New Year's Eve on a Budget: Ricotta Fritters and Prosecco Cocktail

Chow Ciao

Fabio resolves to have fantastic party totally inexpensively. The secret? It's the best Italian dessert you've not had yet! Plus, how to amp up a cheap bottle of sparkling wine.

Tips:

  • You don't need to spend a lot of money to have a quality celebration at New Years. A few key ingredients can give you a dessert and a drink for less than $20.

  • Fried ricotta and chocolate is a fantastic tasting, super easy dessert. In minutes you can have fritters to rival any donut!

  • There are many sparkling wines besides Champagne to choose. Prosecco is Italy's contribution. Cava from Spain is also a great option.

  • Fruit purees make less expensive wines more forgiving to taste because you flavor them with fresh fruit.

RICOTTA CHOCOLATE CHIP FRITTERS

Recipe by Fabio Viviani

Yields about 15 fritters

Ingredients:

1 pound ricotta cheese

½ cup mini chocolate chips

4 tbsp. all-purpose flour

2 quarts light olive oil

Sugar for dusting

Method:

Mix the ricotta cheese, mini chocolate chips and flour until well combined.

Fill a sauté pan with light olive oil and place over medium high heat.

Using two tablespoons, scoop mixture into individual fritters and place into hot oil.

Let the fritters cook until they are crisp and brown on the outside.

Use a spider to pull them out of the hot oil.

As they cool, coat with sugar.

MANGIA!

PROSECCO COCKTAIL

Recipe by Jacopo Falleni

Ingredients:

4 fresh raspberries

1 cup simple syrup

1 bottle prosecco

Method:

In a tall glass, muddle 4 raspberries with a splash of simple syrup.

Pour prosecco directly into the glass and stir.

Strain cocktail into champagne flutes.

Enjoy!

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