Bite into one of these delicious muffins and experience the flavors of southern Italy — ricotta cheese and cherries! Did you know that fresh ricotta cheese is the main ingredient in southern Italian sweet delicacies like Italian cheesecake and cannolis? It's much healthier than the artery clogging processed cream cheese that is typically used in American desserts. Fresh ricotta cheese (mixed with sugar and lemon zest) is also a treat served straight up with fresh fruit.

Most of Italy's cherries are grown in the region of Puglia, located in the heel of the country. In June, the harvest is celebrated with cherry festivals. There is an Italian saying, "Una ciliegia tira l'altra" or "One cherry leads to another". That saying is also true in the U.S. where we just can't get enough of the short season when sweet cherries are at peak flavor.

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