Ricotta With Balsamic Berries Food

BALSAMIC STRAWBERRY RICOTTA CROSTINI

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• For the balsamic strawberries. In medium bowl, gently toss the strawberries with sugar, balsamic vinegar, and black pepper. Set aside for 20 minutes.
• Toast the bread. In the meantime, slice the baguette into ½ inch pieces and brush olive oil over the top of each slice.
• Place the bread in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake for 4-6 minutes (at 425 degrees F), until the bread is golden-brown and crispy. Check frequently to make sure the bread does not burn.
• Assemble the crostini. Spread the ricotta onto each piece of bread (divide evenly among the bread pieces) before topping with the balsamic strawberry slices. Drizzle a light amount of balsamic syrup (leftover from the bowl) on top of the crostini.
• Finish by topping with lemon zest and fresh mint if you like. Best served immediately.

FRESH BERRIES & SWEET RICOTTA

Steps:

• Place the Homemade Ricotta in a medium bowl and stir in the sugar, honey, and vanilla. Set aside at room temperature for up to 2 hours. In another bowl, combine the strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries.
• When ready to serve, divide the berries among 6 bowls. With an ice cream scoop, place a large dollop of the ricotta in each bowl and drizzle with lots of the Fresh Raspberry Sauce. Sprinkle with the lemon zest and serve.
• Set a fine-mesh sieve over a deep bowl. Dampen 2 pieces of cheesecloth with water and line the sieve with a double layer of the cheesecloth.
• Pour the milk and cream into a medium stainless-steel or enameled pot, such as Le Creuset, and stir in the salt. Bring to a full rolling boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Turn off the heat and pour in the vinegar. Allow the mixture to stand for one minute, until it curdles. It will separate into thick parts (the curds) and milky parts (the whey).
• Pour the mixture into the cheesecloth-lined sieve and allow it to drain into the bowl at room temperature for 20 minutes (for soft ricotta) to 25 minutes (for firmer ricotta), occasionally discarding the liquid that collects in the bowl. Transfer the ricotta to a bowl, discarding the cheesecloth and any remaining liquid. Use immediately or cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate.
• The ricotta will keep, refrigerated, for 4 to 5 days.
• Place the raspberries, sugar, and 1/4 cup water in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil, lower the heat, and simmer for 4 minutes. Pour the cooked raspberries, the jam, and the framboise into the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade and process until smooth. Pour into a container and chill. The sauce can be refrigerated for up to one week.

BALSAMIC STRAWBERRIES WITH RICOTTA CREAM

Steps:

• Put the ricotta cheese, honey and vanilla extract into the small bowl of a food processor and process until smooth, about 1 minute. Transfer to a small bowl and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
• In a small saucepan combine the vinegar and sugar and bring to a boil. Simmer over medium heat for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Allow to cool completely.
• In a medium bowl, toss the berries with the basil and the balsamic syrup.
• Divide the cream among 4 cocktail glasses, top with the berry mixture and serve.
• Excellent source of: Vitamin C, Manganese
• Good source of: Protein, Vitamin K, Calcium, Phosphorus, Selenium

DESSERT CROSTINO OF FRESH RICOTTA, STRAWBERRIES AND AGED BALSAMIC VINEGAR

Steps:

• Chop the strawberries into 1/4-inch dice and add them to a glass or ceramic bowl. Add sugar, balsamic vinegar and torn basil leaves. Gently toss to combine and set aside to macerate for 15 to 20 minutes.
• Lightly brush the toasted crostini slices with the macerating liquid to sweeten. Spread 1 tablespoon of ricotta on each toast and then top with 1 tablespoon of macerated strawberries. Drizzle each crostini with remaining liquid and sprinkle with just a pinch of fresh ground black pepper.
• Serve immediately.

RICOTTA PANNA COTTA WITH BASIL BALSAMIC STRAWBERRIES

Steps:

• Panna Cotta: In a small bowl, soften the gelatin in cold water. Combine 1 cup of the cream, icing sugar and vanilla bean in a small pot. Bring to a boil and remove from the heat. Add the gelatin and stir to dissolve. Remove the vanilla bean and scrape the seeds into the cream.
• Stir the remaining cream and ricotta. Pour into 8 5 - oz ramekins. Chill for at least 2 hours or up to overnight. Dip each ramekin into hot water, loosen with a knife and turn out onto individual plates.
• Basil Balsamic Strawberries: Hull and cut the strawberries into quarters. Toss with the remaining ingredients.