Poor Man Pierogi Food

PIEROGI CASSEROLE

Steps:

• For the pierogi dough: Combine the egg, butter, sour cream, chives and salt with your hands in a bowl. Don't worry if the mixture is not uniform and, as with pie dough, don't overwork it. Add the flour and mix with your hands until a dough forms. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate the dough at least 2 hours and up to 2 days.
• For the filling: Put the potatoes in a large pot and cover with 2 inches of cold water. Bring to a boil. Season the water generously with salt. Reduce the heat to maintain a simmer and cook until a knife easily pierces the potatoes. Drain and return the potatoes to the pot. Mash, slowly mixing in the hot cream and cold butter. Season with salt and pepper to taste and set aside.
• Warm the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the bacon, stirring occasionally, until crisp, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a plate with a slotted spoon. Reduce the heat to medium, add the onions and toss to coat with the bacon fat. Season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, until the onions are caramelized and sweet. Let cool.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 13-by-9-inch casserole dish or metal pan.
• Roll out the pierogi dough with a rolling pin on a lightly floured work surface to a 1/8-inch-thick rectangle. Cut into 4-by-13-inch strips, re-rolling the scraps as necessary. You will need 14 to 20 strips.
• To assemble: Have the mashed potatoes, crisp bacon, caramelized onions, pasta strips and cheeses ready on a work surface. Arrange one layer of pierogi dough strips on the bottom of the buttered casserole dish, slightly overlapping the edges of the strips. Spread a 1/2-inch layer of potatoes on top of the dough. Top with some caramelized onions, bacon and a sprinkling of both Gruyere and farmer's cheese. Repeat the layers to use the remaining ingredients, finishing with the dough, followed by some Gruyere and farmer's cheese. Season the top with pepper.
• Bake until the casserole is bubbly and the cheese on top is golden brown, about 40 minutes. Let rest 15 to 20 minutes and then serve with a dollop of sour cream and a sprinkle of chives if using.

LAZY MAN PIEROGIES

Steps:

• Cook onions in butter until translucent.
• Add sauerkraut.
• Cook approx 20 minutes.
• Toss with cooked egg noodles.
• Serve with sour cream.
• This is great with pork chops or sausage.

POOR MAN PIEROGI

Steps:

• In a large skillet sauté mushrooms and onions in ½ stick of butter until tender.
• Add sauerkraut, sausage, white wine, salt and pepper, mix well cover and cook over medium low heat for about 1 hour.
• Add cooked spiral noodles and ½ stick butter, stir until butter has melted, season to taste and serve.

LAZY MAN'S PIEROGI

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium high heat until evenly brown. Stir in onions, and cook until translucent. In a separate pan, saute the mushrooms in butter.
• In a large bowl, combine pasta, bacon, onion, mushrooms, sauerkraut and condensed soup. Season with salt and pepper. Pour into a 9x13 inch baking dish.
• Bake in preheated oven for 45 minutes.

POOR MAN'S PIEROGIES

Steps:

• Saute onion in 1 stick butter until tender.
• Cook noodles as directed on box.
• Boil potatoes, then mash.
• Add cubed cheese, salt, pepper, and remaining butter to potatoes and mix until well combined.
• Put layer of noodles in 9x13-inch baking dish.
• Layer 1/3 of sauteed onions over noodles, then 1/3 of potato mixture.
• Repeat layers, ending with potatoes on top.
• Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
• Bake at 350°F for 30-35 minutes.

LAZY PEROGIES

Steps:

• Fill a large pot with lightly salted water and bring to a rolling boil. Once the water is boiling, stir in the lasagna noodles, about 3 or 4 at a time, and return to a boil. Cook the noodles uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the pasta has cooked through but is still firm to the bite, about 10 minutes per batch. Drain well in a colander set in the sink, and lay the cooked noodles flat on waxed paper or aluminum foil while you finish cooking the rest of the noodles.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x11-inch baking dish.
• Place the potatoes into a large pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until tender, about 20 minutes. Drain and allow to steam dry for a minute or two. Using a potato masher, mash the potatoes with the milk and butter until smooth. Stir in 1 teaspoon of onion salt, and season with salt and pepper. Set the mashed potatoes aside to cool. When cooled, mix with shredded Cheddar cheese.
• Place the bacon in a large, deep skillet, and cook over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until evenly browned and almost crisp, about 10 minutes. Place the onion into the hot bacon fat, and cook and stir until the onion is translucent, about 8 minutes. Break the bacon into pieces with a spoon or spatula, and set the bacon and onion aside. Mix the cottage cheese, egg, and 1 teaspoon of onion salt in a bowl.
• To make the casserole, place 3 lasagna noodles into the prepared baking dish, and spread with the cottage cheese mixture in an even layer. Top the cottage cheese with 3 more lasagna noodles, then spread potato-cheese mixture in a layer. Top the mashed potato layer with 3 more noodles, then spread the bacon and onion into an even layer on top of the casserole.
• Cover the casserole with aluminum foil, and bake in the preheated oven until the cheese is melted and the casserole is hot, about 30 minutes. Allow to set for about 10 minutes before serving.