Nonna Edda's Ricotta Pie ___

Nonna Edda's Ricotta Pie

Ingredients

For the Crust:(To make a lattice double the recipe

  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 4 ounces butter, at room temp
  • 2 large eggs
  • 0.5 teaspoon lemon rind, grated

For the Filling:

  • 3 pounds ricotta cheese (whole milk or part skim according to your dietary needs)
  • 1 cup sugar (or to your taste)
  • 1.5 tablespoons vanilla extract
  • 1.5 ounces anisette (or to your taste)
  • 1 orange rind, grated
  • 8 eggs, beaten (if you are using part skim ricotta, 8 eggs should be enough. If you are using whole milk ricotta, you may need to add one or two more eggs if the filling appears to be too thick)
  • Citron (if you like candied fruits in your baked products)
  • marascino cherries, halved

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°

Mix all dough ingredients together. Place dough in wax paper or saran wrap and put in the freezer for at least 30 minutes before trying to roll.

When ready, remove dough from freezer and roll out onto a floured surface with a floured pin. Roll dough to 1/8 inch thickness to fit a 9 x 13 inch glass pan.

Mix all pie filling ingredients together.

Place the ricotta into the pie shell and make your lattice on top if desired. If using lattice, beat one egg and use to stick lattice to shell, if required, and to brush the top of the lattice to give a golden sheen when baked.

If you are going to make lattice for the top of the pie, place dough back in freezer until firm. Remove, roll and cut into strips (use a zig-zag cutter for a more decorative look)

Place into 350° oven. Total cooking time will be about 1½ hours. At the 50 minute mark, if you are using maraschino cherry halves, place them on top in between the dough strips (If you place the cherries on top too soon, they will sink into the pie. Cook for another 45 minutes or until a tester comes out clean.

If you are using a glass pan you will be able to tell if the crust is done to your liking. If it needs more cooking time, cover the top of the pie with a sheet of aluminum foil.

Remove from oven and cool.