December 20 - Ricotta Pie

Here is the one recipe I've tried so far from Dr. Bernstein's The Diabetes Diet.  He says this is a version of Italian Easter Pie.  Another name I like to give it is Meat Pie.  However, I made a variation by adding mushrooms last week, and it was delicious.  The egg/cheese can act as a base for anything, so the vegetarians out there could use mushrooms, peppers, onions, etc. instead of ham and pepperoni (I'd pre-cook them before adding, btw).  Or you could use fake-meat, like Morning Star sausages and bacon cut up into little pieces.

You need: 3 eggs | 1/2 cup grated Parmesean | 15 oz whole-milk Ricotta cheese | 1/4 lb diced ham | 1/4 lb pepperoni | butter greased pan. (The recipe says to use a 9-inch pie pan.  I don't have one.  I used a 7x7 pyrex container).

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Chop up the meat you are going to put into the mix. (I can't figure out how to rotate the image in Blogger, so here's an artsy shot of chopped ham and pepperoni).

Break eggs into a bowl and beat.  Add cheeses, ham and pepperoni.  Make sure to give Dog a treat while doing so.

I grate the parmesan with a micro-plane.  The finer grate makes for a nicer texture, I think.  

Mix well, pour into pan.  Give your very cute Dog another treat.

Bake for about 55 minutes. (Another wonky shot - sorry!)

Boom!  That's it!  I did the math, and divided up into 6 pieces, each slice is about 310 calories.  I eat this at breakfast or at lunch.  At breakfast, I eat it with cooked mushrooms and spinach, or with half an avocado.  At lunch I make a salad with lots of veggies, blue cheese crumble and vinaigrette, and I eat this on the side.  I find that the pie is much better warmed up than cold, but you can decide how you like to eat it after you make it!

If you try this out - please let me know.  I'd love to know what you think of the recipe, and what kinds of things you put into your mix.

Having made one successful dish from the Diabetes Solution, I am more confident about trying out another one.  When we get back from my parent's house, I'm going to attempt Cream of Artichoke Soup.