Nonas Ricotta Pie Food

NONNA'S LEMON RICOTTA BISCUITS

Steps:

• Line 12 muffin cups with paper liners. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl to blend. Using an electric mixer, beat 1 cup sugar, butter, and lemon zest in a large bowl until light and fluffy. Beat in the ricotta. Beat in the egg, lemon juice, and almond extract. Add the dry ingredients and stir just until blended (the batter will be thick and fluffy).
• Divide the batter among the prepared muffin cups. Sprinkle the almonds and then the remaining 1 teaspoon of sugar over the muffins. Bake until the muffins just become pale golden on top, about 20 minutes. Cool slightly. Serve warm or at room temperature.

NONNA EDDA'S RICOTTA PIE

Steps:

• 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.

NONNO'S PIZZA

Steps:

• Combine the tomato puree, basil, kosher salt and 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a small bowl. Allow to sit for 1 hour to let the flavors marry. Remove the pizza dough from the refrigerator and bring to room temperature for an hour as well.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Drizzle the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil on a 9-by-13-inch rimmed baking sheet. Stretch the dough in the oil, flipping it back and forth and stretching it to fit the baking sheet. Use your fingers to make a few dimples in the dough. Spread the sauce evenly over the top all the way to the edges. Bake until bubbly and golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes.
• Allow to cool for 5 minutes on the baking sheet, then remove to a wire rack to cool completely. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon olive oil and sprinkle with the ricotta salata, oregano and flake salt. Cut into squares and serve warm or at room temperature.

RICOTTA PIE (OLD ITALIAN RECIPE)

Steps:

• Beat the 12 eggs, 2 cups sugar and vanilla extract together in a large bowl. Stir in the ricotta cheese and the chocolate chips, if using (see Cook's Note). Set aside.
• Combine the flour, baking powder, and 1 cup sugar together. Cut in 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon shortening until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Mix in 4 beaten eggs and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Divide dough into 4 balls, wrap in plastic, and chill for at least 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease two deep-dish pie plates.
• Roll out 2 of the balls to fit into the pie pans. Do not make the crust too thick, as it will expand during cooking. Do not flute the edges of the dough. Roll out the other 2 balls of dough and cut each into 8 narrow strips for the top of the crust. (Alternately, you can use cookie cutters and place the cutouts on the top of the pies.)
• Pour the ricotta filling evenly into the pie crusts. Top each pie with 8 narrow strips of dough or cookie cut-outs. Brush top of pie with milk for shine, if desired. Place foil on the edge of crust.
• Bake in preheated oven for 20 to 30 minutes; remove foil. Rotate pies on the rack so they will bake evenly. Continue to bake until a knife inserted in the center of each pie comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes more. Cool completely on wire racks. Refrigerate until serving.

NONNA'S ITALIAN RICOTTA COOKIES RECIPE - (4.2/5)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. In large bowl, with mixer at low speed, beat sugar, and margarine or butter until blended. Increase speed to high; beat until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. At medium speed, beat in ricotta, vanilla, and eggs until well combined. Reduce speed to low. Add flour, baking powder, and salt; beat until dough forms. Drop dough by level tablespoons, about 2-inches apart, onto ungreased large cookie sheet. Bake about 15 minutes or until cookies are very lightly golden (cookies will be soft). With flat spatula, remove cookies to wire rack to cool. Repeat with remaining dough. When cookies are cool, prepare icing: In small bowl, stir confectioners' sugar and milk until smooth. With small metal spatula or knife, spread icing on cookies; sprinkle with red or green sugar crystals. Set cookies aside to allow icing to dry completely, about 1 hour. These cookies can also be made with almond flavoring or a flavoring of choice.

ITALIAN RICOTTA PIE

Steps:

• To make crust, mix flour and salt in medium bowl.
• Cut in butter until mixture looks like coarse crumbs.
• Stir in egg yolk and water.
• Roll out, place crust in 10" glass pie plate and flute the edges.
• For filling, combine ricotta cheese, flour, salt, lemon and orange rinds and vanilla.
• Beat in eggs and add sugar gradually.
• Pour filling into crust and bake at 350° until firm and light brown (approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes).

NONNA'S LEMON RICOTTA BISCUITS

Steps:

• Line 12 muffin cups with paper liners and preheat oven to 350°.
• Whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl to blend.
• Using an electric mixer, beat together 1 cup sugar, butter, and lemon zest in a large bowl until light and fluffy.
• Beat in the ricotta, then the egg, lemon juice, and almond extract.
• Add the dry ingredients and stir just until blended (the batter will be thick and fluffy).
• Divide the batter among the prepared muffin cups.
• Sprinkle the almonds and then the remaining 1 teaspoon of sugar over the muffins.
• Bake until the muffins just become pale golden on top, about 20 minutes.
• Cool slightly and serve warm.