Making Pierogies

My husband and I share Polish ancestry and he grew up eating his grandmother’s home-made pierogies. He hasn’t had them in a while and he mentioned how he would LOVE if I could make them for him. I know there are a lot of steps involved and I was pretty nervous that it would be a total disaster.

I asked my father-in-law how he makes them. He cooks like my mom. Nothing written down, every measurement is a handful, pinch, or sprinkle. Hello? Amateur here! I don’t know what you are saying! I didn’t want him to think I was totally useless in the kitchen, so I just nodded my head a lot. I don’t have a recipe box compartment in my brain. Most days I can’t even remember if I brushed my teeth. Yup, it was going to be a disaster.

Before I totally panicked, I went home and immediately looked online. Boy, do I love the internet! I was able to find a pierogie recipe on FoodNetwork.com for Pierogies with Potato and Cheese Filling. Hooray!

So I crossed my fingers, grabbed my little helpers and got to work.

Ingredients
2 cups flour
1/2 cup water
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 large potatoes
8 ounces sharp-tasting cheese
Salt
Pepper

Directions

1. Mix flour, water, and egg and salt together. Knead on a lightly floured surface until smooth. Cover dough with bowl and let rest for 30 minutes.

2. Boil potatoes until soft. Drain and rinse. Add cheese. Let stand a few minutes until cheese melts. Then fold potatoes and cheese together.

3. Roll out dough about 1/8-inch thick. Cut into 3-inch squares. Fill each square of dough with one teaspoon of potato and cheese filling.

4. Fold in half and pinch ends together to seal. Drop in hot boiling water and simmer for 8 minutes. Drain and fry in butter a few minutes until heated through. Chopped onions may be added to the butter, if desired. Salt and pepper, to taste.

As for my husband, I think he really liked them. He keeps calling me his polish princess!

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