Recipe: Anna Banana's Italian Sausage Pie (double crust with ricotta and hard boiled eggs)

ANNA BANANA'S ITALIAN SAUSAGE PIE

"In my neighborhood a lot of people had nicknames. My brother was Nick the Prince 'cause he was tall and handsome. Then there was Frankie Fish, Liver Lips Louise, and Anna Banana. Anna and I've been friends for twenty-five years and I'm still calling her Anna Banana. Better yet, she's still answering! Ladies and gents . . . it gives me great pleasure to present. . . Anna Banana's Sausage Pie."

FOR THE PIECRUST:
6 eggs, divided use
2 tablespoons oil
2 tablespoons water
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
FOR THE FILLING:
3 pounds sweet Italian sausage
3 eggs
3 cups ricotta cheese
1 pound grated mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
dash black pepper
4 hard-cooked eggs, shelled and thinly sliced
1 egg beaten with 1 tablespoon water (for brushing top)

TO MAKE THE PIE DOUGH:
Beat 3 eggs, oil and water together and set aside.

Sift flour and baking powder in a large bowl. Make a well in the center, and gradually add egg mixture. Blend until the mixture forms a large ball. Set aside, covered, for 10 minutes.

Knead until smooth, place back into the bowl, cover and refrigerate until ready to use.

TO MAKE THE FILLING:
Simmer sausage in a large frying pan with water just covering the bottom of the pan, until sausage is brown and water is gone. When cool, slice on an angle, about 1/4-inch thick. Set aside.

Combine the remaining 3 eggs, ricotta, mozzarella, parsley and pepper and mix well; set aside.

Roll out half the pastry dough to fit the bottom of a springform pan. Put the filling into pastry-lined pan and then place the sliced hard- cooked eggs on the filling.

Roll the remaining pastry dough into a circle and cover the top, folding the edges of the crust over the rim; seal and pinch crusts together. Slit a few steam vents in the top. Beat remaining egg with about 1 tablespoon of water and brush the top of the pie.

Bake for 35-40 minutes at 350 degrees F. Serve warm or cold.

Makes one (10-inch) springform, 3 inches deep
Source: Eat This! It Will Make You Feel Better by Dom Deluise