Italian Ricotta Cake

Ingredients:
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup water
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
2/3 cup cocoa
candied cherries or sliced almonds (optional)
1-1/2 cups ground blanched almonds
ricotta cherry filling (recipe follows)
8 eggs, separated
1/2 teaspoon salt
1-1/2 cups sugar, divided
cocoa whipped cream (recipe follows)

Directions:
1. Heat oven to 375* F. Grease bottoms of two 9-inch pan; line with baking parchment. Grease parchment lining, leaving sides of pans ungreased.

2. Beat egg yolks in large bowl on medium speed of mixer 3 minutes. Gradually add 1 cup sugar, beating another 2 minutes. Stir together almonds, flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt; add alternately with water to egg yolk mixture, beating on low speed just until blended. Stir in vanilla and almond extracts.

3. Beat egg whites in large bowl until foamy. Gradually add remaining 12 cup sugar, beating until stiff peaks form. Carefully fold chocolate mixture into beaten egg whites. Spread batter evevnly into prepared pans.

4. Bake 20 to 22 minutes or until top springs back when touched lightly. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks. Cool completely. With long serrated knife, cut each layer in half horizontally to make 4 thin layers. Refrigerate layers while preparing filling and whipped cream.

5. Place one cake layer on serving plate; spread with one-third (about 1-1/3 cups) ricotta cherry filling. Top with another cake layer. Repeat procedure with remaining filling and cake layers. Frost sides and top of cake with cocoa whipped cream. Garnish with candied cherries or almond, if desired. Refrigerate at least 4 hours. Cover; refrigerate leftover dessert. 8 to 10 servings.

Ricotta Cherry Filling:
1 cup cold whipping cream (1/2 pint)
1-3/4 cups (15-ounces) ricotta cheese
1/3 cup powdered sugar
1/2 chopped candied cherries
1/2 teaspoon almond extract

Beat whipping cream in small bowl until stiff. Beat ricotta cheese and powdered sugar in large bowl until smooth. Fold whipped cream into cheese mixture just until blended. Stir in candied cherries and almond extract. About 4 cups filling.

Cocoa Whipped Cream:
Stir together 2/3 cup powdered sugar and 1/3 cup cocoa in large bowl. Stir in 2 cups (1 pint) cold whipping cream and 2 teaspoons vanilla extract; beat just until stiff. (Do not overbeat.) About 4 cups frosting.