Some of my favorite recipes are ones that have been handed down throughout the years, from various family members. One in particular is for Polish pierogi, given to me by my Auntie Irene. Pierogi (sometimes pronounced “per-o-gi”) are dumplings of unleavened dough, which are stuffed with various fillings, like sauerkraut, potato, ground meat, or cheese. They are then boiled and drained, and in my Auntie’s recipe, the pierogi are then fried in butter until they are a little crispy on the outside. http://brieffood.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/1510-Pierogi.mp3 Although Auntie Irene claimed that she didn’t like to cook, every holiday she would go on a wild pierogi-making frenzy. If you have never made pierogi, I can tell you that it is no small undertaking. They are labor intensive and messy, but worth every single minute that it takes to make them. A regular batch of pierogi would produce about 75 dumplings, but Auntie Irene would make hundreds of them, and give them to everyone in the family as gifts. We would eat them on Easter, Christmas and other special occasions, usually with a fresh Polish kielbasa, and no matter what else was on the menu, her pierogi were everyone’s favorite dish. My sister Linnea, making pierogi in her kitchen. Auntie Irene was married to my Uncle Tony. They were a scream together. I could write an entire book just about them, and perhaps someday I will. In their house, Uncle Tony did most of the cooking; Auntie Irene sat back and drank her coffee. But the fondest memories I have about them are eating wonderful, comforting dinners at their house, like pot roast and mashed potatoes, served alongside a bottomless gravy boat. For dessert, we would have cake that Auntie Irene bought from a local bakery, and she always let us have a second helping, with extra frosting. Getting back to our pierogi, though, this type of boiled dumpling originated in Slavic countries, like Poland, Russia, Germany, and others, and they go by different names, depending upon who makes them and what they’re stuffed with. The Polish name, “pierogi,” is plural. The name for a single dumpling would be “pierog”, which is rarely used in the language because nobody would ever eat a single dumpling. Once you take a bite, you’re certain to gobble up at least 3 or 4. In our family, we stuffed them with a mixture of sauerkraut and onion that has been sautéed in butter. I’ve tried some other fillings that I really like, too – one in particular is farmer’s cheese, which is basically a pressed cottage cheese that’s similar to ricotta. And I’ve made a dessert version stuffed with raspberries, and served with sweetened sour cream, that’s out of this world! I don’t make pierogi very often, but when I do, I admit that I cheat and use my pasta machine to roll the dough out thinly. Auntie Irene would be shocked if she was alive to witness such sacrilege. And honestly, as good as my pierogi taste, they are still not as good as hers. There is nobody on the planet that rivals my Auntie Irene – her stories, her sense of humor, her lust for life, and her famous pierogi. Music credit: Once Tomorrow (Instrumental Version) by Josh Woodward is used under CC BY 3.0. Recipes: Pierogi Dough March 17, 2015 Karen Miller Course EntréeMain course Serves 48 pierogi Prep time 1h 0m Cook Time 20m Ingredients 4 1/2 Cups all purpose flour 2 Teaspoons salt 2 Tablespoons butter, melted 2 Cups sour cream 2 eggs, beaten 1 egg yolk, beaten 2 Tablespoons vegetable oil Instructions In a large bowl, stir together the flour and salt. In another bowl, whisk together the butter, sour cream, eggs, egg yolk, and oil. Stir the wet ingredients into the flour mixture until well blended. Cover the bowl with a towel and let sit for 15 to 20 minutes. Divide the dough into 2 pieces. Roll out dough very thinly adding a little flour to keep dough from sticking. Cut into 3-inch circles with a cookie cutter. Spoon a bit of filling of your choice onto each circle. Lightly moisten the edges with water, then fold over and crimp the edges with a fork. Drop the pierogi into boiling water until they float, then drain. Do only a few at a time. Then cool slightly. Melt some butter in a non-stick frying pan and cook pierogi in the butter over medium heat until they become golden brown and slightly crispy. Serve immediately. Sauerkraut Filling March 17, 2015 Karen Miller Cuisine GermanPolishRussianSlavic Course Entrée Cook Time 15m Ingredients 2 Tablespoons butter 1/2 Cup onion, chopped 2 Cups sauerkraut, well drained Instructions Melt butter in a frying pan and add onion and sauerkraut. Fry, stirring occasionally until mixture begins to brown. Add salt and pepper to taste if you wish. Cool in the refrigerator before filling pierogi. Raspberry Cheese Pierogi Filling March 17, 2015 Karen Miller Course Desserts Prep time 5m Cook Time 15m Ingredients 1 egg, beaten 1/2 Teaspoon salt 4 Tablespoons granulated sugar 1/2 Teaspoon vanilla extract 1 Pound farmers cheese 1 Cup raspberries, mashed Instructions Mix all ingredients in a bowl. Fill pieorgi. These may be served hot, right after boiling, or chilled. You may also fry them in butter if you wish.
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