Saturday, April 11, 2009

Easter Helpers

Mom made the Easter meat pie yesterday and we were right there helping her every step of the way!
Mom calls this pie pizza gain and we did a bit of research on it and this is what we came up with:

In Naples it is known as "pastiera," and is made with ricotta cheese and whole grains of wheat to symbolize rebirth. It is also known as "pizza piena," (stuffed pie), and in Italian-American dialect, "pizza gain." "Pizza Rustica" is still another term and refers to the savory and rustic aspects of the pie. Italian meat pie is called a "pizzachino" which means pie of meat or meat pie in Italian.

Mom diced thin slices of ham and some genoa salami and some prosciutto and a basket of basket cheese! Everyone always wants to know what basket cheese is! This is what it looks like!We both got to sample the basket cheese!This is the meat and basket cheese all diced up and ready to be mixed with 1 cup or so of ricotta, 6 eggs, about 1/2 cup of parmesan cheese and salt and pepper to taste!Mom doesn't make her own crust! She says that it's a pain so she buys it and rolls it out thinner then what comes out of the package and then she poured the egg-ricotta mixture with all of the ham and basket cheese add into her prepared 9" X 13" pan. It's in a 350 degree oven and it stays in there for about 1 1/2 hours!This is the pizza gain just out of the oven! ummmmmmmmmmmmm - it smells wonderful!Tomorrow we get to help make the Easter Rice pie and on Sunday we're making lazagna again! Our sissy, Missy and her hubby, Jim, will be here to share Easter dindin with us!
Happy Easter everyone!

Love ya lots,

Maggie and Mitch

66 comments:

  1. OMD! Our mom loooooves rice pie, but she hasn't had it in about 30 years or so! I bet our dad would like the pizza gain! With all that meat and cheese, I think we would like some too! You look fabulous in your Easter bonnets! We hope you have a very happy Easter with Missy & Jim and your mom and dad!

    Aire-hugs,
    Poppy, Penny & Patches

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  2. I just know you two are gonna get a big piece of that delicious pie!

    Have you dyed any eggs yet???

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  3. Wow! Look at all that delicious cheese. I am sure that you were a big help to your mom making that pie. Glad that you got to taste some of the ingredients. I was drooling when I saw it come out of the oven. Happy Easter and enjoy the feast.

    Your friend.
    Niamh

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  4. That pizza gain looks so good. And we adore the way you look in your Easter bonnet and ears - Our Mom just wants to hug you both!!

    Today we will help Mom make the Mitchell cake (Our great-grandma used to make this cake for special occasions and her last name was Mitchell so it is named after her) It is really a walnut and raisin type of cake so we doubt that there will be much tasting going on. Maybe we can taste the delicious caramel icing that goes on it!!

    Mom had invited some folks for Easter dindin but then Granny decided she wanted to have them all come to her house instead so we'll be hauling everything up there and Lilly will probably be the only one that gets to go since she knows how to act like a little lady.

    Happy Easter
    Lilly, Piper, Carrleigh and Java

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  5. Hi Maggie & Mitch
    That sounds delicious!! We have never heard of that type of pie before so it was interesting to hear the story behind it.
    We just loved your easter bonnet Maggie!!!!
    Lovely easter picture of the two of you.
    Have a lovely easter.
    love
    Martha & Bailey xx

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  6. Maggie! You have your granny hat on again. At least your Easter outfit is dignified. Poor Mitch.

    Slobbers,
    Mango

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  7. Please stop by our blog. We have a review for you and an award.

    XOXO
    Lilly, Piper, Carrleigh and Java

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  8. Happy Easter, M & M.

    You 2 look great in your easter outfit!

    Luv
    Snowball

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  9. Yum! I be drooling! That look deeellicious. You two look great in your easter outfits.
    Happy easter!
    ~lickies, Ludo

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  10. WE are drooloing over here!! HAppy Easter you guys!! You look really thrilled on your Easter attire!! Love and kisses A+A

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  11. How did Mom manage to get that picture of you eating the basket cheese? It woulda been snapped up so fast here, that the camera couldn't've captured the shot!

    (You two look ready to rid the Easter outfits and get back to the food! Can't blame you... but you DO look very dashing.)

    Happy Easter,
    Jake and Fergi (who are about to learn what the day before Easter brings!)

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  12. Ciao Maggie and Mitch!

    Mmmmm ... I can smell that cheesey deliciousness from here....!!

    I love the photo of the two of you getting bites of the cheese -- utterly adorabile!!!

    Tanti baci and Buona Pasqua!
    Lucia

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  13. MMM! I wish my Mommy cooked more often! I love your Easter outfits...you guys look adorable! Enjoy your Easter holiday. :-)


    Sniffs and licks,

    Chase

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  14. Yummmers!!!

    We wish our mom could cook too!

    And NOW Addie has to go on a diet.

    Happy Easter!

    Lots of Luv & Kisses
    Addie and Lucie

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  15. Hold on... i'll be right ovah! What a yummy Easter at the M & M homestead..are costumes optional:)

    Happy Easter you silly wabbits.

    toodles,
    tula

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  16. HI Maggie and Mitch,

    I love when Robert and Dena cook special food. I wish I lived closer I'd invite myself over for a snack...I'd bring the wine of course.

    Love Boston,

    Harry

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  17. That's the holiday spirit my friend!!!! Have great Easter!!

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  18. Hi Maggie and Mitch! I love your Easter outfits! Have a great holiday with your relatives - I hope you get lots of bites of all the yummy food - woo hoo!

    See ya!
    Joey

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  19. That looks incredible!!!
    You two look so cute in that last picture! :)
    Happy Easter!
    Tail wags,
    Storms
    PS: We thought your dad might like those barn pix! Isn't it beautiful!?

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  20. omdog thank you for that recipe it looks AMAZING! We have never seen basket cheese before, but it looks like some of the mexican cheeses we can get down here in Arizona!

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  21. You guys look so festive in your ears and hat!!! And you sure do get fed well over there! I'm going to have to have a talk with MY Spokeswoman!

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  22. We would even wear that hat and ears if we got that yummy cheese.

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  23. Hi Maggie and Mitch,

    The pizza looks delicious! Happy Easter.

    Love,
    Homer

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  24. Hello Easter Helpers - you really look the part with that lovely easter bonnet and the bunny ears! That pizza gain dish looks really yummy! Our mum made an easter cake today and we get to do an easter hunt tomorrow. Woohoo.
    Happy Easter!
    Finni & Nelly xx

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  25. You all look so adorable! I want some bunny ears, too! Those are so hip! I've gotta see if Mom will get me some!

    Love,

    Obie

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  26. Oh we are so jealous. That looks so good.
    We love your picture..

    Big Sloppy Kisses
    Gus, Louie and Callie

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  27. Such good helpers you two are. My review of your blog is up!!! Hope you enjoy it. =)

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  28. There is only one thing we can think of to say after reading all about the glorious food.

    YUMMY!!

    Molly and Taffy

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  29. That basket cheese looks delicious. You both look SUPER in your hats. Happy Easter!

    Love,
    Teddy Bear

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  30. Maggsie & Mitch!

    Let me put in my order now for the meat pie when I visit! It looks almost too pretty to eat... almost.

    Neither one of you look too happy about your Easter accessories. Why is that? You're both stinkin' cute despite (or maybe because of) your annoyed expressions! Please tell me your mama isn't going to make you keep those things on your heads all weekend? If so, I think we may need to send in reinforcements. Just say the word.

    Goober love & happy Easter,
    Stanley

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  31. that was one great looking pie - but that photo of you guys in your Easter Bonnets had me rolling on the floor....they are soooooo cool and those flowers are so spring like.

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  32. That looks yummy! and you both like great in your Easter outfits!

    Happy Easter to all
    lots of woofs
    Clive

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  33. That's a pretty good looking pizza. We figured Jubal would take about a dozen gulps to finnish it but Max or Shiloh could do it in a bout four gulps. Nice headgear guys, obviously Evil Empire fans made you do it. Go SOX.
    - TBH

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  34. Glad that you got to taste test first! Making sure the cheese is not spoiled,,,heheheh

    Love the Bonnets!

    Next weekend is Greek Easter, that's when I help my mom in the kitchen!

    Happy Easter! Hope the Easter Bunny is good to you both!

    Luna

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  35. Yummers... that looks like the best easter pie ever. Mags you look like you could be on the old episodes of Hee Haw. Oh.. Mitch you almost had me fooled. I was about to chase you.

    Happy easter!
    Norwood

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  36. Oh boy, you guys always have the best eatables! So yummy! I hope you guys have a great Easter with your Mom and Dad and Sister and her hubby!

    Your pal,
    Kirby

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  37. Hi, Maggie and Mitch!
    That pizza gain sure looks delicious!
    You two chose the perfect outfits!
    Happy Easter
    Kisses and hugs
    Lorenza

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  38. OMD...that looks and sounds scrumptious! My Mom must make it sometime!

    Happy Easter!

    Nala

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  39. Happy Easter - you two look lovely and that pie looks very yummy.
    your pal, Morgan

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  40. Happy Easter!

    Don't furget to stop by my blog and check out my 100th post and enter the contest fur your chance to win some really cool prizes!

    http://suzukisblog.blogspot.com/2009/04/my-100th-post-prizes-and-surprise-guest.html

    Big licks to you
    Suzuki
    xxx

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  41. OH that sounds so good! My mouth is watering!
    I think all we are gonna have is TOFU, and collard greens! ick
    love
    tweedles

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  42. Hey guys - WOW! I am drooling on the keyboard - I am printing the recipe out for my D - I am hoping she gets the message!

    Have a great Easter - if that is your dinner - you definitely will!

    Lots of licks
    Sally

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  43. OMDDDDDDDDDDDD!!!!
    We're drooling trough all our home!!!!
    What a delicious post guys!!!
    we love your photos eating cheese...you 2 are incredible!!!!
    and your mom is a great cook!!!!
    Can you invite us to your easter party????
    we're very very very good boys!!!!!!!!!PLEASEEEEEEEEEE!!!
    Have a great Easter day dear friends!!!
    WE love you soooooooooooooo much!!!!
    kisses and sweet sweet licks!!!!!!!!!

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  44. Oh man!!! Does that pie pizza look yummy or WHAT????

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  45. You arer such terrific helpers. I am drooling at the pizza...Can I have a slice please?

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  46. G'day pals,
    Can you tell us what basket cheese is? We've never heard of it before. The pie looks great. You always cook such neat things especially on special occasions. Hope you got to try some.
    Have a great Easter!!!!

    tailwags
    Noah Willow Tess Lucy

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  47. Ohh I wish Mom would get ambitious and make us something yummy like that...

    Happy Easter!


    Love
    Rudy and the Bedlingtons

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  48. Oh yeah, now I remember what Mom used to make for Easter -- when ol' Uncle Nathan and my grandpa Joey were alive, she used to make some special Easter bread. It turned out like a coffee cake almost but not quite as sweet with raisins. She baked it in a round bowl and it had a cross in it like a Russian Orthodox cross, brushed with egg white. It took a lot of time to make but it was yummy!
    She lost the recipe....

    Rudy

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  49. Wow, your mom is such a good cook!! We wish we could try some of that pizza gain. My mom doesn't cook fancy things like that.

    You two look adorable in your Easter clothes. You are both so cooperative in posing.

    Teddy

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  50. hi m & m!

    happy easter!

    ooooo! that looks so yummy we cannot even find the words to say!

    xoxox
    m & e

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  51. Aw I love your blog.........................Happy Easter.
    Lots of sloppy licks,Penny.=]

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  52. Woooo, your momma's a fabulous cook! You're both very lucky to be helping her out ... esp. with the tasting! ;)

    Happy Easter to you and your lovely family!

    Licks and Wags

    Tuffy & the Dog Woods Pack

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  53. Love the Easter outfits!
    Sherry, Alanis & Miro

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  54. you two look very easter festive. we're glad you're helping your mom do her cooking. we bet it smells really good when that pizza gain thingie is cooking. did you get to taste test it?

    woofs.

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  55. Thanks for visitng my blog pweaze stay in touch and why not sign my guestbook and become a follower..........................................................Pwetty Pweaze with sugar on top do!!!=]

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  56. Oh my! I just love the outfits!! What can I say....

    Wiggles!
    Brind'Amour

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  57. Oooh! It looks deelishus!

    We wuv yur hats!
    Wuv,
    Gus and Waldo

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  58. happy easter guys! your mom makes the best stuff ever! LOVED the bunny ears and the fancy hat!

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  59. Hi M & M! Hope you guys had a pawsome Easter!! The pie looks delicious!! -Hec and Lola

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  60. Mitchy boy!! You are the cutest Easter Bunny ever!!! Our mom says she wants to give you a big hug cos you look so huggable...

    Mmm.. licks lips... the pizza looks delicious. Hope you have some leftover for us?

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  61. OMG! Yall are too cute in your bonnet and bunny ears! You are so lucky to get to be helpers in the kitchen! I hope you had a very happy Easter!!
    Love,
    Janie

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  62. Oh my...that Easter pie just looks DELISH!! You're so lucky you got to sample the basket cheese!

    Scottie

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  63. *wink wink*

    M&M, any leftovers?
    *drooling all over your blog*

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  64. That looked so good! Can i ask you about the crust you use. What's that kind of pastry called over there? (I assume it's not a sweet pastry?)

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