Pierogies Auntie Marys Recipes

PIEROGIES

Steps:

• Place the sour cream in a large bowl, and mix in flour to make a dough. Roll the dough out on a floured surface about 1/16 inch thick, and cut rounds about 3 1/2 inches across using a cookie cutter or a glass. Re-roll the unused dough to make more rounds, up to 4 times -- after that, it gets hard to work with.
• Place about 1 teaspoon of mashed potatoes in the center of each dough round, fold over into a half-moon shape, and press and seal the edges with a fork. Set the filled pierogies aside under a towel to prevent drying.
• Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat, and cook and stir the onions until translucent, 4 to 5 minutes. Remove the cooked onions and set aside, leaving butter in the skillet.
• Bring a large saucepan of water to a boil, and carefully drop a few filled pierogies at a time into the boiling water. After they float to the surface, allow them to gently boil for about 4 minutes.
• Re-heat the butter in the skillet over medium heat. Gently scoop the pierogies out of the water (they break easily) and place them in the skillet to brown on the bottom, about 3 minutes. Place the fried pierogies on a buttered baking sheet, sprinkle them with the cooked onions, and keep warm in the oven on low setting until served.

PIEROGIES (OUTSTANDING)

Steps:

• Filling:.
• Shred the cheese and set aside.
• Peel, cube and cook until tender the 8 potatoes. Drain.
• Place half the potatoes in a mixing bowl (I utilize the KitchenAid) add the shredded cheese and top with the remaining potatoes. Beat well, tasting if the seasoning seems correct for your taste. Let cool.
• The filling may be made the day before. Let cool completely before covering otherwise it may sweat and make the potatoes a little watery.
• Dough:.
• In a food processor bowl place all the ingredients starting first with the flour. Let process until all the dough comes into a ball and the sides of the processor are clean. Shape into a flat disc using flour is a little sticky. Wrap in plastic wrap and let rest 30 minutes.
• Flour your working area and roll the dough fairly thin. Just to give you an idea, you should get approximately 38 to 40 pierogies out of this recipe.
• Cut the dough into a circle using a top from a wide mouth canning jar or anything which is about that size. Wet the one side of each circle and place a walnut sized portion of potato mixture onto the center. Fold over and pinch well. Set each pierogie on a parchment lined cookie sheet separated from each other.
• Continue to use up all the dough.
• Bring a 5 quart pot to a boil. Using a wooden spoon keep stirring the water as you place each pierogi in to cook. Cook only about 10 at a time. Let them surface and continue to cook for about 2 minutes.
• Have a large bowl of cold water on hand. Remove the pierogies and place them in the cold water for several minutes. Drain each one well so no water remains on them and roll them in some vegetable or canola oil shaking off the excess oil. This is needed so that they won't stick together.
• You may use quart sized ziploc bags to bag about 10. Lay them place on a cookie sheet and at this point they may be frozen until ready for use.
• When preparing about 10 or 12:.I wouldn't put any more in one fry pan.
• Using a large coated fry pan, melt 1/2 to 1 stick butter or margarine. Add 1 cup diced onions and saute until soft and golden but not brown. Add about 3 tablespoons of water and lay your unfrozen pierogies on top. Cover with lid and on low flame allow them to become soft and puffy. Be careful not to cook any faster because the bottoms will get browned.
• When ready to serve pour onto a dinner sized plate. It's easier to scoop out than from a bowl.
• Really, these are just the best and I've tried many recipes.

MOM'S BEST PIEROGIES

Steps:

• Sauté onions with the butter in a medium sized skillet until translucent.
• Boil potatoes in a large pot of water until they are soft (about 8 minutes).
• Drain.
• Add the cubed cheese and sautéed onions/butter to the drained potatoes and mash (the cheese will melt and combine with the potatoes and onions).
• While potatoes are boiling, combine all dough ingredients and knead on a board or table top for about 5 minutes or until dough does not stick to your hands.
• Add more flour as you knead if necessary.
• Separate dough into two pieces and cover bowl with a towel or plastic wrap.
• Allow dough to rest for 20-30 minutes.
• While dough is resting, make balls (about the size of a walnut) out of the potato mixture by rolling the mixture between the palms of your hands.
• Place balls on a waxed paper-lined pizza sheet or board and place another sheet of waxed paper on top.
• Set aside.
• Roll out one of the two dough pieces gently on a lightly floured board or table top.
• Flour dough sparingly as you roll it out, so it doesn't stick to the rolling pin.
• Flip the dough over from time to time as you roll it out until it is about 15 inches in diameter (dough should be about 1/8 inch thick).
• Repeat with second piece of dough.
• Cut out dough circles using a drinking glass or cup that is about 2 3/4 inches in diameter.
• Flour your finger tips as you go along.
• Place a potato ball in the middle of each dough cut-out.
• Gently pull the dough over the potato ball and carefully seal ends of dough so it forms a semi-circle (you can seal by pinching end of dough with fingers or you can seal with the end/tines of a fork).
• Make sure there are no air bubbles in the pierogies.
• Boil pierogies on low heat in a large uncovered pot of water (add a teaspoon of oil to water first).
• Boil in batches, 10-15 pierogies at a time, 5 minutes per batch.
• Pierogies will float.
• Drain pierogies and transfer to serving bowl.
• You can pour melted butter and/or extra sautéed onions over top, or serve with dollops of sour cream on top of each pierogi.