Ukrainian Poppy Seed Cookies Recipes

UKRAINIAN CHRISTMAS POPPY SEED ROLL MAKOVYI KNYSH

Steps:

• THE DAY BEFORE: Scald with boiling water 2 1/3 cups poppies and drain off the water. I do this about 3 times. I put poppy seeds in a bowl, scald with hot water and wait until the poppies have settled and then pour off the water.
• Let stand for 1 hour in hot water. Drain poppies through a cheesecloth covered net sieve. Let them dry preferably overnight. This way they smell fresh and not dusty.
• Grind in a coffee grinder, or through finest blade of food chopper or if you are lucky to have a poppy seed grinder. I use a large stone Mortar and Pestle.
• FOR THE DOUGH: DISSOLVE: 1/2 cup of warm water, 1 teaspoon sugar, 1 package yeast (1 Tablespoon).
• Sift the flour in a large bowl, Make a well in the middle of the flour and add the dissolved yeast. Add around the yeast, the sugar, butter, egg, lemon peel and milk.
• MIX and KNEAD for about 10 minutes and little more flour if necessary. This is a soft dough. Let rise in a greased bowl, covered, for about 45 minutes, till doubled in bulk.
• Punch down and divide into TWO parts. Roll each into rectangle. Spread with Poppy Seed Filling. Roll up each rectangle like a jelly roll. Pinch seams to make edges secure. Place on greased baking sheet. Cover, let rise until doubled, about 45 minutes, brush with egg wash or cream. (I use evaporated milk to brush tops) I like to slash tops lightly about 1/4 inch deep and 2 inches apart all the way up the roll.
• BAKE: preheated oven 350 degree F. for about 45 to 50 minutes or until done. They should be a nice dark brown colour.
• FOR THE POPPY SEEDS: Stir HOT milk into GROUND poppy seeds, add the rest of the ingredients in the order listed. Stir until cool. Sometimes I like it sweeter so then I add liquid honey to taste. I also might add some ground prunes to the mixture. You may cook it for a 5 minutes on top of the stove if you wish but it is not necessary.
• Sometimes I buy ground poppies (NOT in a can) from the German deli. I still give them a good scalding several times to remove the bitterness and dust from the poppies. This is a delightful sweet dough. So good with only one egg. Do try this filling it is one of the best.
• Olga's recipe.

MOLLY KATZEN'S/MOOSEWOOD RESTAURANT'S UKRAINIAN POPPY SEED CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Butter a 10 inch tube or bundt pan.
• CAKE: Cream the butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each.
• Sift together the dry ingredients in a separate bowl.
• Add the dry ingredients to the butter/egg mixture alternately with the poppy seeds and milk; beginning and ending with the dry mixture.
• Stir batter just enough to blend thoroughly, adding the vanilla, lemon juice and lemon rind at the end.
• Spread the batter into the prepared pan, and bake for about 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the cake comes out clean.
• Cool for 10 minutes, then invert onto a pretty cake platter. Allow to cool completely before adding the orange glaze and/or slicing.
• ORANGE GLAZE: Combine the ingredients in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer uncovered for about 3 minutes.
• Pour the hot glaze onto the cooled cake. Let stand at least 10 minutes before slicing.