Ricotta is a creamy white, mild, fresh cheese with a soft texture and a slightly sweet flavor. Traditional Italian cheese-makers originally produced Ricotta from whey left behind in the making of Mozzarella and Provolone (Ricotta translates to “re-cooked”).  Ricotta is made by pasteurizing whole and non-fat milk before we add  vinegar and a touch of salt to form the curd. Good Ricotta is firm but not solid, and consists of a mass of fine, moist, delicate granules. Ounce for ounce, Ricotta has five times more calcium than the cottage cheese it closely resembles. Ricotta is like a fine-textured cottage cheese and can be eaten as is with a little salt, pepper and fresh herbs, although it is more commonly used in Italian pasta dishes and desserts. It is delicious in salads, dips, or with  melon. Ricotta is a favorite in Lasagne, Cannelloni, Manicotti, and in all filled pastas such as Ravioli and Tortellini. As a dessert cheese, Ricotta works well with honey, flavoring, fruit, or chocolate as in Cannoli, and makes an excellent low-fat addition to cheesecake recipes. Excellent accompaniments for Ricotta include berries, tangerines, melon, bagels, sweet rolls, and crusty bread.