It seems as though spring has finally come in Tennessee. Trees are flowering, flowers are popping up here and there, and more and more people are gathering in the parks to enjoy the warmer weather. That means honey bees are hard at work to produce one of the greatest natural sweeteners we have. And this months’ Recipe Redux theme asked us to make either maple syrup or honey the star of our monthly creation.
Honey is really the perfect sweetener for this breakfast/dessert/appetizer because a little bit goes a long way, and it doesn’t over-power the natural sweetness of the fruit. And it goes so well with ricotta cheese….who knew?! If you’re limiting bread in your diet, or don’t have any on hand, this still tastes great mixed together in a bowl!
While it’s still a little early for strawberries in most states, strawberry picking actually begins in December for Florida (which is where these strawberries were grown). If you plan on using peaches instead of strawberries, I suggest waiting until they’re in season (June-August) so you get the best flavor. I only buy peaches at the local farmer’s market because store-bought peaches have just disappointed me in the past. For more variety, I would imagine blueberries, raspberries, and cherries would also be delicious alternatives/additions to strawberries and peaches!
Ingredients:
Slice of a hearty wheat bread, toasted (I used Seeduction Hearth Bread from Whole Foods)
Strawberries or peaches, sliced
Ricotta cheese
Cinnamon
Honey
Directions:
1. Spread desired amount of ricotta cheese on toasted bread and sprinkle cinnamon on top of ricotta cheese.
2. Place sliced fruit on top of ricotta cheese, then drizzle honey over fruit. Sprinkle more cinnamon if desired.
