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Fluffy Ricotta Pancakes
A stack of fluffy pancakes with custard-like flavor needs nothing more than butter and pure maple syrup, though I have speckled these with sweet blueberries on occasion. With just the right amount of ricotta, they cook up tender and soft on the inside. Vanilla rather than more traditional lemon in this ricotta pancake recipe keeps them on the custardy side. For the most round, perfectly golden pancakes, I prefer to cook these one at a time in a skillet, though a griddle can be used for making multiple. Once you get a good feel for scooping the batter, flipping, and making these golden pancakes, repeat using the same rhythm until…
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Gold Summer Salad with Grilled Squash, Corn, Roasted Peppers, and Tomatoes
This may be the most cheerful salad my table has seen all summer. With golden shades of the season’s vegetables, it features roasted peppers, tiny sweet tomatoes, and grilled squash and corn. Dressed with vinaigrette and served with herbed ricotta, it’s bright in flavor and beautiful to serve. While the vegetables are monochromatic, their textures and flavors are anything but similar. Even the squash and corn, both cooked on a grill or in a grill pan, respond differently to the same application of heat. Where the squash softens, the corn becomes crisp-tender. The yellow peppers are roasted until their skins char and are removed before being sliced into ribbony pieces.…
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Ruby Pasta
Rich, ruby-toned pasta works with the strengths of the red beet, which likes to stain everything it touches. If you’ve ever cooked with beets and lamented the marks they left on your wood cutting board, fingers, and possibly apron, this is your opportunity to let their ruby red juices work to your advantage. In fact, all elements of this recipe work with the essential qualities of the subtly sweet, earthy beet. To play up those sweet qualities and brighten them, I opted to add crushed fennel seed and marjoram, a delicate aromatic herb that is best introduced toward the end of cooking. Citrus also works well to brighten up the…
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Baked Salami with Whipped Ricotta
Whether served with the antipasto course or in a sandwich, salami steals the show with a rich flavor that comes from garlic, wine, and spices. On the other end of the spectrum is ricotta, the creamy, mild cheese that plays well with others, finding its way into dips, pasta dishes, and even pancakes. Since I love both, I enjoy making this recipe as a way to highlight the contrasts of two Italian favorites. When baked, the flavor of salami becomes even more robust. Hardening as it cools, it forms the perfect shell for whipped ricotta and a topping of freshly cracked black pepper. Lightly flavored even with the addition of…
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