Italian Easter Ricotta Rice Pie

This Italian Easter Ricotta Rice Pie is my Mother's recipe. She made these every year for Easter and as you can see these are a little different than your traditional pie.

They are really little hand pies made with sweet dough, ricotta cheese, and rice filling. Anybody who knows me knows that I have a passion for preserving these old family recipes.

I found my mother's recipe for these last year and gave them a try but I failed. You see, my mother's handwritten recipes are short the instructions all she had written down was the ingredients. So I had to figure out the rest on my own. And, this year I did.

Italian Easter Ricotta Rice Pie: Ingredients:

For the Dough:

5 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup white sugar
3 eggs beaten
1 cup Crisco
1 cup warm water

The Filling:

2 lbs. ricotta cheese
1/4 lb. cooked rice (You'll need 1/2 cup uncooked to get 1/4 lb. cooked)
3/4 cups white sugar
3 eggs
2 eggs beaten (You'll need these later to seal the pies and brush before baking)

I first made the rice according to the package instructions. I used Jasmine Rice because it is a long grain and sticky rice. This helps hold the filling together.

While the rice was cooling I mixed the dough. I used my KitchenAid Stand Mixer with the dough hook.

 I added all the ingredients for the dough except the flour into my mixing bowl. I added the flour last turned it on low speed and mixed until the dough was formed.

If you don't have a stand mixer use a large bowl and mix by hand. Next, I set the dough aside and started to make the filling.

Again, using my stand mixer I added the ricotta cheese, sugar, eggs, and rice into the mixing bowl. Using the flat bar I mixed this on low speed until everything was mixed together. I put the filling in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes.

I rolled the dough into about a 14-inch long x 2/12-inch high log

I cut the dough into 3/4-inch slices and rolled them out on a floured surface into a circle about 1/8-inch thick.

I filled the center with 1/4 cup of the filling. Then, I brushed the edges of the dough with the beaten egg. I carefully folded the edges together and then pinched along the seams with a fork.

I placed my little pies on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper four pies on a cookie sheet. Then, brush on the beaten egg over the whole surface of each pie.

 I baked them at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Then place them on a rack to cool. These Italian Easter Ricotta Rice Pies brought back many fond memories for me. With the sweet dough and the sweet ricotta cheese and rice filling, they make a perfect Easter treat.

Italian Easter Ricotta Rice Pie: Traditional Pie

I also made your traditional Italian Ricotta Rice Pie by doubling the filling recipe. I used a 9-inch pie crust and a 9-inch pie plate.

I baked this pie at 350 degrees for 60 minutes let it cool and then placed it in the refrigerator. So, you can make this either way or as I did both of them.

As always thanks for stopping by and I hope you enjoy.

Norpro Wood Pastry/Pizza Roller 4.25in/10.5cmKitchenAid KP26M1XER 6 Qt. Professional 600 Series Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer - Empire Red

 

Savory Cheddar Cheese Bread

This savory cheddar cheese bread is a perfect anytime snack or served as a side with your lunch or dinner. It's also a great side when you're just having a salad.

This cheddar cheese bread recipe was given to us by a good friend years ago. I had the recipe written a little recipe card and found it a while back.

The last time I used this recipe I made it as a muffin Quick Cheddar Cheese Muffins.  You'll find this to be the same recipe but this time I used extra sharp cheddar cheese instead of mild.

Savory Cheddar Cheese Bread: Ingredients

1/3 cup butter (5 tablespoons)
2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
5 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups (8oz.) extra sharp shredded cheddar cheese
1-1/2 cups Quaker old-fashioned oats Or, (quick oats)
1-1/2 cups milk
2 eggs

I started off by mixing the flour, baking powder, butter, and salt in my KitchenAid Stand Mixer. Mixing on low speed with the beater bar attachment until it looked like coarse crumbs.

Then I added the oats, cheese, milk, and eggs one at a time. Continue mixing on low speed until batter forms.

I sprayed a 9-inch x 5-inch bread pan with Pam Non-Stick Spray and transferred the batter to the pan.

I preheated the oven to 375 degrees and baked my savory cheddar cheese bread for 60 minutes. When a butter knife came out of the center clean I knew it was ready.

The bread popped right out of the pan. I placed it on a rack and let cool for about 15 minutes before cutting it.

The result was the outside of the bread was nice and crusty while the inside is soft with a nice cheddar cheese flavor. 

Some nice options for this Savory Cheddar Cheese Bread: Try adding some bacon bits, diced ham, or how about some diced pepperoni. If you like cheddar cheese you'll love this easy recipe.

As always thanks for stopping by and I hope you enjoy it.

KitchenAid Artisan Series 5-Qt. Stand Mixer with Pouring Shield - Imperial BlackGood Cook Set of 2 Extra Large 13'' x 5'' Nonstick Steel Bread Loaf Pans, Gray

 

Breakfast Egg Nest Recipe

This breakfast egg nest recipe will dazzle your friends and family. These are perfect to serve at your next brunch or just treat yourself to a great breakfast.

I've seen so many variations of these so, I just had to make my own. Cheddar cheese, bacon bits, and an egg all nested in golden brown hash brown potatoes.

This is another great idea with so many different combinations. You could use sausage crumbles, green peppers, or any veggie that you like as a filling.

Breakfast Egg Nest Recipe: What I used

6 small potatoes (peeled and shredded)

3 tablespoons butter (melted)

6 eggs

Hormel Bacon Bits

Shredded cheddar cheese

Salt and pepper to taste

I started by shredding the potatoes and then mixed them with the melted butter in a medium bowl.

Next, I sprayed a six-count muffin tin with Pam Non-Stick Spray. I added the potatoes in each muffin tin and worked them down and up the sides.

I baked the nests for 40 minutes at 350 degrees and then on high in the broiler for 3 minutes. The Broiler helped brown the inside of the nests.

I think the next time that I make these I'll bake at 425 degrees for less time. This is the first time that I made these so I was experimenting.

After they were golden brown I added the cheddar cheese and bacon in the bottom of the nests.

After adding the bacon and cheddar cheese I cracked an egg on top of each one. I placed them back in the oven at 350 degrees for 15 minutes until the eggs were cooked. If you don't like your eggs runny then cook longer for a firm yolk.

I used a butter knife all around the edges of each nest and removed them with a small spatula. Each one came out of the muffin tin perfectly.

These made a tasty little breakfast for Bobby and Fran. and I will definitely make these again.

As always thanks for stopping by and I hope you enjoy.

Breakfast Egg Nest Recipe: 

Wilton Jumbo Muffin Tin, Recipe Right, Non Stick, 6 Hole, 7cm x 24.8cm x 36.2cm (3in x 10in x 14in), SteelPam No-Stick Cooking Spray - Happy Baking - With Flour - Net Wt. 5 OZ (141 g) Each - Pack of 2HORMEL Real Peppered Bacon Crumbles, 3 oz Pouch (8 Packages)

 

Cajun Roasted Potato Wedges

These cajun roasted potato wedges made the perfect side dish for Fran's slow cooker chuck roast. Fran picked up a nice chuck roast at the grocery store and decided to slow roast it in our crockpot.

If I'm going to have a good roast and gravy then I need to have potatoes. I'm not a fan of adding potatoes to the crockpot while cooking a roast. For me, they always seem to turn out too soft and mushy.

So, just before the roast was finished I made these cajun roasted potato wedges in the oven. Potatoes are another side dish that is so versatile. I made these Cajun-style using Penzeys Cajun Seasoning.

You can season your potato wedges with so many different seasoning. Some options are Italian seasoning, garlic, and butter, or try steak seasoning.

Cajun Roasted Potato Wedges:

Here is all I used:

4 medium white potatoes
Olive oil
Penzeys Cajun Seasoning
Salt and Pepper
Pam non-stick spray

First I washed the potatoes and cut them in half lengthwise and then in half again. I put the wedges in a medium bowl and tossed them with olive oil until they were all coated.

I sprayed my cookie sheet with Pam non-stick spray to be sure the potatoes wouldn't stick while roasting. Then I generously coated the wedges with salt, pepper, and the cajun seasoning.

I set the oven to 450 degrees and roasted the wedges for 30 minutes until they were golden brown.

Cajun Roasted Potato Wedges:

I have to tell you these came out of the oven just perfectly. Crispy and tasty on the outside, nice and firm on the inside. These potatoes were a perfect fit for our slow-roasted chuck roast. This is an easy 30-minute side dish for any meat and potatoes meal.

As always thanks for stopping by and I hope you enjoy.

This Cajun Seasoning and more from Penzeys

Cajun Style Seasoning By Penzeys Spices 2.1 oz 1/2 cup jar (Pack of 1)

Italian Sausage Red Potato Meal

This Italian Sausage Red Potato Meal is an easy and quick way to have dinner ready in 30 minutes or less.

Fran made this one the other night using our own Homemade Sausage. If you're a fan of Italian sausage this one is for you.

Italian Sausage Red Potato Meal: Here is what Fran used

1/2 lb. Italian Sausage links (Cut into one-inch pieces)
2 Medium Red Potatoes (Cubed)
1 Medium Onion Sliced
Light olive Oils (enough to coat the bottom of the pan)
One clove of fresh garlic minced (Optional)
Some Italian seasoning to taste

Using a 10-inch cast iron skillet or nonstick skillet. Cook this over medium heat on the stove top until the sausage is cooked through and the potatoes are nice and tender.

This is another quick, easy and versatile meal.  You can add slices of red and green bell peppers, fresh mushrooms or whatever veggie you desire. Try serving this over your favorite pasta or even rice.

This was enough for both of us. If you're serving more than two people just use more sausage and other ingredients.

Try our recipe for Making Homemade Italian Sausage 

As always thanks for stopping by and I hope you enjoy.

Make an Italian Sausage Red Potato Meal with one of these:

Lodge Cast Iron Skillet with Red Silicone Hot Handle Holder, 10.25-inch

Copper Chef 10 Inch Round Frying Pan With Lid - Skillet with Ceramic Non Stick Coating. Perfect Cookware For Saute And Grill