Pastiera di Grane (Easter Cake)

Ingredients

• ½ lb. of grain
• 3 Cinnamon sticks
• 12 Tablespoons of sugar
• Salt
• 29 Eggs
• 5 lbs. of Ricotta cheese
• 3 Cups of sugar
• 5 Teaspoons of orange water
• ¼ lb. Of chopped citron (lemon)
• 2 Lemon rinds
• 1 Orange rind
• 3 Tablespoons Of Crisco (unmelted)
• Flour

Cooking Instructions

Grain
Boil ½ lb. of grain for 3 hours. Soak in cold water for 8 days, changing water each day. Boil for ½ hour with cheesecloth, cinnamon sticks, 6 Tablespoons of sugar, and ½ Teaspoon of salt.

Filling
Mix 25 eggs with 3 cups of sugar, flour, water, orange and lemon rinds. Add ricotta and beat well. Add the grain.

Dough
Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Make a circle of flour, add 4 eggs, 1 cup of sugar, 1 cup of water, and 3 Tablespoons of Crisco. Form soft dough. Grease a pan and line it with the dough. Pour in filling. Cover top with criss cross strips about ½” wide. Bake for 2 hours.