{"id":14251,"date":"2013-08-23T01:00:37","date_gmt":"2013-08-23T06:00:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/?p=14251"},"modified":"2013-08-22T21:50:11","modified_gmt":"2013-08-23T02:50:11","slug":"homemade-ricotta","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/wordpress\/2013\/08\/23\/homemade-ricotta\/","title":{"rendered":"Homemade Ricotta"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Homemade<\/a><\/p>\n

When I was in high school, 25 years ago, I thought the funniest movies in the world were Monty Python movies. \u00a0Yes, I was one of those nerds who could rattle off quotes from all the movies (in the intervening years, my skills have gotten rusty, but I still have a few). \u00a0One of my favorite scenes in the movie “The Life of Brian” was when a group of people are listening to the Sermon on the Mount. \u00a0Unfortunately, they are way, way at the back of the crowd and can’t hear well. When Jesus says, “Blessed are the peacemakers,” the crowd in back misinterpret it as “Blessed are the cheese makers.” \u00a0So when I came across this recipe for Homemade Ricotta<\/strong>, I immediately started giggling. \u00a0I want to be a blessed cheese maker, and you can be too!<\/p>\n

You already have the ingredients you need. \u00a0Use whole milk, or else the ricotta won’t set up. \u00a0One lemon, a little salt, and a tablespoon of white vinegar – what could be easier? \u00a0You’ll also need a thermometer. \u00a0I have a candy thermometer that clips to the side of the pan, but you could use a meat thermometer, or one of those fancy infrared ones too! \u00a0The only equipment you might need to buy is cheesecloth. \u00a0I found it at my regular grocery store, and have used it before in making Homemade Coconut Milk<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Ricotta is one of those amazing ingredients that can be used in either sweet or savory recipes. \u00a0In the following two weeks, I’ll have recipes that use fresh ricotta in a zucchini “lasagna” (with no noodles!), and in a dessert with fresh summer fruit. \u00a0Until then, you can serve fresh ricotta as an appetizer, spread on thin slices of bread, with either cracked pepper and minced herbs, or with a light drizzle of honey and crushed walnuts. \u00a0Ready? \u00a0Let’s make some cheese!<\/p>\n

Homemade Ricotta\u00a0 <\/strong>(Makes one cup of ricotta)<\/p>\n

Ingredients:<\/p>\n