Uncle Bills Perogie Dough Food

PIEROGI DOUGH

Steps:

• Mix all ingredients together, either in a food processor or by hand.
• Form into a ball; cover and let rest approximately 30 minutes.
• Roll dough out onto a board or counter until about 1/4 inch thick.
• Cut circles with large cookie cutter or drinking glass.
• Choose filling (see options below) and place approximately 1 tablespoon of filling onto each circle of dough.
• Fold dough over filling and crimp with fork, moistening with water if necessary.
• (Option 2: before cutting dough, place filling approximately 3 inches apart on half the sheet of dough, then fold over the other half and cut around mounds.).
• To cook finished pierogies, boil at a low boil (do not over-crowd pierogies in the pot). When the pierogies float to the top, boil for another 5 minutes or so. Remove with slotted spoon and place on cookie sheets to cool. They can then be frozen (or served) and when reheated, can be deep fried, pan-cooked in butter, microwaved (not as tasty) or re-boiled (more bland). Suggested to freeze 1 dozen per bag.
• Filling Variations:.
• Potato and cheese pierogies: 5 lbs of potatoes, boiled until tender and mashed (no milk, just potatoes), mixed with 1 1/2 pounds of your favorite cheese (cheddar is good). Best reheated with pan-cooked method (with butter).Serve with fried onions and butter after cooked.
• Mexican pierogies: (I made these up).
• 1 1/2 lb taco meat (made your favorite way) mixed with 1/2 lb mexican cheese. Deep fry reheat method (or pan fry). Serve cooked pierogies topped with shredded lettuce, tomatoes, onions, jalepenos, sour cream and salsa. Awesome!
• Cheesteak pierogies: (I made these up too).
• 1 large box of your favorite brand of chip steak cooked with 1/2 lb of swiss (or your favorite) cheese. Deep fry or pan fry reheat method. Top cooked pierogies with your favorite tomato or pasta sauce and onions.

UNCLE BILL'S PYRAHI DOUGH

Steps:

• In a small bowl, measure water, add yeast,1/2 teaspoon sugar and let stand for about 10 minutes or until frothy.
• In a large mixing bowl, add warmed milk and yeast and stir gently to incorporate.
• Add beaten eggs, 2 tablespoons of sugar, salt, olive oil and mix gently.
• Add flour, 1 cup at a time mixing well after each addition.
• If dough is too sticky, add a bit more flour.
• Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead several times until dough is smooth.
• Place dough in a lightly greased bowl, turn once to coat.
• Cover with plastic wrap and place dough in refrigerator for 4 hours or longer.
• When ready to use, remove from refrigerator and punch dough down.
• Divide dough into 24 equal pieces and roll into balls that will be the size of a golf ball.
• Roll dough out into rounds on a lightly floured surface to about 1/8" thickness.
• Place about 3 tablespoons of filling mixture of your choice in the center of each round.
• Fold the left and right side of the round towards the center, pinching the dough to crease.
• Bring the other 2 edges towards the center and pinch again to crease.
• Leave a space of about 1/4" slit in the center of the pyrahi.
• Slightly flatten the pyrahi with the palm of your hand.
• Place pyrahi on a lightly greased cookie sheet, cover with a damp cloth and let rise for 25 to 30 minutes.
• Bake in preheated 400 F oven for 25 minutes or until lightly browned.
• Remove from oven and brush with melted butter.
• Serve with melted butter and sour cream or yogurt.
• To re-warm the pyrahi, heat a frying pan on medium heat, add 1 tablespoon of butter, add the pyrahi, cover and fry for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes, turn over and fry for another 1 to 1 1/2 minutes.

UNCLE BILL'S COTTAGE CHEESE PEROGIE FILLING

Steps:

• Squeeze as much liquid that you can from the dry curd cottage cheese and discard.
• In a mixing bowl, add cottage cheese, finely chopped green onions, beaten eggs, salt and pepper and mix well to blend.
• Use 1 heaping tablespoon for each perogie.
• Boil for 2 to 3 minutes or until they float to the surface.
• Serve with melted butter and sour cream if desired.
• These perogies freeze well.

UNCLE BILL'S PASTRY DOUGH FOR PEROSHKY

Steps:

• In a mixing bowl, combine cake and pastry flour and salt.
• Add Crisco and using a pastry blender, cut in until mixture is uniform and crumbly.
• In a small bowl, beat egg.
• Add water and white vinegar and mix to blend.
• Add egg mixture to flour and mix until dough is evenly moist.
• Divide dough in half and form into balls.
• Wrap one dough ball in plastic wrap while you are using the other one.
• On a lightly floured surface roll dough out to about 1/8" thickness.
• Using a 3 1/2" round cookie cutter or any tool that would be about this size, cut out rounds.
• Prepare a medium size muffin baking tin by spraying with a non stick vegetable spray.
• Carefully lift dough rounds with a spatula and place rounds into the muffin tins.
• Gently press down and around the sides of the muffin tin to shape.
• Place about 2 tablespoons of fruit mixture into the prepared dough cup keeping fruit mixture down about 1/4" from the top, (DO NOT OVERFILL).
• Using the tynes of a fork, press the top edge of the pastry to form a crinkled pattern.
• Add 1/2 teaspoon of sugar (if desired) onto the fruit.
• Bake in a preheated 400 F oven for 12 to 15 minutes or until the crust is just lightly brown.
• Let sit for about 5 minutes to cool slightly.
• Carefully run a small sharp knife around the edges and remove tarts onto a wire rack to cool.
• The crusts will be quite short, so be carefull when removing the tarts from the muffin tins.
• Serve with butter, ice cream, sour cream, yogurt, whipping cream or whipped cream.
• These tarts are good to eat hot or cold.

UNCLE BILL'S SAUERKRAUT FILLING FOR PEROGIES

Steps:

• Squeeze as much liquid from the sauerkraut and discard.
• In a large frying, add sauerkraut and fry on medium-high heat for 15 minutes, stirring frequently.
• DO NOT BURN AND DO NOT USE ANY BUTTER OR OIL FOR FRYING.
• When done, transfer sauerkraut to a bowl and set aside.
• Using the same frying pan, add butter, garlic, onions and saute' for 3 minutes or until golden.
• Add sweet red pepper, green pepper and sauerkraut, mix well.
• Fry for 10 minutes, stirring often.
• DO NOT BURN.
• Cool slightly before filling dough perogies.
• Use 1 heaping tablespoon for each perogie if using the 4" diameter Mini Form.

UNCLE BILL'S BLUEBERRY FILLING FOR PEROGIES

Steps:

• If you are using frozen berries, thaw first before using.
• In a bowl, mix together sugar and tapioca starch, mix well.
• Place blueberries in a large bowl and pour sugar/tapicoa mixture over and mix well to coat.
• Now add lemon juice and mix well.
• In a smaller mixing bowl, mix together 1/2 cup granulated sugar and 1/4 cup tapioca starch.
• Prepare dough rounds to use in your Mini Form.
• Place dough over Mini Form.
• Sprinkle 1/4 teaspoon of sugar/tapioca starch mixture over the middle of the dough in the Mini Form.
• Now add 1 tablespoon of blueberries and close Mini Form, remove excess dough.
• Continue with the remainder of the blueberry mixture.