Home Made Ricotta Cheese

4 cups whole milk
2 cups heavy cream
1 t salt
3 T good white vinegar




Directions
Set a large sieve over a deep bowl. Dampen 2 layers of cheesecloth with water and line the sieve with the cheesecloth.

Pour the milk and cream into a stainless-steel or enameled pot such as Le Creuset. Stir in the salt. Bring to a full boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Turn off the heat and stir in the vinegar. Allow the mixture to stand for 1 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 to 25 minutes, occasionally discarding the liquid that collects in the bowl. The longer you let the mixture drain, the thicker the ricotta. (I tend to like mine on the thicker side, but some prefer it moister.) Transfer the ricotta to a bowl, discarding the cheesecloth and any remaining whey. Use immediately or cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate. The ricotta will keep refrigerated for 4 to 5 days.

Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/homemade-ricotta-recipe.html?oc=linkback

By Igna food network channel

Stuffed Cherry Pepper

put following in a food processor

hard provolone or parmesan cheese
prociotto from deli
salt and pepper
little bit of olive oil

stuff in pepper and bake 350 until hot

Swirl Sugar Cookies

3 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 sticks soften butter
1/1/2 cups white sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla

bake 350 for 8 minutes

to make pinwheel swirl do the following

color half of the dough blue green or red

wrap up both doughs and refridgerate about 1 hour or even freeze

roll out dough on heavily floured surface and flour the dough heavily

lay out one roll over the other, can use water to wet bottom later so it sticks as you place top later

then cut the dough into a rectangle shape cutting off the uneven edges

roll the dough into a log and cover with round sprinkles

freeze or refridgerate until hard

cut into slices using floss, a knife will squish the dough

enjoy after baking with some yummy eggnog