Kruschicki Food

KRUSCHICKI

Steps:

• Heat oil in deep-fryer to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• In a large bowl, beat together the egg yolks, sour cream, white sugar, vanilla and whiskey until smooth. Stir in flour until dough is stiff enough to knead. Turn out onto a floured surface and knead until smooth. Knead in additional flour if necessary. Divide dough into 3 or 4 pieces and roll each ball on floured surface. Cut into strips about 3 inches long then make a slit long ways down the middle. Pull one of the ends through like a bow.
• Place into hot oil and deep fry until golden brown. Let drain on paper towels and sprinkle with confectioners' sugar.

CHRUSCIKI WITH MRS. KOSTYRA

Steps:

• Put melted butter, eggs, egg yolks, granulated sugar, sour cream, salt, extracts, vinegar, and rum in the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat on medium-high speed until mixture is pale, about 3 minutes. With mixer running, add zests. Reduce speed to low, and gradually add up to 3 cups flour, 1/2 cup at a time, until a fairly stiff dough forms.
• Turn out dough onto a lightly floured surface, and knead, dusting with flour if it seems sticky, until dough becomes smooth, soft, and elastic, about 10 minutes. Halve dough, and wrap each piece in plastic wrap. Let dough rest at room temperature, 30 minutes.
• Working with 1 piece at a time, roll out dough on a lightly floured surface until very thin (about 1/16 inch thick). Using a straightedge as a guide, cut the dough into 5-by-1 1/4-inch strips. Trim ends on the diagonal.
• Lay dough strips vertically in front of you, and cut a 1 1/4-inch-long opening through the middle of each strip. Working with one strip at a time, push one end through the cut, then pull through to make a bow-tie shape. Transfer formed chrusciki to a large parchment-lined baking sheet, and cover with a clean, slightly damp kitchen towel. Repeat process with remaining dough.
• Heat shortening in a large (6-quart) pot over medium-high heat until it registers 375 degrees on a deep-fry thermometer.
• Working in small batches of about 7, fry chrusciki, turning once with a slotted spoon, until lightly browned, about 1 minute. Transfer fried chrusciki with slotted spoon to two paper-towel-lined baking sheets to drain. (Adjust heat between batches as necessary to keep oil at a steady temperature.)
• Just before serving, dust chrusciki with confectioners' sugar.

CHRUSCIKI BOW TIE COOKIES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, beat the egg yolks, egg, rum, vanilla and salt until blended. Gradually add confectioners' sugar; beat until smooth. Stir in flour until a stiff dough forms. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; knead seven times., Divide dough into three portions. Roll one portion into a 1/4-in.-thick rectangle, about 12 in. x 5-1/2 in. Cut in half lengthwise, then cut dough widthwise into 1-1/2-in.-wide strips. Cut a 3/4-in. lengthwise slit down the center of each strip; pull one of the ends through the slit, forming a bow. Repeat., In an electric skillet or deep-fat fryer, heat oil to 375°. Fry cookies, a few at a time, for 1-2 minutes on each side or until golden brown. Drain on paper towels. Dust with confectioners' sugar.

GRANDMA'S POLISH COOKIES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine flour and salt. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. In another bowl, beat egg yolks until foamy; add milk and vanilla. Stir into crumb mixture until dough is stiff enough to knead. , Turn onto a lightly floured surface; knead 8-10 times. Divide dough into 4 pieces. Roll each portion into a 1/4-in.-thick rectangle; cut into 4x1-1/2-in. strips. Cut a 2-in. lengthwise slit down the middle of each strip; pull one of the ends through the slit like a bow., In an electric skillet or deep-fat fryer, heat oil to 375°. Fry dough strips, a few at a time, until golden brown on both sides. Drain on paper towels. Dust with confectioners' sugar.

POLISH ANGEL WINGS-CHRUSCIKI

Steps:

• Beat eggs until thick.
• Add salt slowly while stirring.
• Add sugar and vanilla, beat well.
• Add cream and flour, alternating until blended. You may need more than the flour listed above depending on how humid it is that day.
• Turn onto a floured board.
• Cover with a cloth for 10 minutes.
• Knead until dough blisters.
• Roll very thin.
• Cut into 1 inch by 4 inch rectangles.
• Cut a gash in the middle of the rectangle and pull one end through so it looks like a twist.
• Fry in 375 degree oil until golden brown.
• Drain on a rack for 3 minutes then roll into powdered sugar.

KRUSCHIKI (CHRUSCHIKI) POLISH BOW TIES

Steps:

• Beat eggs, egg yolks, salt and butter until thick and lemon colored.
• Slowly beat in the powdered sugar and brandy.
• Slowly mix in flour.
• Knead the dough for 3-5 minutes. The dough should be thick and will be a bit sticky.
• To roll, you will be working with small balls of dough. Keep the rest of the dough in the bowl, covered with a clean, damp dish towel.
• On a floured surface, use a rolling pin to roll the dough out very thin - 1/8th of an inch.
• Take a sharp knife and cut the dough into strips about 2" wide. Then cut the other way on a diagonal to make pieces of dough that are about 2" x 4".
• Cut a small slit (1" or less) in the center of each piece. To form the cookie, take one end and place it through the slit. Very gently pull the end of the dough through the slit to form a bow shaped cookie.
• In a large pot or deep skillet heat about 3-4 inches of lard or oil until very hot.
• Test the oil by putting in a small scrap of dough; it should sink to the bottom and then immediately float to the top. When this happens your oil is ready.
• Fry the cookies in small batches. Fry for about 30 seconds and then use tongs to gently turn the cookies over. The cookies should be barely golden brown.
• Drain on paper towels. Cool.
• Dust liberally with powdered sugar.
• Makes about 6 dozen cookies.

KHRUSTYKY (UKRANIAN PASTRY)

Steps:

• Beat the eggs and egg yolks together until light in colour.
• Beat in sugar, cream, salt, rum or brandy (or extract).
• Stir in the flour.
• This dough should be soft.
• Cover and let rest for 10 minutes.
• Roll out small amounts of dough at a time, with LOTS of flour on your rolling surface, put flour on top of the dough and on your rolling pin.
• (this dough is very sticky otherwise).
• Roll to 1/8 inch or thinner.
• Keep the un-used dough covered to prevent drying out.
• Cut the dough into long strips, about 1 1/4 inches wide.
• Then further cut the strips into 2 1/2 or 3 inch segments, diagonally (they will look like 2 1/2 inch long and 1 1/4 inch wide diamonds.) Make a slit in the center (about 1/2 inch long in the middle, lengthwise...) Grasp the bottom tail of the Khrustyky, put it through the slit in the middle, and pull it gently back down to the bottom.
• (this will form a twist in the dough) continue to do this to each piece of dough.
• (I roll out a small portion, cut and form my Khrustyky, and set them on a plate. Once my small bit of dough that I've rolled out is all used up, I fry these in the deep fryer before moving on to another piece of dough to roll and cut).
• Deep fry a few at a time (I'm comfortable doing 7 at a time), in oil at 375 F until light brown.
• These puff up as you fry them, making a delectible treat.
• Drain on paper towels.
• Sprinkle confectioner's sugar over the drained Khrustyky.
• Enjoy!