Bottomless Pie

     It's a bit funny that our first pie as a newly engaged couple turned out to be a white pie.  I had been planning to make this pie for a while, but life has been a bit of a whirlwind these past few months to say the least.  Not sure if it was the wintry weather, or the need for simplicity or the subconcious wedding thoughts at the back of my mind that compelled me to make this.  All I know is it's delicious and pretty easy to make.  

White Pie with Thyme Oil

Pie Ingrediants

1 dough

1/2 c. ricotta

1/4 c. pecorino

mozzarella

1/2 of a roasted head of garlic

salt and pepper

Thyme oil

A few thyme stalks

2-4Tbsps. olive oil

salt

   First roast a head of garlic in the oven for around 15-20 minutes at 350 degrees or until the garlic is soft to the touch and looks caramelized.  In case you are unfamiliar with roasting garlic, chop the head off so you can see the raw garlic cloves.  Season with salt and pepper, and then drizzle a bit of olive oil on the open area.  Cover in tin foil.  Roast it up.  While the garlic is roasting make the thyme oil.  Simply add thyme, a pinch of salt and olive oil to a pan and simmer for a minute or two.  Remove the garlic from the oven, and mix in half the head of garlic with the ricotta and 2 Tbsps. of the thyme oil.  Smear the pie with the ricotta mixture, add small chunks or grated mozzarella, and then finish it off with the pecorino.  Bake in the oven at 550 for 7 minutes or until you see some brown bubble on the surface like the picture above.  Finish the pie with another drizzle of thyme oil, and sprinkle some of the thyme from the oil onto the surface of the pie.  Beware, you will be salvating impatiently as you wait for this pie to finish as the garlic ricotta mixture bake and infuse your kitchen.  You're definitely going to want to make this pie over and over again.  The recipe also makes a great base for other great pies as well.  Tonight I will be having a few friends over for pie and I will be using this recipe as the base for one of the pies.  Post coming soon!

Have a wonderfully delicious weekend!

-ash