Lucy Ferignos Ricotta Puffs Recipes

LEMON-SCENTED RICOTTA AND MASCARPONE CREAM PUFFS

Steps:

• Bring milk, butter, 1 tablespoon sugar, and salt to boil in heavy medium saucepan over medium heat, stirring until butter melts. Add flour; stir until batter is smooth and forms ball, about 1 minute. Remove from heat and whisk in eggs, 1 at a time.
• Add enough oil to heavy large saucepan to reach depth of 2 inches. Attach deep-fry thermometer to side of pan and heat oil to 350°F. Working in batches, drop 1 tablespoon batter into oil for each cream puff. Fry until golden brown and puffed, about 5 minutes per batch. Using slotted spoon, transfer cream puffs to paper towels to drain. (Can be made 6 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature.)
• Blend ricotta cheese, mascarpone cheese, 1/4 cup powdered sugar, and lemon peel in medium bowl for filling. Cut cream puffs in half horizontally. Spoon 1 rounded teaspoon filling into bottoms; cover with tops. Arrange on platter. Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup powdered sugar.

RICOTTA PUFFS

Steps:

• 1. Combine all ingredients except for the vegetable oil.
• 2. Heat oil in a pot or deep fryer over medium heat.
• 3. Drop dough by teaspoonfuls into hot oil. Flip after 1 to 2 minutes. When edges are brown flip over to brown other side for another minute.
• 4. Remove with a slotted spoon and place on a plate covered with paper towels to drain.
• 5. Sprinkle on powdered sugar if desired.

LUCY FERIGNO'S RICOTTA PUFFS

Steps:

• Place ricotta in a fine-mesh sieve and drain thoroughly, for approximately one hour.
• In a large bowl, beat together eggs, ricotta, sugar and liqueur. Beat for approximately 5 minutes or until mixture is smooth and thick.
• Sift together flour, baking powder and salt. Fold flour into eggs and cheese. Mix well. Set aside, refrigerated, to rest for about an hour.
• Over medium high heat bring oil to frying temperature. Test by tossing in a cube of white bread - if it sizzles and browns quickly, oil is ready.
• Drop egg-cheese mixture by tablespoons full into hot oil. Turn once to brown both sides. When they are puffed up and well browned, remove and drain on absorbent paper.
• When drained and cool, sprinkle puffs with powdered sugar.

LUCY FERIGNO'S RICOTTA CAKE

Steps:

• Place ricotta in a fine-mesh sieve and set aside to drain for approximately one hour.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• In a large bowl, mix together drained ricotta, salt, flour, sugar, egg yolks and orange rind. Beat well for approximately five minutes until mixture is thick. Add candied peel and mix well with a wooden spoon to distribute pieces throughout mixture.
• In a separate bowl, beat egg whites until stiff. Fold gently but thoroughly into egg yolk mixture.
• Butter and flour a deep, round, springform cake pan, 8 1/2 to 9 inches in diameter. Pour batter into pan - it should not be more than half full. Place in oven and bake for 40 to 45 minutes, or until middle is firm to the touch and cake is lightly golden brown on top.
• Remove from oven and set aside to cool. As the cake cools, it will shrink somewhat. When cool, remove sides of pan and gently transfer cake to a serving dish. Sift confectioner's sugar and cinnamon, mixed together, over the top.

TRADITIONAL ST. JOSEPH'S RICOTTA CREAM PUFFS

Steps:

• Spoon the ricotta into a large, fine-mesh sieve or a colander lined with a double thickness of cheesecloth or basket-type coffee filter. Set the sieve over a bowl, and cover the ricotta well with plastic wrap. Drain in the refrigerator at least overnight, or up to 24 hours. Discard the liquid in the bottom of the bowl.
• Process the drained ricotta and 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar in the work bowl of a food processor fitted with the metal blade until creamy. Pour in the Grand Marnier and process until incorporated. Scrape the ricotta mixture into a bowl and stir in the candied fruits and chocolate chips. Store in the refrigerator, covered, until needed, up to 2 days.
• Bring the water, butter, granulated sugar, and salt to a boil in a large, heavy saucepan. Add the flour all at once, and beat vigorously with a wooden spoon over medium heat until the dough leaves the sides of the pan and forms a ball around the spoon. Remove from heat, and quickly beat in one egg at a time, beating until the batter is smooth after each addition. Add the orange and lemon zest, and continue beating until mixture is smooth and glossy.
• Heat the vegetable oil in a heavy 3-quart pot until a deep-frying thermometer registers 350° F. Carefully drop rounded tablespoonfuls of the batter into the oil, about six at a time. (There should be enough room in the pot for the zeppole to float freely.) Fry, turning the zeppole as necessary, until golden brown on all sides, about 6 minutes. Adjust the heat under the pot to maintain the temperature of the oil as the zeppole fry. Remove with a skimmer and drain on paper towels. Repeat with the remaining batter, allowing the oil to return to 350° F before continuing, if necessary.
• Preheat the oven to 425° F. Drop the batter by rounded tablespoonfuls onto a lightly greased or nonstick baking pan. Bake until evenly and lightly golden brown, about 20 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 350° F, and continue baking until medium golden brown and a zeppola feels very light when picked up from the baking sheet, about 15 minutes.Transfer to a rack and cool completely.
• Cut the zeppole in half, leaving them attached on one side. Spoon the filling into the zeppole, dividing evenly. Dust the tops of the zeppole with confectioners' sugar and serve at room temperature or, if you prefer, chilled.

BAKED BERRY RICOTTA PUFFS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350. Lightly grease 4 ramekins.
• In a large bowl, place ricotta cheese. Using a wooden spoon, break up ricotta.
• Add beaten egg whites and honey and mix until smooth and well combined.
• Spoon ricotta mixture into prepared ramekins and level tops. Bake for 20 minutes or until ricotta puffs are golden.
• Meanwhile, in a small saucepan over low heat, warm fruit, adding a little water if fruit is fresh, until softened. Let cool slightly.
• Serve sauce warm or cool with puffs.

RICOTTA PUFFS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°. On a lightly floured surface, unfold puff pastry. Cut each sheet into nine squares. Mix ricotta cheese, red peppers, 2 tablespoons Romano cheese, parsley, oregano and pepper., Brush pastry edges with milk; place 2 rounded teaspoonfuls of cheese mixture in center of each square. Fold edges of pastry over filling, forming a rectangle; seal edges with a fork. Cut slits in pastry; brush with milk. Sprinkle with remaining Romano cheese., Place 2 in. apart on lightly greased baking sheets. Bake until golden brown, 15-20 minutes. Remove to wire racks. Serve warm. Refrigerate leftovers.