Ricotta Cheese Pie I Food

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).

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.

GEPPETTO'S RICOTTA CHEESE PIE

Steps:

• For CRUST: Preheat oven to 300º. Combine all ingredients in 9-inch pie plate and press firmly and evenly against bottom and sides. Bake 10 minutes. Cool completely.
• For FILLING: Grind well-chilled chocolate chips in food processor or blender. Beat cheese and sugar thoroughly in large mixing bowl. Stir in ground nuts and chocolate.
• Partially whip cream. Add almond extract and continue beating until cream holds stiff peaks. Fold into cheese mixture. Gently spoon into pie shell. Refrigerate several hours or overnight.
• Just before serving sprinkle with toasted slivered almonds and shaved chocolate.

RICOTTA PIE

Steps:

• To make the pie crust: Into a bowl, sift the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Add the shortening and blend until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. In a bowl, whisk together the egg and 2 tablespoons of the ice water. Add the egg mixture to the flour mixture and toss to combine, adding more water, if necessary, to form a dough. Chill the dough, wrapped in plastic, until firm.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough into a circle 1/8-inch thick and fit it into a 9-inch pie pan. Crimp the edge, prick the bottom, and chill while making the filling.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl with an electric mixer, beat the ricotta with the sugar until smooth. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the vanilla and cinnamon. Stir in the candied fruit and chocolate chips. Pour the filling into the pie shell.
• Bake the pie for 45 minutes, or until just set. Let cool and chill.

RICOTTA CHEESE PIE

Steps:

• Flute the pie crust edge, and bake the shell; cool completely.
• In a small saucepan, place the COLD milk or half and half cream (if using); sprinkle the gelatin over the half and half, let stand for 1 minute to soften the gelatin slightly.
• Over medium heat, heat the cream/gelatin mixture until the gelatin dissolves, stirring constantly; set aside to cool slightly.
• In another saucepan over low heat, heat the chocolate pieces until melted and smooth, stirring occasionally; keep warm.
• In a small bowl, with mixer at medium speed, beat 1-1/2 cups whipping cream until soft peaks form; set aside.
• In a large bowl, with mixer at low speed, beat the ricotta cheese, confectioners sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and the remaining 1/2 cup whipping cream, until well blended.
• Gradually beat in the gelatin mixture; increase the speed to medium, beat until creamy.
• Reserve 1 cup of the whipped cream for topping.
• Fold in the remaining whipped cream into the ricotta mixture.
• Drizzle about one-fourth of the melted chocolate over the bottom of the pre-baked pie shell.
• Top with one-third of the ricotta cheese mixture.
• Layer the chocolate and the cheese mixture 2 more times.
• Spread reserved whipped cream over the top of the pie.
• Drizzle the remaining chocolate over the whipped cream in a decorative pattern.
• Chill the pie for 3-4 hours before serving.