Sicily
Preparation - Day ahead
Makes 2 cups

Our ricotta, from the boiled whey of sheep's milk, has a tangier flavor and less homogeneous texture than the cow's milk ricotta found elsewhere.

Sheep's milk ricotta is sometimes available your local supermarket or in specialty stores If you want to approximate the tangy flavor, gradually mix a tiny bit of ricotta salata, a white, briefly cured sheep's milk cheese available in specialty food stores, into the drained ricotta, tasting as you go.

Traditionally, ricotta cream has zaccata, or squash preserve, and tiny bits of chocolate in it. You can substitute candied citron for zuccata. You need to start the ricotta cream the day before you want to use it.

• 2 cups (1 lb) sheep's milk or whole cow's milk ricotta
• 1/2 cup confectioners' (superfine) sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup miniature chocolate chips

LINE a strainer with a piece of rinsed cheesecloth and spoon the ricotta into it or dump the ricotta directly into a fine-mesh plastic strainer. Set the strainer over a bowl, cover; and let drain in the refrigerator for several hours or overnight.

PASS the ricotta through a food mill or beat it with an electric mixer to lighten it. Add the sugar and salt and continue beating until light and fluffy. Stir in the chocolate chips. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.

From:
THE FLAVORS OF SICILY
Anna Tasca Lanza
Potter