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Commitment & Torta Rustica

Apr 19, 2014 ·

Italian Easter Pie
Italian Easter Pie

Honor, Courage, Commitment. This is the Navy motto. Inspiring words and guiding principles. Imagine what the world would be like if we all valued these three traits in ourselves and in each other. If you follow this blog you’ve already read my views on honor and courage. Today is about commitment and how it helps keep our loved ones alive.

Navy sign in stone commitment
Great Lakes, IL U.S. Navy boot camp

While sailors pledge to keep our country safe grievers can commit to keeping memories of the deceased safe and alive. A healthy way to do this is to continue treasured traditions. Don’t be afraid. It is OK to rummage through old photos talking about your loved one and how much you enjoyed doing certain things with him or her. Really, it is OK. You are not alone in this pursuit.

I have already shared one of my favorite rituals; hiding the pickle ornament in the Christmas tree. It’s a time honored tradition in our home and one that my William loved. I have committed to hiding the pickle every Christmas and remembering the light in his eyes as he discovers it hidden in the tree.

Further, I will continue to bake a birthday cake to honor him on April 22nd. William loved a good birthday cake. Plus baking is so very therapeutic. It’s a simple expression of love. So go ahead. Bake a birthday cake. Light a candle and make a wish. Cut the cake and with each sweet bite, remember how lucky to have had this person in your life.

Recently, my friend Rich wrote about the ritual of coloring Easter eggs with his daughter Meghan. Even though Meghan is gone, just a few short months, Rich found the courage and felt it important to continue the tradition of coloring eggs. He made beautiful eggs in honor of Meghan and his wife Eileen and nested them at their grave site. What a wonderful connection and expression of love.

Torta Rustica
Torta Rustica

Commitment to keeping traditions alive extends into my kitchen. Tomorrow is Easter. Typically, the Italian feast includes ravioli or manicotti in addition to a baked ham or leg of lamb. My mom would also bake rice pies, a sweet bread that contained colored Easter eggs and my favorite….”pizza-gain”. It’s a calorie laden, dough wrapped, cheese-filled meat pie that goes back a long way. Every Italian household has their own version and theirs is the absolute best.

nice slice of torta
nice slice

The following recipe is  a version from Cook’s Country Magazine. I tweaked it here and there to suit my tastes and do recommend testing for doneness with an instant read themometer. I had to bake it an additional 15 minutes to get a nice brown crust and internal temperature of 150F.

appetizers, brunch, eggs, holiday, pie capicola, cheese, commitment, Cook's Country, dough, grief, meat, Navy, pecorino romano, Pie, ricotta, ritual, torta rustica, tradition

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Ann says

    April 19, 2014 at 8:02 pm

    My Italian mom makes her famous “Pizza Rustica” for our family each Easter. At 88 years old, she struggled a bit this year because it is so labor intensive. I’ve asked her to hand me the recipe so that I can take over next year, and continue her labor of love.

    Your Torta Rustica looks GORGEOUS!! Happy Easter 😉

    • lisakeys64 says

      April 20, 2014 at 6:35 pm

      The torta was good. Yes, get Josephine’s recipe!

  2. James Matino says

    April 20, 2014 at 9:27 am

    Lisa, I was unaware as to how much attention you paid to the food being cooked in our home when we were growing up. I didn’t give any of it a second thought. Every one has their own special set of knowledge to contribute, so it’s good you are putting it out there. Happy Easter.
    Brother JJ

    • lisakeys64 says

      April 20, 2014 at 6:34 pm

      Yes, I paid attention. I know your favorite cookies are coated with sesame seeds and you love stuffed artichokes. You also love the joke…you can choke Artie but you can’t choke me-haha.

  3. Richard J. Beebe says

    April 20, 2014 at 7:33 pm

    Thanks for including my egg-dyeing tradition with Meghan in your post, Lisa! A confession: the heavy rain, sleet and snow that hit us Tuesday left my eggs for Meghan and Eileen all but white by Wednesday. So I took them home and redyed them Wednesday night … after all, I had to make sure the eggs were still colorful and bright for Easter morn.

    Love to you, Lisa … you have been and will remain my guide and an inspiration on this challenging journey we are traveling together.

    Lots of love to you and Bill … and to Caitlin and to Will! …. Rich

    • lisakeys64 says

      April 20, 2014 at 7:54 pm

      The grief journey is a rough road and yes, we are in it together. I’ve learned that my brain has accepted the challenge, but my heart lags behind. Thank goodness for our traditions–they do our hearts good.

  4. Betsy Bailey says

    April 22, 2014 at 1:01 pm

    Happy Birthday William 🙂

    • lisakeys64 says

      April 23, 2014 at 12:19 pm

      Thanks for stopping in. Hope your Easter was wonderful in CT

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Mom, wife, retired physician assistant and multi award winning home cook including Food Network CHOPPED CHAMPION

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