Our Best Food: Another Reason to Celebrate!

Greetings food lovers,

The Easter and Passover celebrations are officially behind us for this year. Another celebration with family is now simply a fond memory. And while the basic origins of these two celebrations have established religious and ethnic attachments in all of our communities, we all observe and honor the rituals close to home, celebrating and feasting with our families and friends.

In my Italian-American family, we enjoyed many of the foods and traditions that for three generations have remained time-honored elements associated with the Easter celebration. And we look forward to sharing them every year we celebrate a new Easter. I find it amazing that we never find dull or uninteresting the same old recipes. On the contrary, I find the anticipation of waiting to savor my favorite dessert, Ricotta Pie, an experience that gives the Easter Celebration a personal joy shared with my family.

This recipe for Easter Pie, also known as Ricotta Pie, was my contribution to the dessert table. But don’t wait for next Easter to try this delicious dessert. By all means, test it out now and savor the light, creamy texture. It is simple enough to make for dessert tonight. Mangiare!

Ricotta Pie (Easter Pie)

Ingredients

4 eggs

1 cup sugar

3 cups ricotta cheese

¼ cup flour

2 tablespoons orange zest

2 tablespoons lemon zest

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

1/8 teaspoon salt, optional

1 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips, optional

1 10-inch unbaked pie crust

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Beat eggs until foamy. Gradually add sugar, beating until mixture is thick.

In a large mixing bowl, combine ricotta cheese, orange and lemon zest, salt and vanilla. Stir in the egg and sugar mixture and beat until well-blended and smooth. If you are adding the chocolate chips, stir them in now.