Italian Sweet Easter Pie & Happy Easter to Everyone

There are three pies that Italians make during Holy Week....
PizzaChena, Sweet Rice Pie and Sweet Ricotta Pie.

As with the ingredients, the variations are as many as the cooks who make them and pass down the recipe to their daughters.

Pizza Chen or pizza gaina (as I learned to say it) is a pie that has layers of deli that is baked in a grain crust in a spring form pan, and served room temp all day during the Holy Easter Week. It contains cheeses and salume and hard boiled eggs.

I wanted more of a desert pie and since The Nudge is not a fan of rice pudding, I decided to make the sweet fruit pie which usually has candied citrus peels of some sort. I choose to make mine with pineapple because I am a Pineapple Sundae fanatic and this will like a cheesecake with pineapple but in a pie crust....YUM!.

This recipe makes 3 - 9" basic pies or 2 deep dish 10" pies. I made 2 - 9" pies and the leftover filling will be frozen for when I need a fast dessert later in the month.

It bakes for 15 minutes at 425F, then 35 minutes at 325F which browns the top and crust nicely and slowly cooks the inside low and slow like a regular cheesecake recipe does.

We couldn't resist cutting into our pie when it was still warm. It was like eating a warm souffle. The inside was very light and airy, not heavy at all. I can't wait to see how it sets in the refrigerator.

Nan's Italian Ricotta Pie with Pineapple
adapted from Susan Russo for NPR
Makes two, 9-inch pies

For a 9-inch Double Crust:
* 3 cups all-purpose flour
* 1/2 cup sugar
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 1 teaspoon baking powder
* 1 1/2 sticks (12 tablespoons) unsalted butter (chilled)
* 3 large eggs
* 3 to 4 tablespoons ice water, or as much as needed

For the Filling:
* 6 large eggs
* 2 cups sugar
* 2 cups heavy cream
* 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
* 2 tablespoons cornstarch
* 2 pounds ricotta cheese, drained (minimum of 2 hours or preferably overnight) ***
* 1 (20-ounce) can crushed pineapple, drained (minimum of 2 hours or preferably overnight)
* 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon, for dusting top of pies

For the crust, combine flour, sugar, salt and baking powder in the work bowl of a food processor fitted with a metal blade. Pulse several times to combine. Add the butter and pulse about 10 times until the dough becomes pebbly in texture. Add the eggs and pulse repeatedly until the dough begins to stick together. Slowly add the ice water by the tablespoonful, while using a few long pulses. Add more drops of ice water as necessary, until the dough holds together well. Invert the dough onto a floured work surface and divide in half. Form a ball out of each half and flatten into a disc; wrap each disc in plastic wrap and refrigerate while preparing the filling. (Dough can be refrigerated for up to 2 days before continuing.)

If you don't have a processor, combine the dry ingredients in a bowl; add chunks of chilled butter, and using a pastry blender or two forks, chop the butter until it resembles little pebbles. At this point, add the eggs and ice water, and stir with a spoon until the dough begins to form. Using your hands and working the dough as little as possible, transfer it to a lightly floured surface. Knead until the dough holds together. Divide the dough into two equal balls and flatten into discs; wrap each disc in plastic and refrigerate while preparing the filling. (Dough can be refrigerated for up to 2 days before continuing.)

To make the filling, add the eggs and sugar to a large bowl. Using a hand-mixer, beat until well combined. Add the heavy cream, vanilla extract and cornstarch, and beat on low until well combined. Add the drained ricotta, and beat on low for a few seconds until just combined. Then with a rubber spatula, fold in the drained pineapple. Place in the refrigerator until ready to use.

Place a rack in the lower third of the oven and preheat to 425 degrees. Coat two 9-inch pie plates with cooking spray. Turn one dough ball onto a lightly floured surface and roll into a 10-inch circle. Transfer the dough to the prepared pie plates and gently press into the bottom and sides. Flute the edges as desired. At this point, set the crusts in the freezer for about 10 to 15 minutes to get really chilled, which will make for a flakier crust.

Remove the chilled crusts from the freezer and pour the filling to about 1/4 of an inch below the top of the crust, as it will puff up slightly when baking. Dust the pie tops with the ground cinnamon, gently swirling it with the tip of a teaspoon so the spice doesn't clump.

Bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes, then lower the temperature to 325 degrees and cook for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the filling puffs up, turns golden and is "set," meaning it should be firm, not jiggly when you gently move the pie plate from side to side. Remove from the oven and let cool on a rack. Serve at room temperature or chilled.

Ricotta cheese, an Italian cheese used in both savory and sweet recipes, can be found in most supermarkets. However, I recommend purchasing it from an Italian deli or specialty market if possible. It tends to be more flavorful and less watery than supermarket brands. If you do buy it at a supermarket, then select a full-fat rather than low-fat variety. The low-fat versions are too watery and won't form a thick, dense filling.