---------- Recipe via Meal-Master (tm) v8.02

     Title: ITALIAN POUND CAKE
Categories: Cakes, Italian
     Yield: 6 servings

   1/2 lb Butter
   2/3 lb Ricotta cheese
 1 2/3 c  Sugar
     8 ts Sugar
     5    Eggs
     2 ts Vanilla
     2 c  Cake flour
     4 ts Whipping cream
   1/4 ts Salt
          Grated semi-sweet chocolate
          -or sliced strawberries
     1 ts Vanilla
          FROSTING
     8 oz Semi-sweet chocolate bits
   1/2 c  Strong brewed coffee
    10 tb Unsalted butter, chilled

 CAKE/FILLING

 Cake:  Cream butter, slowly adding sugar until light.  Add eggs one at a
 time.  Stir in remaining ingredients.  Bake in buttered and floured 9 x 5
 loaf pan at 325 degrees for 1-1/4 to 1 1/2 hours or until done. Cool in pan
 for 5 minutes before turning onto rack. Slice horizontally into three
 sections.

 Filling:  Combine first four ingredients in blender until smooth. Fold in
 grated chocolate or strawberries.  Spread evenly between layers.

 Frosting:  Melt chocolate with coffee over very low heat. Beat in butter a
 small amount at a time.  Continue beating until thick and of spreading
 consistency.  Frost cake and garnish.

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