH RICOTTA, GREEN BELL PEPPER, AND SPRING TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• In a skillet cook the bell pepper in the oil over moderately low heat, stirring, until it is softened, add the garlic, and cook the mixture, stirring, for 1 minute. In a bowl stir together the bell pepper mixture, the ricotta, and 1/3 cup of the Parmesan with salt and pepper to taste and let the filling cool.
• Make 12 crêpes (procedure follows) with the herbed crêpe batter. Spread about 2 tablespoons of the filling on each crêpe up jelly-roll fashion. Arrange the crêpes, seam sides down, in a buttered shallow baking dish just large enough to hold them in one layer, brush them lightly with the butter, and sprinkle them with the remaining Parmesan. Bake the crêpes in the middle of a preheated 400°F. oven for 20 minutes and serve them with the sauce.
• To make crêpe batter:
• In a blender or food processor blend the flour, the broth, the eggs, the butter, and the salt for 5 seconds. Turn off the motor, with a rubber spatula scrape down the sides of the container, and blend the batter for 20 seconds more. Transfer the batter to a bowl, stir in the herbs, and let the batter stand, covered, for 1 hour. The batter may be made 1 day in advance and kept covered and chilled. Makes enough batter for about 16 crêpes.
• To make Crêpes
• Heat a crepe pan or non-stick skillet measuring 6 to 7 inches across the bottom over moderate heat until it is hot. Brush the pan lightly with the butter, heat it until it is hot but not smoking, and remove it from the heat. Stir the batter, half fill a 1/4-cup measure with it, and pour the batter into the pan. Tilt and rotate the pan quickly to cover the bottom with a layer of batter and return any excess batter to bowl. Return the pan to the heat, loosen the edge of the crêpe with a spatula, and cook the crêpe for 1 minute, or until the top appears almost dry. Turn the crêpe, cook the other side lightly, and transfer the crêpe to a plate. Make crêpe with the remaining batter in the same manner, brushing the pan lightly with butter as necessary. The crêpes may be made 3 days in advance, kept stacked, wrapped in plastic wrap, and chilled.
• To make the tomato sauce: Force the canned tomatoes with the juice through a food mill into a saucepan. Stir in the salt, the sugar, the tomato paste, the basil, and the cayenne, bring the mixture to a boil, and simmer it, stirring, for 20 minutes. Add the fresh tomatoes and cook the mixture for 5 minutes. Serve the sauce warm. Makes about 1 1/4 cups.

CREAMY PASTA WITH RICOTTA AND HERBS

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until al dente, according to package instructions. Reserve 2 cups pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta.
• In the same pot, make the sauce: Add ricotta, Parmesan, olive oil, pepper and a large pinch or two of salt, and stir until well combined.
• Add 1 cup pasta water to the sauce and stir until smooth. Add the pasta and herbs, and continue to stir vigorously until the noodles are well coated. Add more pasta water as needed for a smooth, soupy sauce. Taste and add more salt if needed.
• To serve, spoon the pasta into bowls and finish with more Parmesan, olive oil and pepper.

HERBED CREPES WITH RICOTTA, GREEN PEPPERS AND TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• Making the Crêpe Filling: Add the oil to a pan, over a medium heat, and when it is hot, reduce the heat to medium-low and cook the bell pepper, stirring, until it is softened, add the garlic, and cook the mixture, stirring, for 1 minute. In a bowl stir together the bell pepper mixture, the ricotta, and 1/3 cup of the Parmesan with salt and pepper to taste and let the filling cool.
• Making the Crêpe Batter: In a blender or food processor, blend the flour, the broth, the eggs, the butter, and the salt for 5 seconds. Turn off the motor, with a rubber spatula scrape down the sides of the container, and blend the batter for 20 seconds more. Transfer the batter to a bowl, stir in the herbs, and let the batter stand, covered, for 1 hour. The batter may be made 1 day in advance and kept covered and chilled. This makes enough batter for about 12 crêpes.
• Making the Herbed Crêpes: Heat a crepe pan or non-stick skillet measuring 6" to 7" across the bottom over moderate heat until it is hot. Brush the pan lightly with the butter, heat it until it is hot but not smoking, and remove it from the heat. Stir the batter, half fill a 1/4-cup measure with it, and pour the batter into the pan. Tilt and rotate the pan quickly to cover the bottom with a layer of batter and return any excess batter to the bowl. Return the pan to the heat, loosen the edge of the crêpe with a spatula, and cook the crêpe for 1 minute, or until the top appears almost dry. Turn the crêpe, cook the other side lightly, and transfer the crêpe to a plate. Make the rest of the crêpes with the remaining batter in the same manner, brushing the pan lightly with butter as necessary. The crêpes may be made 3 days in advance, kept stacked with a sheet of greaseproof paper between each crêpe, wrapped in plastic wrap, and chilled.
• Assembling the Crêpes: Spread about 2 tablespoons of the filling on each crêpe and roll up jelly-roll fashion. Arrange the crêpes, seam sides down, in a buttered shallow baking dish just large enough to hold them in one layer, brush them lightly with the butter, and sprinkle them with the remaining Parmesan. Bake the crêpes in the middle of a preheated 400°F oven for 20 minutes and serve them with the sauce.
• Making the Tomato Sauce: Roughly chop the canned tomatoes in the can with the edge of a spoon, then add them with the juice to a pan, stir in the salt, the sugar, the tomato paste, the basil, and the cayenne, bring the mixture to a boil, and simmer it, stirring, for 20 minutes. Add the fresh tomatoes and cook the mixture for 5 minutes. Serve the sauce warm. Makes about 1 1/4 cups.
• Notes: If you want this to be a vegetarian dish, use vegetable broth. For variation, or if you prefer, use spinach in place of the green pepper. If you like your food spicy, add half a fresh jalapeno pepper to the tomato sauce.

PASTA WITH HERBED RICOTTA, TOMATOES AND SPINACH

Steps:

• Blanch the rinsed spinach leaves in a large pot of well-salted boiling water until limp, about 1 minute. Drain the spinach and cool completely under cold running water. Pat dry and chop.
• Put the ricotta cheese in a large bowl and beat with a fork until smooth. Stir in the spinach, scallions, basil, tomatoes, parsley and olive oil. Add salt and pepper to taste.
• Cook the penne until tender in well-salted boiling water. Drain, toss with the ricotta mixture, garnish with the pine nuts and serve immediately.