Mexican Chocolate and Date Fritters

Name: Mexican Chocolate and Date Fritters
Ingredients: 3/4 cup all purpose flour; 2 teaspoons baking powder; 1 teaspoon mandarin or orange zest; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 1/4 cup minced pitted dates; 1 (3.1-ounce) disc Mexican or bittersweet chocolate, such as Ibarra, chopped into 1/4-inch pieces*; 1 cup whole- milk ricotta cheese; 2 large eggs, lightly beaten; 2 tablespoons granulated sugar; 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract; Vegetable oil for frying; Powdered sugar for dusting; Mexican Hot Chocolate (recipe follows)