Homemade Ricotta and Herbed Ricotta Bruschetta

This is a great and simple recipe by Ina Garten. Make it and you will blow your friends' minds! I mean, who makes cheese from scratch? YOU DO! Use the ricotta in your own lasagna recipe, or in Ina's delicious herbed ricotta bruchetta recipe I included below. I made the bruchetta and loved it. It tastes like Spring, fresh and light. I hope you try it out!

Homemade Ricotta
total cook time (including inactive prep): 35 min, Yields about 2 cups

Ingredients
- 4 cups whole milk
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 3 tablespoons good white wine vinegar



Directions
Set a large sieve over a deep bowl or your sink. 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. 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 your bowl/sink 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.

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.

Herbed Ricotta Bruschetta

Ingredients
- 2 cups ricotta, store-bought or homemade (recipe above)
- 3 tablespoons minced scallions, white and green parts (2 scallions)
- 2 tablespoons minced fresh dill
- 1 tablespoon minced fresh chives
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1 round sourdough bread
- Good olive oil
- 1 whole garlic clove, cut in half

Directions
Prepare a charcoal grill with hot coals or turn a gas grill to medium-high heat (or, preheat your broiler.)
Combine the ricotta, scallions, dill, chives, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and set aside. Cut the bread in half and cut each half into 6 thick slices to make 12 slices total.
When the grill is hot, brush the bread with olive oil and grill on each side for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes, until lightly browned. Remove from the grill and rub each slice of bread with the cut side of the garlic clove. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and spread with the herbed ricotta. Serve 2 warm slices per person.