Uncle Bills Perogie Dough Recipes

PIEROGI DOUGH

Steps:

• In a large bowl mix together the flour, salt, and baking powder. Make a well in the center.
• In a separate bowl mix together the vegetable oil, warm water, and beaten egg. Pour into the well of the dry ingredients. Knead dough for 8 to 10 minutes.
• Cover dough and let rest for 2 hours. Roll out and fill as desired.

PIEROGI (TRADITIONAL POLISH DUMPLINGS)

Steps:

• Pass farmer's cheese and cooked potatoes separately through a food grinder or food processor.
• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat and cook mushrooms and onions until soft, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Combine farmer's cheese, potatoes, mushroom mixture, sour cream, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Mix together and set filling aside.
• Place flour on a clean work surface and make a well in the center. Crack both eggs into the well. Add butter and a few tablespoons of the warm water. Mix with your hands, gradually adding more warm water, 1 tablespoon at a time, as you go. Knead well, continuing to add more water as needed. Knead until dough is soft and smooth, adding more flour to the work surface as needed.
• Cut off 1/4 of the dough and roll out to a thickness of 1/8 inch. Cut out circles using a glass or a round pastry cutter, saving the excess dough for your next batch.
• Fill each dough circle with 1 teaspoon of filling. Fold dough over into a half-moon shape and pinch edges together to seal. Cover with a clean dish towel so pierogi won't dry out and repeat with remaining dough and filling.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a gentle boil. Add the pierogi in batches, about 20 at a time, and cook until they float to the surface, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain in a strainer. Repeat with the remaining pierogi.

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 POTATO/CHEDDAR FILLING FOR PEROGIES

Steps:

• In a medium size saucepan, add potatoes and just cover with water.
• Bring to boil, reduce heat and cook for about 15 minutes or until potatoes are tender.
• Drain and mash potatoes.
• Add grated cheese and mix well.
• Cheese will melt and will be incorporated with the potatoes.
• In a frying pan, add butter, chopped onions and garlic and saute' for 3 to 4 minutes.
• Add saute'ed onion/garlic to the potatoes in the saucepan and mix well.
• Add beaten eggs, salt and pepper and mix well.
• The amount of filling to use will depend on the size of Mini Form you will be using.
• If using the 4" Mini Form, use 1 heaping tablespoon of filling.
• The filling mix handles best when cooled.

UNCLE BILL'S REGULAR DOUGH RECIPE FOR PEROSHKY

Steps:

• In a large mixing bowl, sift together 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt and sugar.
• Using a pastry blender, cut in butter until crumbly.
• In another mixing bowl, combine whipping cream, sour cream and baking soda.
• Add beaten eggs and vanilla extract and blend well.
• Add whipping cream mixture in small amounts to flour mixture, alternating with the addition of the remaining 1 1/2 cups of flour, mixing well after each addition until dough is medium soft.
• Roll out dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead several times until it is not sticky to the hands.
• Add more flour if required so the dough does not stick to your hands.
• Break off pieces of dough and roll between your hands to the size of a golf ball.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough balls out to 1/8" thickness and they should be about 4" in diameter.
• Spoon about 1 1/2 tablespoons of your choice of fruit mixture (to follow) onto the center of the dough round.
• Bring edges of dough up towards the center and crimp edges to form a cup, leaving the top open.
• Add 1/2 teaspoon of sugar (if desired) into the open top.
• Place PEROSHKY on a lightly greased baking sheet.
• Bake in preheated 400 F oven for 12 to 15 minutes or until crust is light brown.
• Remove from oven and cool for about 15 minutes.
• Serve with ice cream, sour cream, melted butter or whipped cream.

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.

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.