This time I decided to make a batch of Ricotta using Rennet Tablets. It was my understanding that a quarter of a Rennet Tablet would be sufficient to curdle two quarts of milk.  Unfortunately, this did not happen.  When I used the Lemon Juice the heated Milk curdled within about 2 minutes.  With the Rennet, I cooked and stirred with the Rennet added (after the milk came to a boil) for about 10 minutes.  Getting frustrated I added Lemon Juice and it still did not look curdled so I added the rest of the Rennet Tablet.  It finally curdled but did not yield as much Cheese as the Lemon Juice alone did and it was much looser and did not hold its shape.  Fortunately I used the Cheese in Sweet Cheese Turnovers so the thickness did not matter as much.  To add body to the Cheese I also used about half a carton of Mascarpone (thick Italian Cream Cheese).  Next time I will go back to the Lemon Juice.   

To make the Turnovers I placed the drained Ricotta in a medium-sized mixing bowl and added half a carton of Mascarpone, (about 4 oz.) along with 1 Egg, 2 Tablespoons Granulated Sugar (this should be to your taste) and some Vanilla. A pinch or two of ground Cinnamon may also be added if desired.   Combine the mixture and refrigerate until ready to use.

For the Turnovers I used commercial Puff Pastry but you can use Pie Crust or any other type of Dough that you prefer.

Have a small bowl of cool water at hand to help seal the pastry edges along with a fork to crimp them.

Lay out the Pastry on a cutting board and cut into 6″ squares.  If needed you can use a clean ruler to measure.  I usually just eye-ball it.  Use a long knife or Pizza Wheel.  Keep your eye on the end point and you will end up cutting a straight line.  If you try to guide the knife or wheel, it is likely that your pieces will end up crooked.  (I learned this little trick from my Mother who used to make all our clothes – when she cut out fabric she always said, keep your eye on the place where you want to end – this will guide your hand  and keep it straight)  It works every time!

Pastry Squares

Arrange the squares so that they are facing you as a diamond.  Place a scoop of the filling on each square.  (I used a #30 food scoop – about 1 1/2 Tbsps.) The filling should be placed just below the mid-point which will give you enough room to fold over the pastry and seal the edges without the filling oozing out the sides.

Sweet Cheese Turnovers – Filling Added

Using your clean finger or a pastry brush lightly coat the edges of two adjacent sides with the water;  fold over into a triangle and then crimp with the fork.

If you plan on baking the Turnovers right away preheat your oven to 400 degrees.  Line a baking sheet with parchment.  Place the Turnovers on the lined baking sheet with at least 2 inches between each turnovers on all sides.  Even though there is no leavening agent as such in Puff Pastry, the layers formed by the Butter will puff up tremendously.  Once the baking pan is full brush with beaten egg and sprinkle with Turbinado Sugar.  Bake in your preheated oven for 20 minutes (DO NOT OPEN THE DOOR UNTIL THE 20 MINUTES ARE UP).  The Turnovers should be a golden brown when completely baked – if after 20 minutes they are still too pale then bake for another 5 minutes or until golden brown.  The Baked Turnovers are the Feature Photo above.

If you plan on freezing all or part of the Turnovers before baking them you can place them as close together on the sheet that you can as long as they don’t touch each other.  Once they are frozen wrap them in plastic wrap or the parchment and place in a freezer bag.  You can remove and bake as many or as few at a time as you need.

Sweet Cheese Turnovers for freezing