Verenika German Food Recipes

VERENIKA

Steps:

• In a blender, combine cottage cheese, 2 eggs and ground black pepper to taste. Cover and blend until smooth, or beat with an electric mixer until smooth; Set aside.
• In a large bowl, stir together flour, milk powder, baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon salt. In a small bowl, beat together 2 eggs, water and oil; combine with flour mixture.
• On a floured surface, knead dough about 10 times or until smooth. Divide dough in half and roll out each portion to a 1/8 inch thickness. Using a 4 inch round cutter, cut out rounds of dough.
• Place 1 tablespoon of filling in the center of each circle. Moisten the edge and fold over to form a half moon shape; pinch to seal.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add half of the dumplings and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until tender; remove with a slotted spoon and drain. Repeat with remaining dumplings.
• While the dumplings are cooking, prepare the gravy. In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium-low heat. Stir in ham, and cook until ham is light brown. Add 3 tablespoons flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper. Stir. Pour in milk all at once, stirring constantly; cook and stir until thick and bubbly. Serve over the dumplings.

VERENIKA (OR VERENKI) CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Boil frozen egg noodles as per package directions, drain and place in bottom of greased casserole dish - I use 9 x 11 inch pan.
• Mix drained cottage cheese with the two eggs, salt and pepper.
• Layer over the noodles.
• Add spooonfuls of sour cream over the top of the casserole.
• Saute chopped onions and ham until onions are tender.
• Stir in to the cream gravy and pour on top of the casserole.
• Bake at 350 for 30 to 40 minutes.

VERENIKA WITH HAM GRAVY

Steps:

• In a blender, combine cottage cheese, 2 eggs and ground black pepper to taste. Cover and blend until smooth, or beat with an electric mixer until smooth; Set aside.
• In a large bowl, stir together flour, milk powder, baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon salt. In a small bowl, beat together 2 eggs, water and oil; combine with flour mixture.
• On a floured surface, knead dough about 10 times or until smooth. Divide dough in half and roll out each portion to a 1/8 inch thickness. Using a 4 inch round cutter, cut out rounds of dough.
• Place 1 tablespoon of filling in the center of each circle. Moisten the edge and fold over to form a half moon shape; pinch to seal.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add half of the dumplings and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until tender; remove with a slotted spoon and drain. Repeat with remaining dumplings.
• While the dumplings are cooking, prepare the gravy. In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium-low heat. Stir in ham, and cook until ham is light brown. Add 3 tablespoons flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper. Stir. Pour in milk all at once, stirring constantly; cook and stir until thick and bubbly. Serve over the dumplings.

VARENIKI (RUSSIAN-STYLE POTATO DUMPLINGS)

Steps:

• For the filling: Saute onions with oil in a pan until softened and brown.
• Grate warm potato into a bowl and add the sauteed onion, salt and pepper. Mix together to evenly distribute ingredients into a mash-like mixture.
• For the dough: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
• Add flour and salt to the cleaned bowl of a stand mixer and slowly mix. Add water and oil. Mix completely. Remove dough and work into a roll, then a log shape.
• Slice a thin piece of dough and roll into a thin 4-inch round. Place 1 tablespoon potato mixture in the center of the dough circle, then fold circle into a half-moon and seal the edges. Place on the lined baking sheet. Fold over the edge of the dumpling, like a pot sticker. Repeat with remaining dough and filling. Refrigerate for about 10 minutes to hold their shape.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add dumplings; they will rise to the top once they are finished cooking.
• For the garnish: Caramelize onions in some oil in a frying pan until golden brown and crispy, 5 minutes. Plate dumplings and lay caramelized onions on top with salt, pepper and sour cream.

KARTOFFEL AND VERENIKA

Steps:

• Combine egg yolks and muffin mix and knead well. The mixture should be a smooth dough consistency.
• In a medium saucepan, cook the onions in vegetable oil until soft, about 8 minutes. Remove from heat. Strain the onions, reserving the oil and the onions separately.
• In a mixing bowl, mix mashed potatoes, 4 tablespoons of the onion flavored oil, salt, and pepper, to taste.
• With rolling pin, roll dough to 1/8-inch thick, and cut into 2-inch square shaped pieces. Add dollop of potato filling to center, close the 4 corners of the dough, and pinch shut.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the Kartoffel and Verenika and boil gently for 10 minutes. Drain.
• To serve, sprinkle with sauteed onions and croutons. Top with sour cream.

LEBKUCHEN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Line a 15x10x1-in. baking pan with parchment., In a large bowl, cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in molasses, buttermilk and extract. In another bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, allspice, cardamom and cloves; gradually add to creamed mixture and beat well. Stir in walnuts., Place raisins, dates, lemon peel, coconut, orange peel and pineapple in a food processor; pulse until chopped. Stir into batter; press into prepared pan. Bake 25-28 minutes or until lightly browned., For glaze, in a small saucepan, bring sugar and water to a boil; boil 1 minute. Remove from heat; whisk in confectioners' sugar. Spread over warm bars. Cool completely in pan on a wire rack.