Sunday, December 19, 2010

Christmas And Traditional Food Recipes.

Due to popular demand.....okay, one person asked for my perogy recipe....it's time for a recipe exchange!

Christmas Eve is a "meatless" meal in our house. We start with dessert, a sweetened wheat, then on to the cabbage (sauerkraut) soup then the main course with salmon and perogies. Off to midnight Mass and when we get back it's usually ham sandwiches and opening one present.

Here is my recipe for perogies. The dough is the most important.

Perogy Dough

8 cups potato water
1 cup oil
3 beaten eggs
12 cups of flour

Mix it all up then add

10 cups of flour

This makes a huge amount of perogies so make sure you have helpers. You can freeze any left over dough for next time.

The most popular filling is mashed potatoes (keep the potato water for the dough) and cheddar cheese. Put the grated cheese into the potatoes when they are still hot so the cheese melts. I also do sauerkraut filling: fry bacon and onions, cool and then add to potatoes and sauerkraut.  Roll out the dough (the less you handle it the better) cut out circles, fill making sure you have closed all ends, and boil until they pop to the surface, usually 3 to 4 minutes. Serve with onions and sour cream.

Of course the best part about Christmas is all the treats! My reader and contributor to FNF's SOR sent me this wonderful recipe, which I'll make today.

Oreo Cookie Truffles

1 box oreo cookies

1 package cream cheese

chocolate melting wafers (I use half milk and half dark) found in the bulk section of grocery store

coconut


1-put whole box of cookies in the food processor and chop fine.  No need to separate the cookie from the filling.

2-mix in cream cheese until soft sticky consistency (you may need to use your hands)

3-chill until firm enough to roll into balls

4-line a cookie sheet with wax paper

5-melt wafers in a double boiler on low heat.  When melted dip each oreo ball in chocolate and place on cookie sheet.

6-sprinkle with coconut or melted white chocolate

7-refrigerate until chocolate is hard

8-makes about 30 truffles depending on how big you make your balls.

Depending on how big you make your balls? LOL! This seems easy and delicious.

One of my quick treats is marble squares, they taste like chewy chocolate chip cookies, but better:

Marble Squares

1 cup butter
3/4 cup white sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350F (175C). Grease and flour a 9x13 pan.

In a medium bowl, cream the butter (I cheat and soften it in the microwave) with white and brown sugar. Stir in eggs and vanilla. Sift together the flour and baking soda.

Spread mixture evenly into prepared pan. Sprinkle the chocolate chips over the top. Bake for 5 minutes, then using a butter knife, swirl the melted chips into the batter for the marbleized effect. Bake for 15 minutes longer.

I have made these 4 times in the last two weeks for a Jazz band bake sale, Dogs with Wings pot luck and for school parties. Very easy to make and very tasty.

If any of you have a favorite recipe, please send me an email (hunterinalberta1@hushmail.com) or leave it in the comments. I'm interested in a good shortbread recipe and one for "Oh Henry" type bars. So, share your recipes with all of us, it's a non-partisan type of Christmas activity!

14 comments:

Simeon (Sam) George Drakich said...

Banyak you have the proper pyrogy dough recipe. Make sure yo really cooked those potatoes.

The Grey Lady said...

This is a grand Idea, I have provided a link to my family favorite shortbreads. Enjoy!

http://thegreyladyblog.blogspot.com/2010/12/my-family-famous-shortbread-recipie.html

Anonymous said...

Thanks for sharing this excellent idea!

West Coast Teddi said...

WCT Whipped Shortbread (aka the Wife of WCT)
1/2 lb butter - 1 cup
1 cup icing sugar
3 cup flour
1/2 lb marg - 1 cup
1/2 cup cornstarch
1 tsb vanilla
Beat with mixer (must have a good mixer - not hand style) until like whipped cream
drop from teaspoon - bake 12-15 minutes @ 350F

melt in mouth - Merry Christmas Everyone

hunter said...

HA! I knew someone would have a great shortbread recipe, now we get to try both The Grey Lady's and WCT's recipes!

Maybe we should have them do a cook off, with us as the judges! YUM!

Sam, too funny, I haven't been called a Banyak in a long time!

Southern Quebec said...

WCT: It's not shortbread if there is margarine. Sorry, I'm a traditionalist. If you really want a truly great cookie, try an Empire cookie. It is a traditional British shortbread cookie. (Must use good quality strawberry jam.) I don't give gifts at Xmas...just homemade cookies. No one ever complains.

http://allrecipes.com//Recipe/empire-cookies/Detail.aspx

The photo shows green jellied candy...not necessary. The classic cookie has only a cherry (I use dried cranberry) on top. TO.DIE.FOR.

West Coast Teddi said...

EsQue... according to the chief baker at the WCT "retirement complex" you can use all butter if you like - CB's biggest concern was burning out the mixer thus using a softer marg was better 'n butter.

Enjoy the Christmas season

Southern Quebec said...

WCT: My wish for Mrs. WCT's Christmas stocking is a nice big blue KitchenAid mixer. They are totally awesome for mixing tough dough. One powerful motor! Highly recommend one. :)

The Grey Lady said...

The trick to perfect melt in your mouth shortbread is indeedy the BUTTER, it is easy enough to work with if you leave it out on the counter when you have the oven working. You want your butter so soft it just slides out of the foil pack, but you never want it to the point that it is already melted.

I have to agree any serious baker, bread maker is in want of a kitchen Aid they are a dream to work with.

hunter said...

It appears we have our answer....butter it is!

http://life.nationalpost.com/2010/12/18/bonnie-sterns-secrets-to-perfect-shortbread/

A kitchen aid mixer is going on my Christmas wish list!

West Coast Teddi said...

Hunter Starts Short Bread War - National Post has all the details - video at 11 - cookies after midnight!!

http://life.nationalpost.com/2010/12/18/bonnie-sterns-secrets-to-perfect-shortbread/

Pissedoff said...

Here is one for your FNF if you have not used it.


The largest condom factory in the U.S.A. burned down.

Nancy Pelosi is woken at 4 a.m. by the telephone. "Sorry to bother you at this hour, but there is an emergency! I've just received word that the Durex factory in Washington has burned to the ground. It is estimated that the entire USA supply of condoms will be gone by the end of the week".

Nancy Pelosi: "Oh damn, the economy will never be able to cope with all those unwanted babies. We'll be ruined. We're going to have to ship some in from Mexico "

Telephone voice says: "Bad idea....the Mexicans will have a field day with this one."

She says: "What about Canada "?

He says: "I'll call Stephen Harper, and tell him we need five million condoms, ten inches long and eight inches thick. That way, they'll continue to respect us as Americans".

Three days later, a delighted Nancy Pelosi runs out to open the first box of the 10,000 boxes that had just arrived. She finds five million condoms, 10 inches long, 8 inches thick, just as requested ..... all coloured red and white with small writing on each one.

'MADE IN CANADA - SIZE: MEDIUM'

Anonymous said...

Mmmmmm.....butter! Best served while heated with a tea light candle.....AND FOR DUNKING LOBSTER AND CRAB!

New years is when we go all out here at Chez Eskimo. Crab or lobster, a hunk of tenderloin sliced thick and grilled on the bbq and tortolini with scallops and sauce! Oh, and lots of pesto! Pesto (or butter) smeared on a good cut of steak is another favorite!

Great appetizer: I once made scallops pan fried in some butter and fresh crushed garlic, then simmered in some teryaki sauce and pineapple chunks long enough for the pineapple to start to candy!

Another good appetizer: Slice the skinny baugette (sp?) bread 'longs' into pieces about 1/2 inch thick. Top with a piece of blue cheese and a green grape sliced in half (noth halves) Put in oven under broiler for about two minutes. Great snack if you're sipping red wine. Bin 555 being my fave.

Not a Christmas recipe, but anyone interested in coca cola chili garlic honey mustard bbq pork ribs?

They're magically delicious!

Anonymous said...

'both' halves!