A few loose ends came together that resulted in these soft summer berry ricotta squares.
I had half a kilo of languishing ricotta cheese in my fridge, which I had bought to make these savory zucchini corn and bacon crepes, or some stuffed jumbo sea shell pasta. Or maybe this lemon polenta cake. Who knows. It’s the third time I find myself buying ricotta and not using it in the last few months, so it’s accurate to say I don’t know either.
Then there is the issue of the freezer. The black hole that sucks anything and everything I make. To use later of course. I don’t throw away good food, I freeze it. Then I throw half of it away on a later date. But since it’s not freshly made and have lost any perkiness it once had, it doesn’t bother me much.
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But summer berries are a different story. I took the time last summer to individually freeze and then bag sweet fresh raspberries, blackberries and pitted cherries. For now, a cold, windy and crisp day like today, a day before the official start of winter, and my birthday.
Yep, today is my birthday. A pile of years have managed to creep surreptitiously and taken the count to 45.
And since celebrating my birthday is something I enjoy a lot, today I’m spending it at a friend’s house, the one I mentioned in the chocolate chip cookie ice cream post. I went back and forth with what to do, how many friends to invite, a dinner, a brunch, a piyama party… too old huh?
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In the end my friend and her sister both offered their houses, since I´m still feeling a bit like I’m living in a battlefield after the flood two and a half months ago. I am not, but I don’t feel my house is all nice and shiny to have a celebration the way I like to do it. So me and my girlfriends, a small close group, are heading over to Maria’s house and having a brunch there. Isn’t she a great
friend? Aren’t good friends one of the main pillars in life?
friend? Aren’t good friends one of the main pillars in life?
As you read this we’re enjoying the holiday, since it’s flag day (and my birthday of course!), drinking coffee, eating sun dried tomato pesto tartines, fosforitos (glazed puff pastry filled with ham and cheese), boozy fudgy hazelnut brownies, summer berry ricotta squares, a few mimosas maybe…
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These creamy and dense squares are a must if you’re the least bit into sweet ricotta.
They have no crust but are similar to a ricotta pie, something very common in these latitudes. The berries are a tangy surprise, perfect to cut through the all that soft and monochromatic batter.
They have no crust but are similar to a ricotta pie, something very common in these latitudes. The berries are a tangy surprise, perfect to cut through the all that soft and monochromatic batter.
But I had to spend the day with all of you too, readers and friends of this little blog.
Life without it would not be the same, and without you it wouldn’t make sense.
So cheers to all of you and a big thank you from the bottom of my soul for taking even a second to drop by whenever you can.
Life without it would not be the same, and without you it wouldn’t make sense.
So cheers to all of you and a big thank you from the bottom of my soul for taking even a second to drop by whenever you can.
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This is the link to the recipe, it can be found at Banana & Chocolate. My only change was using frozen blackberries and raspberries on top.
Today’s 10 (double because it’s a birthday!) related recipes worth looking at:
Zabaglione: Italian Custard with Blackberries from Magnolia Days (one of my favorite desserts ever!)
Berries and Buttermilk Puddings from Parsley Sage and Sweet
Baked Ricotta with Lemon and Garlic from The Kitchn
Berries on a Cloud from Mel´s Kitchen Cafe
Spinach Almond and Berries Salad from That Skinny Chick can Bake (the reigning Berry Queen!)
Cherry Ricotta Tart from Pink Pattiserie
Blackberry Pie with Brandied Cream from Webicurean
Roasted Berries with Coconut and Lime from The Wimpy Vegetarian
Raspberry Ricotta Chocolate Cake from Playful Cooking
Homemade Ricotta Gnocchi with Vegetables from Hip Foodie Mom
Alanna says
June 20, 2013 at 06:52Oh, this looks absolutely exquisite! I love anything with ricotta… and berries. And a giant "happy birthday" to you!
Medeja says
June 20, 2013 at 08:08Awesome! I don't have left over ricotta, but I have frozen berries that I need to use before holidays 🙂 thanks for this recipe
Angie Schneider says
June 20, 2013 at 09:40We are fans of summer berries. These squares look so lovely!
Renee says
June 20, 2013 at 12:20A very happy birthday to you Paula! What a great idea you had to freeze fresh berries to enjoy later.
Thanks a bunch for the kind shoutout of my zabaglione too.
Helene Dsouza says
June 20, 2013 at 12:33Awww Paula you are so sweet. The blog world wouldn't be the same without you!
Happy happy birthday and I wish you good health and a good life!
Enjoy the celebrations and I wish I could have summer berries now or even better your ricotta squares!
wp_vknotes_admin says
June 22, 2013 at 11:02Thanks Helene!
Sunithi Selvaraj, RD says
June 20, 2013 at 15:53These look and sound so good ! Love the combo and can imagine how creamy it must taste. I am making this ! Grabbed the recipe off the other blog !
Spicie Foodie says
June 20, 2013 at 15:53I can never get enough of summer berries. Your squares look so moist and well, my mouth is watering right now. Thanks for sharing!:)
Sunithi Selvaraj, RD says
June 20, 2013 at 15:54These look so good !!! I love ricotta and this looks like such a great recipe. Grabbed the recipe off the other blog and making it soon ! Yours looks beautiful !
Abbe Odenwalder says
June 20, 2013 at 15:56Happy Birthday Paula! And this looks over the top but I'll have a brownie, please. And thank you!
Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom says
June 20, 2013 at 16:43Paula!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU MY FRIEND!!!! I hope your day is filled with great memories, good food and great company. . which, it sounds like you already have planned! 🙂
LOVE these Summer Berry Ricotta Squares!!!!!!! Ricotta with berries or fruit. . delicious! Can't wait to try this one!
Don't let these end up in the freezer. . you'd better eat them all! 😛
HAPPY BIRTHDAY. Love you, my blogging sister!
wp_vknotes_admin says
June 22, 2013 at 11:04My great friend, thanks so much for your friendship!
Anne ~ Uni Homemaker says
June 20, 2013 at 16:52Oh YUM! LOVE berries and ricotta. This is my kind of squares! Looks delicious Paula! 🙂
Natalie G says
June 20, 2013 at 17:45Great recipe! Love baking with berries in the summer.
Arthur in the Garden! says
June 20, 2013 at 18:30Oh! Yummy!
Rosie says
June 20, 2013 at 18:32Happy birthday! Hope you have the best day 🙂 I love ricotta and summer berries together, your squares look absolutely delicious. These + the mimosas, boozy brownies etc. sound like the perfect way to spend the day!
~~louise~~ says
June 20, 2013 at 20:20Happy Birthday, Paula! So funny, mine is on Saturday. June sure is a GREAT month for celebrations AND this amazing recipe!
Thank you so much for sharing…
wp_vknotes_admin says
June 22, 2013 at 11:10Thanks Louise and happy birthday back (I´m writing this on saturday!)
Guru Uru says
June 20, 2013 at 20:30Happy happy birthday my friend 😀
These bars look utterly exquisite!!!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
The Ninja Baker says
June 20, 2013 at 22:55Happy Birthday, Paula! Hope you got the e-card I sent =)
These summer berry squares are perfect for a slumber party! I know you are doing a sophisticated brunch…I'm just saying =)
BTW Very much relate to the idea of preserving food in the freezer and then ending up throwing it away anyway.
P.s. Ditto to Helene's comment that the food blogosphere would not be the same without you. Hugs!
unionjgirl says
June 21, 2013 at 00:46Happy birthday! These look so yummy, maybe I need some un-birthday squares…
lemongrovecakediaries says
June 21, 2013 at 08:21I am like you I can't stand to throw out food either so every now and then I have to clean out my freezer to make room 🙂 Happy Birthday! BTW you are never too old for a pyjama party 🙂
Steph says
June 21, 2013 at 12:09HAPPY BIRTHDAY! {I'm 3 days after you} These look incredible and I'd LOVE to take a bite outta them