Thevanillasky Recipes

VARENIKY

Steps:

• To mix the dough, combine the milk, sunflower oil, egg yolk, flour, and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a bowl. You can use an electric mixer or knead the dough by hand until it forms a smooth, stiff dough. Shape the dough into a log, wrap it in plastic wrap, and set aside.
• Soak the dried porcini in 1/2 cup hot water for 45 minutes. Meanwhile, cook the potatoes in boiling salted water to cover until tender, about 20 minutes. Drain and allow to steam dry for a minute or two.
• Chop the rehydrated mushrooms, reserving the soaking liquid. Mash the potatoes, adding the mushroom-soaking liquid to moisten.
• Heat the vegetable oil in a skillet over medium heat. Stir in the chopped onions; cook and stir until the onion has softened and turned translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in the chopped mushrooms.
• Mix the mashed potatoes, onions, and mushrooms; season with salt and pepper to taste. Set the filling aside while you roll out the vareniky dough.
• Cut the dough into discs about 3/8 inch thick and 2 inches wide (1 cm thick and 5 cm in diameter). Flatten or roll each disc on a lightly floured surface to make a thin circle. Drop the filling by tablespoonfuls into the center of each vareniky; fold the dough in half and pinch the edge to seal. Repeat until all of the dumplings are filled.
• Bring the gallon of water and tablespoon of salt to a boil in a large pot. Add the vareniky to the boiling water and stir once, gently. Simmer until all of the dumplings have floated to the surface, about 10 to 15 minutes. Drain well before serving.

THE VANILLA SKY

Steps:

• In a cocktail shaker, muddle cranberries with the back of a spoon.
• Fill the shaker with ice and add the vodka and amaretto.
• Shake sharply and stran into a Martini glass.

EASY VANILLA CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9-inch cake tin with cooking spray and line with parchment paper.
• Mix flour, sugar, baking powder, vanilla extract, and salt together in a bowl. Add eggs, milk, and vegetable oil. Mix by hand or use an electric mixer on low speed until smooth. Add more flour if batter is too runny. Pour into the prepared pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, about 1 hour.
• Remove from the oven and let cool, 15 to 30 minutes. Transfer to the refrigerator to chill slightly, 15 to 30 minutes more. Slice the cooled cake through the middle to make 2 layers.

HEAVENLY CINNAMON STARS FROM THE VANILLA SKY

Steps:

• Put butter in a mixing bowl.
• Add sugar and cream well.
• Add eggs, one at a time, mixing in nicely.
• Fold in flour and cinnamon powder.
• Add vanilla essence.
• Mix well.
• Cover.
• Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• Remove from refrigerator.
• Lightly dust a working table with flour.
• Roll out the refrigerated mixture with the help of a rolling pin (should be similar in size to a flour tortilla/ an Indian flatbread,i. e.,roti).
• Using a star-shaped cookie cutter, cut out stars from the rolled out dough.
• Carefully lift the stars and place on a greased baking tray.
• Bake for 15 minutes at 150 degrees C.
• Allow to cool completely.
• Dust with icing sugar.
• Serve or pack into your bag of Christmas goodies or add to your cookie tray or share them with your best friend/neighbour-there's no limit to what you can do with a good cookie; after all, even the sky is limitless for its glorious stars.