Italian Easter Pie /Pizza Rustica (Aka "ham Pie")

Ingredients

• 1 pastry for double-crust pie, 10 inch (or you can make the "yeast dough pie crust ")

Yeast Dough Crust

• 3 1/4 cups flour
• 1 1/2 tablespoons leaf lard or butter
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper

• 1 (1/4 ounce) envelope yeast
• 1 cup water

Filling

• 2 lbs sweet Italian sausage links
• 1/4 lb prosciutto, chopped
• 1/2 lb cooked ham, diced
• 2 lbs ricotta cheese
• 12 ounces mozzarella cheese, diced
• 5 eggs
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh Italian parsley (flat leaf)
• 1/4 cup freshly grated romano cheese or parmesan cheese
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

Directions

1. 1

   Directions for making and using the yeast dough crust: In a cup, mix yeast and warm water together.

2. 2

   Place flour on a pastry board, add leaf lard (or butter), salt, pepper and yeast/water mixture.

3. 3

   Work together well until dough forms, continue working the dough until it is elastic and smooth.

4. 4

   Place dough in a deep dish, cover and allow it to rise in a warm place for 2 hours, or until doubled in volume.

5. 5

   When dough has risen, cut into 2 pieces.

6. 6

   Stretch one piece to fit into a greased 9 x 2 1/2-inch round cake pan.

7. 7

   Preheat oven to 375°F.

8. 8

   Prepare filling as described below (steps#19 to#22).

9. 9

   After filling the dough lined pan, stretch second piece of dough and place over the filling, pressing the edges closed.

10. 10

    If there is a lot of excess dough left on the edge, carefully trim some, but leave enough to flute the sealed edge.

11. 11

    (I like to brush the crust with a bit of beaten egg before baking, to give it a gloss.) Directions for using a regular pie crust dough: Preheat oven to 400°F.

12. 12

    Prepare pastry and line a 10 inch pie pan.

13. 13

    Prick dough with a fork, and sprinkle with a bit of flour.

14. 14

    Prepare filling as described below (steps#19 to #22).

15. 15

    Pour mixture into pastry lined pie tin and cover with top crust.

16. 16

    Leave about a 1/2 to 3/4-inch overhang.

17. 17

    Fold dough under and back, and flute edge.

18. 18

    Cut slits in top crust to allow steam to escape.

19. 19

    Directions for making the Filling: Cut sausage into small pieces (or remove from casings and crumble), place in frying pan and brown lightly in 2 Tablespoons of water.

20. 20

    In a large bowl, combine ricotta, mozzarella, salt and pepper; add eggs one at a time, beating with a wooden spoon after each addition.

21. 21

    Add cooked sausage, prosciutto, ham, parsley and grated cheese to ricotta mixture.

22. 22

    Blend well.

23. 23

    Fill dough lined pan with mixture.

24. 24

    Directions for Baking: For Regular Pie Crust: Bake the pie for 15 minutes in preheated (400°) oven, lower oven temperature to 325°F and continue baking for 45-50 minutes more.

25. 25

    Remove from oven and let pie "settle" for about 10 minutes before slicing if you are going to serve it warm; otherwise let pie cool and refrigerate when cooled.

26. 26

    Pie can be served either warm or cold.

27. 27

    Slices can be reheated in the microwave.

28. 28

    For Yeast Dough Crust: Bake the pie in a preheated 375°F oven for 45-50 minutes.

29. 29

    Remove from oven and let pie "settle" for about 10 minutes before slicing if you are going to serve it warm; otherwise let pie cool and refrigerate when cooled.

30. 30

    Pie can be served either warm or cold.

31. 31

    Slices can be reheated in the microwave.