Pizza pot pie

8 servings

Ingredients

QuantityIngredient
2poundsItalian sausage, sweet
2poundsItalian sausage, hot Spicy Tomato Sauce
2cupsRicotta cheese
½cupParmesan cheese, imported, freshly grated
¾cupParsley, fresh, chopped
tablespoonOregano, dried
2Eggs
Freshly ground black pepper
4cupsMozzarella cheese, grated
Pizza dough, raised once

Directions

Preheat oven to 350øF.

In a heavy skillet saut‚ sausages until brown. Drain well and transfer to a bowl. Stir Spicy Tomato Sauce into the sausages and reserve.

Mix ricotta, Parmesan, ½ cup of parsley, 2 tablespoons of oregano, 1 egg, and freshly ground black pepper to taste.

In a rectangular ovenproof dish, about 9 x 13 inches, spread half of the sausage mixture. Dot this with half of the ricotta mixture and sprinkle 2 cups of the mozzarella evenly over the entire surface.

Sprinkle with ½ of the remaining parsley and half of the remaining oregano. Repeat.

Roll out three-quarters of the dough to a thickness of about ⅓ inch, being certain the dough is about 1 inch larger than the pan all the way around. Transfer dough to top of pizza and tuck in excess all around. Beat remaining egg with 1 tablespoon water and brush some of it on top of crust.

Roll out remaining dough and use it to form decorative shapes, cut with cookie cutters if you like. Arrange shapes on top of crust, brush again with beaten egg, and bake for 35 to 45 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the edges are bubbling.

Let pizza stand for 30 minutes before cutting.